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site is consecrated. Under the 1902
Cremation Act, this would have prohibited
planning consent from being granted in the
first place. However, this seemed to have
been neither investigated nor raised during
the sale from the NHS or any planning
deliberations. Overall, the principal
parties, including the owners, have shown
a regrettable lack of due diligence.
The parish council raised concerns over
how crematorium-related plans might
affect the graves. Ribble valley, in its
report granting consent for a crematorium,
said that this was “not particularly a
planning issue. This is covered by other
legislation with which the developer
would need to comply in the event that Above: Calderstones Cemetery
in the 1990s, when the NHS
planning permission is granted and the still owed the site; right: near
development is implemented.” the chapels is the grave of
This was presumably on a genuine former staff member John
misunderstanding that the cemetery was Newton, which was covered
not legally a consecrated site. during works
The issue became urgent after
earthworks began last autumn. These
were largely halted after consecrated work to continue in an
status was confirmed. However, there are official and lawful manner.
strong suspicions that damage has been Although the proposal
done. At least one grave – that of former respected the known
staff member John Newton – was covered. graves of nearly 1,000
Furthermore, painstaking research by former residents, it omitted the garden of concern that former residents are being
an objector has established, almost remembrance. treated like second class citizens.
beyond doubt, the location of the garden Former residents, staff, families, local However, the story of the cemetery is
of remembrance, where 211 former people, those with learning disabilities far from over. It is unclear how the owners
residents are interred. The developers, in more generally, plus friends and supporters will respond and the question remains of
their haste and ignorance, mistakenly contacted the Bishop of Blackburn to how to ensure that those interred are
assumed this was elsewhere and may express their concerns. Late in May, he treated in a dignified and respectful way
have already tarmacked part of this. rejected the proposal saying: “Submissions for years to come. n
In April, the owners applied to the received […] included evidence that there f www.facebook.com/
bishop of blackburn for partial are ashes buried in part of the area letourfriendsrestinpeace
deconsecration; the bishop can grant this relating to the application.”
under section 22 of the Care of Churches This is good news for people with Nigel Ingham works for Pathways Associates
and ecclesiastical Jurisdiction measure learning disabilities and their supporters. In CIC on a history learning disability project.
1991. This would have allowed building a small way, it perhaps counters Doherty’s Nigel.Ingham@Pathwaysassociates.co.uk

exhibition pictures: brenda Kay: nurses; David Whalley: Calderstones building

Right: Calderstones main administration building circa 2000;
above: a recruitment photograph of cadet nurses at Brockhall,
another long-stay hospital in Lancashire, in the late 1950s.
These images were part of an exhibition earlier this year on
Calderstones and Brockhall. See page 21 for review
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 31 No 4 | Summer 2018 17