Poor Law

Until 1869 burials for paupers were buried in the churchyard of the parish church, St. Peter ad Vincula in the town of Stoke over one mile away in a patch reserved for the class of pauper. The district churches of Penkhull and Hartshill had not yet being established and the nearest parish church of St. Giles, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was not within the parish of Stoke as a consequence no paupers were buried there from the Spittals Workhouse.

Because of the near capacity of Stoke Churchyard being reached, it was found necessary to create a new burial ground for paupers, leaving what space remaining in Stoke for local people. A cemetery created for the specific use of paupers from the Spittals workhouse was opened in 1869 on land opposite to the entrance of the workhouse on London Road (then a single carriageway) and bounded on the far side by the Newcastle canal. The burial ground was subsequently enlarged in 1900 on additional land purchased from the Duke of Sutherland. There are no records available to indicate the number of burials over a period of fifty years of its use except those held by the General Registrar and these are not available for public examination.

Four x A4 pages 1600 plus words. Great study for students or individuals.