Catalogue description City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Company

Though some of the series, notably the daybooks, look as if they are incomplete at certain times, they are in fact all complete; the dating is just confused. However, the series of registers of private graves are incomplete: there is a gap from October 1929 to March 1946, some damage having occured as a result of the Second World War. Information for the period can be found in parallel series.

I INDEXES

Index to registers of purchasers, of private graves 1841-1941: The index is to purchasers, not those buried. Mr. X may buy grave space in advance for himself and his family, in which case his name will appear as purchaser, but at a date years before his own burial, and that of other members of his family. If, however, Mr. X buys grave space on the occasion of Mrs. X's death, the formal date of purchase recorded may be a few days or weeks after that of Mrs. X's burial, since the purchase was dated at the next meeting of the company.

Since the index is to purchasers, names of Mr. X's family subsequently buried will not appear; however, if a family grave is suspected, it is always worth searching for the surname earlier. If the maiden name of a person is known eg. Mrs Y (nee X), Mr X's sister, it is worth checking index X in the same way.

Indexes within general registers of private and public graves 1944-1966

Each volume has index of names of deceased buried in private graves, at back and public graves, in front.

THERE ARE NO OTHER INDEXES TO ANY OTHER CATEGORY AT ANY PERIOD.

II IDENTIFICATION OF GRAVES

Individual graves are identified by a grave number, and the position within the cemetery by a 'square' number - the 'square' being the plan within the series covering the whole cemetery. A key to the 'square' numbers is filed in the plan section of this catalogue.

Grave and 'square' numbers can be ascertained for private or public graves at the dates given below; if no reference is given, it is probable that the numbers cannot be traced.

Grave numbers

Private Graves (Dates) General Reference

1841 - 1966 CTHC/1/111-116

1854 - 1901 CTHC/1/43-62 (occasionally only)

1901 - 1966 CTHC/1/29-42

1944 - 1966 CTHC/1/106-110

Public Graves (Dates) General Reference

1854 - 1901 CTHC/1/43-62 (occasionally only)

1900 - 1929 CTHC/1/118-123

1946 - 1965 CTHC/1/118-123

1901 - 1966 CTHC/1/29-42

1944 - 1966 CTHC/1/106-110

Square numbers

Private Graves (Dates) General Reference

1841 - 1766 CTHC/1/111-116

1901 - 1944 CTHC/1/63-105 (occasionally only)

1944 - 106 - 110 CTHC/1/106-110

Public Graves - Details not recorded

Once the grave number and Square numbers have been found, and the 'square' plan obtained, the grave number must be searched for on the plan. This is frequently a difficult and time-consuming task, since the grave numbers do not run in sequence.

For further information please consult our Information Leaflet No. 5 entitled City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery, 1841-1966

CTHC/1/127, 128 and 130 are not available for consultation

The City of London and Tower Hamlets Company opened its ground to the south of Mile End Road, Stepney, in 1841; the last burial took place in 1966.

The cemetery ground was acquired by the Greater London Council in 1966 and was thereafter managed by the GLC Parks Department; in 1967 and early 1968 the records kept in the cemetery office were transferred to the Greater London Record Office.

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