Cemetery Chapels etc: Dukinfield Cemetery Hall Green Road Dukinfield

NEW CEMETERY FOR ASHTON AND DUKINFIELD - The Corporation of Ashton-under-Lyne, and the Local Board of Dukinfield, have united in the purchase of about 38 acres of ground, for the formation of a joint cemetery. The land was formerly a park, belonging to “Dukinfield Lodge,” and in the days preceding the erection of cotton-mills, was a very delightful locality. It occupies an elevated position above the banks of the river Tame, and the cemetery, when laid out, will be a prominent feature in the surrounding scenery for miles. The works have been entrusted to Messrs. Paull & Ayliffe, of Manchester, architects, whose designs for the buildings and the laying-out have been formally approved. It is intended to employ distressed operatives on the earthworks, &c., and application has been made for a loan, under the Public Works Act. The proposed outlay, exclusive of land, is about £17,000. [Builder 14 January 1865 Page 34]

Tenders required for the erection of buildings associated with the new cemetery including three separate chapels, house and office for registrar, lodge and waiting rooms, two sets entrance gates and the whole of the boundary fence wall and palisadings[ Manchester Guiardian Saturday 22 April 1865 Page 2]

For the chapels, registrar's house, and lodges at the new cemeteries for Ashton-under-Lyne and Dukinfield. Messrs Paull & Ayliffe, architects; Contractor -  Burton (accepted £7,000) [Builder 3 June 1865 page 404 – tenders]

THE ASHTON AND DUKTNFIELD CEMETERIES. conjoined cemeteries contain nearly 40 acres within the boundaries purchased by the Ashton-under-Lyne Corporation and the Dukinfield Board of Health for the purpose. To the eye, the whole appears as one cemetery; and so far as the buildings are concerned there is no division, each structure serving jointly for both. Each cemetery is subdivided into three parts, respectively appropriated to the Church of England, to Nonconformists, and to Roman Catholics, in the proportion of three-eighths to each of the first two sections, and two-eighths to the last named. No manifest demarcation appears between the allotments of the Nonconformists and the Roman Catholics—a pathway only intervening; and metre stones at certain corners mark the pathway dividing the consecrated ground from the remainder. At present a considerable portion of the Ashton land is to be unappropriated for interments; the proportion of the several sections meanwhile remaining as before stated. Each section has its own chapel, and each chapel stands upon the ground it represents, but the buildings are common to both cemeteries. Those of the Church of England and Nonconformists are united in one block of building, though under separate roofs. The shape of the plan is like the letter T"; the stem representing the Church of England Chapel (which lies east and west), and the Nonconformists' standing at right angles with it. In the angle of junction next the carriage road is a tower, 16 ft. square, 55 ft. high to the cornice, terminating in an octagonal lantern, 20 ft. high, and a spire 50 ft., additional, to the top of the vane, total height 125 ft. This feature, standing on the brow of a slope, 130 ft. above the river Tame, is a prominent landmark for many miles around. The two chapels are each 54 ft. long, 22 ft. wide, and 36 ft. high, to the ridge, but the internal arrangements differ. Seated accommodation is provided for 130 adults in each chapel. Adjoining each, but separated from it by an arcade filled in with plate-glass, is a mortuary chamber, intended for the reception of corpses during the time of service. For the Roman Catholics a detached chapel has been erected, cruciform in arrangement, and without a mortuary chamber. This building has two porches immediately opposite each other, and a straight path to each porch extends a long distance on each side. Over the porch facing the carriage road is a sculptured figure of our Lord, "Salvator Mundi." All three chapels have vestries and other conveniences, and Haden's heating apparatus is fitted up in a cellar under each building. The style chosen by the architects is the Geometric. The heads of the windows are filled with stone tracery, in varied patterns, and glazed with coloured glass. All the seating is of red deal, resembling pitch pine, and stained and varnished. Externally, a contrast between the body of the wall facings and the stone dressings has been obtained by the use of wall stones from a neighbouring stone quarry, of a warm reddish grey colour. Sufficient of this material could not be secured in time for the domestic buildings, and those are consequently faced with stone from Dunford Bridge. Adjoining the western entrance- gates is a house for the registrar and oflic.es for business; surmounted by a clock tower, 65 ft. high. The clock is illuminated, and has been, supplied by Dent, of London. Opposite the registrar's house is a lodge and a waiting-shed in connexion with it, having retiring-rooms and all conveniences. At the eastern entrance-gates another lodge is erected. These buildings will be occupied by the chief sexton and gardeners. The carriage-road has been planned in curvilinear form, with a gradual rise from Hall Green to the combined chapels. The grounds have an open palisading in the boundaries, instead of a close wall. The design of the ironwork is in keeping with the buildings, and is arranged in lengths with stone piers between to suit the inclination of the surface. At present no planting has been done. Indeed, the earthworks are not yet complete. All the works have been executed from the designs, and under the superintendence of the architects, Messrs. Paull and Ayliffe, of Manchester; but this firm having been dissolved in June last, they have been completed under the care of Mr. Paull, alone. The clerk of the works is Mr. Gregory Gill. The contractor for the masons' work is Mr 0. Horsman, of Wolverhampton; and all the other works, to the buildings, have been contracted for by Mr. Burton, of Ashton. Messrs. Grierson, of Ashton, have supplied the palisading; and Mr Dovey, of Manchester, has executed the wrought-iron. The carving is by Mr. Earp, of London. [Builder 11 May 1867 page 334]

Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 7 January 1865 Page 7 (Contracts)
Reference    Builder 14 January 1865 page 34 - Designs formally approved
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 22 April 1865 Page 2 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester Guardian Tuesday 2 May 1865
Reference    Manchester Courier 13 May 1865 page 2
Reference    Builder 3 June 1865 page 404 – tenders
Reference    Builder 11 May 1867 page 334