East Sussex Hellingly Hospital Help

[bhaven]

I had a response from Hailsham Town Council and Elizabeth's grave has been found #8438 in Hellingly Cemetery, North Street, Hellingly.  They suggest I phone the Vicar for any info as they don't have other info except it is a double grave.   It seems unfortunate that I may never know who handled everything and where her possessions would go.  As there was a post mortem done I would have thought it would be available but it seems many records were destroyed.

I can't thank you enough for all your help.  Thought you might like to see who we have been searching for so have taken the liberty of attaching her picture

[a1emslie]

What a stunningly beautiful photo.....


I have a prior engagement for this afternoon, otherwise I would dash round there right now!So frustrating.

I emailed the retired vicar earlier re name of the cemetery, but that problem is now solved.

Hopefully one of us came come up with a photo in due course.Worth a look, even if nothing is found!

Well done with all your searching!           

[a1emslie]

I have sent an updated message to Ronald our retired vicar, with your queries, but I think that you will be lucky to get the info you are seeking as I'm sure that it won't be available  ie probably lost along the way.
Annabel.

[a1emslie]

I'm so sorry--I have walked around and found nothing.....
There are a fair number of unmarked graves.There are also a large number of rabbits.....A lot of the graves have slightly sunk, and as a fair proportion of them have the writing along the sides of the graves, it becomes impossible to read a fair proportion of the graves.I would have to use something to push the grass down at the sides.
I found the area for the 1930s (I think).it is a small sweet cemetery with an aspect looking towards the small village of Hellingly.The Hospital is about 1/2 mile beyond the village.
The stones do not appear to be reference marked unfortunately.
We would need a specific ref within the cemetery I think, to have a chance of finding it ie a map of the plots.Do you know if the Archives have this?
I have taken some photos, although several are on the internet.PM me if you would like them, with your email.
I had hoped to have good news...perhaps another day!
Annabel.

[Gravity]

Great news that you at least now know where she was laid to rest.

I found nothing either when I went round the Cemetery... maybe as she was a patient at the Hospital, and having no immediate family in the area, there is no memorial or marker? Perhaps there were no funds available to have anything placed?

Hopefully the Parish will have a record of the plots within the Cemetery? Fingers crossed!

[a1emslie]

So glad you checked too, Gravity!

[a1emslie]

Hi Jean,
Elizabeth is buried in an unmarked grave at the cemetery.
Through
 http://www.localauthoritypublishing.co.uk/councils/hailsham/contact.html     and dialling 01323 846988, I enquired about the Hellingly Cemetery, and in fact the grave ref is 843B.
It would be impossible to walk around the cemetery and find it without help as so few of the stones have ref nos. (A big thank you to Tom at the offices, who was so helpful, and who met me at the cemetery).
I have some relevant photos if you would like to send me a personal message with your email, and I can give you directions to enable you to find the grave if you ever come to the UK.I picked a few flowers from the garden.


I have actually learnt an awful lot about tracing graves during this time and as I am thinking about joining a project to photograph gravestones, this has been extremely interesting.If anyone local is interested in this,or in fact anyone at all,please click on the link.
 http://www.gravestonephotos.com/public/about.php

Annabel.

[a1emslie]

I should add that I meant that I took a few picked flowers from our garden

[bhaven]

Thanks Annabel, how nice of you to take flowers.  Here in Canada snowdrops are just peeping out of the ground, we are a bit behind.  I have sent a PM to you but forgot to ask if Tom is working at the cemetery or council?  I just wondered because some graveyards have people looking after things on site.  York cemetery has an office with plans for the plots and I found a number of my ancestors although it sounds like this one is small.   I  think they usually have plot plans but maybe this one is destroyed.  It really is nice to have found the cemetery.
Jean