MYSTERY OF NEW GATE AT BARTON CATHOLIC CEMETERY

The Barton upon Irwell Roman Catholic cemetery on Peel Green Road has been in the news the past week or so following the claim by local historian, Craig Ellis that not only is the graveyard being used as a drugs den, and the walls in danger of falling down but more controversially that nobody owns the graveyard which last saw an internment in 1948.

Over the weekend new gates have appeared at the entrance to the cemetery and a padlock fitted to stop entrance into it, but who has fitted the new gates?

We spoke to John Mullen the Labour Councillor for the Barton and Winton ward who was as equally confused as us, but he could confirm that Salford Council who have no jurisdiction over the cemetery haven't fitted them. but is interested to find out who has.

I spoke to Lawrence Gregory the Catholic historian who runs the Lancashire Catholic Past and Present site, he had never heard of Craig Ellis until he saw the newspaper headline, he states that the De Trafford family did bequeath the land to the Catholic Church.

He, said:

Quote

"The land is no-man’s land. It was given by the de Traffords to All Saints Barton as a catholic cemetery, but the registration of the deeds got lost and never took place, So it should belong to the Salford diocese.

"The only one's with legal rights to fit the new gates are Holy Cross Church, perhaps they have read the article and had them fitted"

Holy Cross Church confirmed today that they, hadn't fitted the gates either which all adds to the mystery.

We have filmed and reported on the cemetery several times over the years and we are as confused as anybody as to who is actually responsible for the cemetery and its upkeep, it certainly needs cleaning up on that we all agree and welcome any plans to clear it up.