The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-17 00:00:00

STOURBRIDGE BURIAL BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held in the Com-
missioners' Room in the Corn Exchange, on Satur-
day morniu,g last. Mr. Shepherd presided, and
there were also present Messrs. Evers, .Billingham,
Stringer, Haskew, Platt and Turney.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.

At the previous meeting of the Board, which
was held on Wednesday, April 21st, a site for the
proposed cemetery had been selected at the "Cross
Roads." This is a piece of glebe land belonging
to the Rev. C. H. Craufurd. Surveyors have been
appointed by both parties—Mr. B. Wooldridge for
the Rev. C. H. Craufurd, and Mr. J. Taylor for the
Burial Board. These gentlemen reported that the
land contained 11 acres 7 perches, and their valua-
tion for it was £lOO an acre. In all respects the
land is very suitable for the purposes of the Board.
The illness of Mr. Craufurd has, however, some-
what delayed the negotiations for its purchase,
and

Mr. Bernard now reported that he had not yet
received any reply from Mr. Craufurd, to whom he
had sent some papers to be signed.
The Chairman said the firsc business would be
the affixing of a seal to the appointment of Mr.
John Taylor, as surveyor. He suggested that that
appointment bear date 21st April. A short dis-
cussion ensued as to what should be the form of the
seal, and it was decided that it should be mere:y
a plain ring, with these words inside it, " Seal of
the Burial -Board for the parishes of Stourbridge
and Upper Swinford."
It was moved by Mr. Stringer, seconded, and
carried unanimously, that a seal be provided hear-
in the above device,
in reference to the appointment of the surveyors.
The Charman said upofl the representations that
had been made to him, the Rev, C. H. Craufurd
appointed Mr. B. Wooldridge to act upon his be-
half, and they (the Board) had appointed Mr.
Taylor. They had examined and surveyed the
site, and found the area to be 11 acres 7 perches.
They should take the whole field, including fences,
and the question that had to be considered at that
meeting was whether or not the bore holes presen-
ted a satisfactory feature. There had been four
made at the bottom of the field and two at the
top. At first there was a little difficulty as to the
indications of the bore-hole at the top, but upon
its being continued to a greater depth they found
it satisfactory, and from what he saw there was no
doubt about its being a desirable site, and they
had order il Mr. Bernard to open negotiations with
Mr. Craufurd for its purchase, and he did so. Some
little difficulty had been experienced through Mr.
Craufuri's illness, and he was still unwell; but it
was to be hoped that he would soon recover. He
(the zhairman) now asked that the Clerk should
be empowered to complete those negotiations with
Mr. Craufurd.

Tnrney said he examined the test holes, and
the top hole was fifteen feet deep, and there was
only the slightest "weep of water" out of the
gravel. The rest were exceedingly satisfactory.
The land consisted of a good sound sandstone.
Mr. Platt and Mr. Billingham had also exam-
ined the laud and expressed themselves perfectly
satisfied with it.
These sentiments were unanimously concurred
in, and Mr. Stringer gave expression to the general
sentiments of the Board when he said, e'
they
would have to go a good way before they met with
such anothfr piece of la.nd.
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman reported
officially that-it apdearel to them to be suitable
in all respects. They had examined the site with
reference to Mr. Taylor's final report, and were
thoroughly satisfied with it. .
On the motion of Mr. Billingham, the Chair-
man's report was then adopted.
Mr. Bernard then read' a draft of agreement for
the purchase of the proposed site. This provided
that tee whole of the 11 acres 7 perches of glebe
land now in the occupation of *r. A. Park, es, be
purchased at a "price to be determined, ' and
that the money be paid on the 20th March, or at
such early date as may be convethent.