MODERN machinery helped restore magnificent Victorian grave masonry to their original glory at an Oakworth cemetery. Volunteers brought in a crane to lift the two marble obelisks back into place on the tombs of well-known local families.

Bandshire Crane Hire was the latest of several local companies giving their services for free to help with the mammoth clean-up of Dockroyd graveyard. During a busy day the band of Oakworth residents reinstated 10 broken headstones to their original positions.

Andrew Heaton, who owns the cemetery site and is masterminding the restoration project, said the day was the culmination of six months of effort.

He said: “The crane just managed to squeeze down Dockroyd Lane and do the heavy lifting. With pin-point precision crane owner Tom Blacker used his remote-control console to lift two obelisks weighing 550 kgs and a giant headstone weighing 780 kgs safely and securely back where they belong, cheered on by an enthusiastic group of supporters.

“This included the attractive pink marble obelisk seen by many as a particularly difficult challenge. Tom was ably assisted on the ground by Martin Swift of Swift Memorial Services and our stalwart volunteer Stuart Sharp, whose expert ability and advice has been invaluable to the restoration project.”

The lifting of the giant stone was particularly poignant for Stuart, because it was the grave of one of his many family relatives buried in the cemetery.

Andrew added: “Martin and Stuart reinstated half a dozen stone and marble crosses, transforming the appearance of the graveyard. Many of these crosses had been broken into multiple pieces and Martin had skilfully joined them all together.”

Andrew said the prominent pink marble obelisk was quite a feature in the graveyard, and proved a challenge to replace in its rightful position. He said that although the inscription on the headstone mentioned John William Cockshott and his wife Mary, the double grave was only occupied by John.

Born in 1848, he was the son of John and Martha Cockshott who are buried in the nearby Sugden vault because Martha was one of the three Sugden sisters. Another, Sarah, was wife to local mill owner Sir Isaac Holden who lived in a mansion at what is now Oakworth’s Holden Park, just across the road.

John junior was living in Dockroyd when he died in May 1886, his probate records showing he was a worsted manufacturer who left £1,193. His executors were Jonas Sugden Cockshott and Charles Edward Sugden of Haworth, both worsted manufacturers, and Benjamin Moore, farmer of Highfield.

Andrew said: “In 1881 John is shown as a visitor to an address near Morecambe, along with his wife Sarah and three-month-old baby Hilda. They did in fact later have another daughter Bertha.

“Following John William’s death Sarah Mary lived at Sykes Top where she lived off her own means and had the help of a governess and a domestic servant. By 1911 she and Bertha had moved to Radlett in Hertfordshire. Sarah Mary died there and left the sum of £1,542.”

The other obelisk re-instated, probably the tallest monument to the graveyard, was that of the Hartley family.

Andrew said: “It is an especially grand monument considering the meagre occupations of the family – all their resources must have gone to the church.1851 Joseph and Martha Hartley were living at Ickernshaw near Cowling with seven of their children, Martha, Nancy, Richard, Mary, Hannah, Joseph and Wilkinson.

“By 1861 the family had moved to Brook Row, Oakworth, where Joseph was a hand loom worsted weaver. Two more daughters, Sarah and Ann, had been added to the family. “Their daughter Dinah married Richard Simpson from Damems. Both were wool sorters. Richard’s father was Miles Simpson, a wool comber.

“Dinah and Richard Simpson were the parents of Private Joseph Simpson who was killed in action in World War One. His memory is recorded on the headstone of his parent’s grave who are buried elsewhere in this graveyard.”

Interesting family details such as these are being gathered by Andrew for many of the occupants of the graveyard as the restoration progresses.

He said: “We are finding a snapshot of life in Oakworth during Victorian times – every occupation from the mill owners, butchers, grocers, dressmakers, shoemakers to weavers and doffers – all are represented here.”

Andrew would like to hear from anyone who has information or photographs of family members buried in the graveyard.

Email andrew@heatonfamilyonline.co.uk if you have information or memorabilia.