Hillside Cemetery, sexton's lodge
Hillside Cemetery, sexton's lodge
HER Number
              15966
          District
              Sunderland
          Site Name
              Hillside Cemetery, sexton's lodge
          Place
              Houghton-le-Spring
          Map Sheet
              NZ35SW
          Class
              Religious Ritual and Funerary
          Site Type: Broad
              Cemetery Lodge
          Site Type: Specific
              Cemetery Lodge
          General Period
              POST MEDIEVAL
          Specific Period
              Victorian 1837 to 1901
          Form of Evidence
              Ruined Building
          Description
              The sexton's lodge was built around 1873. A two storey limestone building with leaded windows, quoins, bargeboards and finial at the gable end facing the road. Later it was occupied by caretakers and groundsmen. In 1881 the parish sexton was William Reid and he lived in the lodge with his wife Mary and his 24 year old daughter Mary Jane, who was a teacher. Mary died in 1886 and is buried in the cemetery. In 1890 George W Brown was the sexton. In 1894 his five year old son William died and was buried in the cemetery. George died in 1895. His wife Jane and their children Margery and Thomas moved to Newbottle Street. In 1896 Edwin Place was sexton. His wife Margaret died in 1903 and was buried in the cemetery. Around 1926 Mr Reynolds and his wife lived in the lodge. In the 1930s Mr JW Scott, gravedigger and caretaker, lived in the lodge with his wife. In the 1940s Flem Ely was the cemetery caretaker. In 1942 the council employed the cemetery caretaker. Around 1950 Gordon English lived in the lodge but he was associated with the cemetery. In the 1950s a Mr and Mrs Green lived in the lodge with their children. The lodge was empty by 1964 and fell into ruin.
          Easting
              434400
          Northing
              550420
          Grid Reference
              NZ434400550420
    Sources
              Paul Lanagan, 2003-2013, Houghton Hillside Cemetery Lych Gate & Lodge, www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/hillsidecemetery; Paul Lanagan, 2012, Houghton Hillside Cemetery - The Cemetery Keeper's Lodge, www.houghtonlespring.org.uk/hillsidecemetery; Friends of Hillside Cemetery website http://www.theoldcem.co.uk