The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-12-19 00:00:00

STOURBRIDGE BURIAL BOARD.

The meeting of this body was held in the Corn
Exchange on Wednesday morning last. Present:
Messrs. J. B. Sheppard(chairman), King, Billing.
ham, Evers, Stringer, Haskew, Perkin, and Platt.
The miniutes of the last meeting having been
read and confirmed.

The Clerk read a letter which he had received
from the Rev. C. IL Craufurd, rector of Oldswin-
ford, in which he tried to dissuade the Board from
attempting to purchase any of his land. He
should expect as much for it, as a railway company
would have to pay for it, and that would leave him
a good profit. They would also have to get the
consent of his tennant.

Mr. Stringer said he had seen Mr. Parkes, and
had bad two or three conferences with him. 110
(Mr. Parkes) would not be any obstacle in their
way, as far as he was concerned. But they would
find water very near the surface on that part of
the land which they desired to purchase. The
land on the other side of the farm was glebe, and
the tenant was quite willing to let thew have it.
It was considered that the land would be unsuit-
able.

The Chairman said he had seen Mr. John Taylor,
and he had let them have the plans showing the
land at the cross roads. It seemed that some of
the land which they had thought would be suitable
for their purpose, was the very field through which
it was contemplated to take the new railway.
There was another piece of land which it was for-
merly thought might prove available, but the rail-
way would also go through that. As it happened
the very pieces of land in which they were parti-
cularly interested were intersected by lines of

The'Clerk had heard nothing from Mr. Shutt,
or from the Feoffees of the Oldswinfcad Hospital.
The latter considered their application too vague,
as it was simply for "land," without specifying
which land was wanted.

The Chairman stated that Mr. Shutt had been
asked to come down and see the Board, but in such
weather as that he could not come. With refer-
ence to the projected railway of which they had
been speaking, they should not know until June
or July whether the railway would take possession
of those pieces of land, as they had not yet got
powers for the line.
. _ _

With reference to the probability of the com-
pany obtaining these powers, Mr. Bernard stated
that as far as he knew at present it was not Mr.
Foley's intention to oppose the scheme for the
railway this time.
At this juncture a letter was received from Mr.
Shutt, which stated that if the two fields near the
glass house could be made available for a ceme-
tery they should be glad to let them have it, and
himself and his brother would state the price; but
they were not willing to sell any other land. As
far as the land beside his house was concerned they
would not sell it at any price.
A discussion ensued, and it was considered that
the land near the glass works was too near houses
for their purpose. There aMS no use any longer
in continuing negotiations for that site.
Mr. Stringer said that ParkesS land was so full
of water, that even in driving in a gate-post it
would be arrived at.

The Chairman said from that it would appear
probable that the whole of the land within that
area would be subject to the same difficulty.
The racecourse was spoken of as a probable place
for a site, but it was said that it was too full of water
to be of use for a cemetery.
The Chairman said it was evident that their scope in
that direction was limited to the high ground.
Mr. Ilaskew asked if they were confined to the
west side of the town, or whether land any where else
would do.

The Chairman said they were not confined to any
place, but they thought it was decidedly the beA side
of the town for their purpose.
In the course of a conversation, it was suggested
that some land at the back of Parkfield House, would
suit them; and it was decided that when the mem-
bers went to inspect the land at the Cross Roads, they
should inspect that at Parkfield also. Another piece
of land opposite to the station, near to Mr. Cooper's,
was referred to; but Mr. Stringer said he was afraid
the loop line would interfere with that. It was after-
wards generally admitted that this land would not be
suitable.

Another prospective site was the knoll immediately
opposite to the sand hole. It was nearly opposite the
Roman Catholic Cemetery. It occurred to the chair-
man that if distance was not an obstacle, that was a
pleasant site in every respect. He threw that out 88
a suggestion for their consideration, and if it would
meet with their assent, he was of opinion it would be
desirable to inspect it at the same time as the others.
Major Walker's land was also mentioned by the chair-
man, who said the latter gentleman was so very fav-
ourable that it was not necessary to go to him again,
as he had treated them very handsomely, and they
must give ;him the best consideration they could.
They were now only trying to see how wide the area
they could get to choose from. He was not at all
willing that Major Walker's land should be left out
of the question.
It was decided that the members of the Board
should rueet:on the 2nd of January, 1875, to inspect
the sites.