Ginns and Gutteridge, undertakers Leicester

[Angelaj]

Hi,
I was at All Saints church yesterday which was open as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme. They had a display of photos, ledger books and other documents relating to the purchasing of burial plots which had the names and addresses of the customers. The books were from the early 1900s and all belonged to Ginns and Gutteridge undertakers, just around the corner from the church.
It occurred to me that these may be a useful source of information for people researching their family after 1901. A little morbid I know, but if you've hit a brickwall it may be worth seeing if these records can be consulted by the public. As well as finding out what sort of coffin handles they had, you may also find out last known address and next of kin.
Angelaj

[tony vines]

Hi Angelaj

Ginns & Guttridge! What a familiar Leicester business.

Your post reminded me of an item I found in a box full of memorabilia of my Leicester ancestors. It was a nicely bound record of the puchase of a grave plot In Welford Road Cemetery by a great great grandfather in the mid 1800s. It is both a delightful and somewhat morbid record of life and times in those years, or should that be "death and times"?

My second ever job over 40 years ago was working as a trainee surveyor in the Leicester City Council Estates Department. One of its functions was to manage the city-owned cemetaries, although thankfully that task never fell to me. However, I remember the surveyor in charge telling me that periodically they took a mechanical digger up to the cemetary to scrape off the top layer of soil where the ashes were strewn. When I asked why, he explained patiently (imagine his eyes rolling) that if they didn't do so every few years the flower beds etc. would get too high! Doh! Where did the scrapings go to? Oh, down to the tip.

I guess if you decide to cast your relatives' ashes to the winds, so to speak, you shouldn't imagine that they will stay in the same place for long. But it did strike me as slightly shocking and also rather funny in a way. Sort of "dust to dust, ashes to the tip"!

Yours funereally

[Sandyhall]

Hi Angelaj

Ginns & Guttridge! What a familiar Leicester business.

Your post reminded me of an item I found in a box full of memorabilia of my Leicester ancestors. It was a nicely bound record of the puchase of a grave plot In Welford Road Cemetery by a great great grandfather in the mid 1800s. It is both a delightful and somewhat morbid record of life and times in those years, or should that be "death and times"?

My second ever job over 40 years ago was working as a trainee surveyor in the Leicester City Council Estates Department. One of its functions was to manage the city-owned cemetaries, although thankfully that task never fell to me. However, I remember the surveyor in charge telling me that periodically they took a mechanical digger up to the cemetary to scrape off the top layer of soil where the ashes were strewn. When I asked why, he explained patiently (imagine his eyes rolling) that if they didn't do so every few years the flower beds etc. would get too high! Doh! Where did the scrapings go to? Oh, down to the tip.

I guess if you decide to cast your relatives' ashes to the winds, so to speak, you shouldn't imagine that they will stay in the same place for long. But it did strike me as slightly shocking and also rather funny in a way. Sort of "dust to dust, ashes to the tip"!

Yours funereally

Hi

Your post made me laugh. So I had to tell you this.
My sister sadly died a couple of years ago, but all she wanted was for her husband to retire from work and to go and live in Spain, just before she died they spent 6 months living like gypsies traveling around Spain looking for The House, after she died she was cremated and he kept the ashes on the mantelpiece in the house, meanwhile he found a house he liked in Spain, brought it, built a sun patio, Yes you've got it the slabs where not level in
the corner so he used her ashes to level it off, says she can sunbathe to her hearts content there. Must be better than the local tip.

sandy

[tony vines]

I'm sure that your sister would have appreciated the joke Sandy. I guess that if you are happy to be cremated it doesn't much matter to you what happens to your ashes thereafter. In a sense it is simply a faster return to the atomic material from which we are all fashioned.

cheers

[Mutley]

My dad left strict instructions on the disposal of his ashes, bit on the Chet, bit on the Thames (fishing haunts), bit down the garden, all his favourite places.

Poor old mum sat with a ruler dividing them up on the kitchen table, while he, no doubt,

up there http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd64/jbrina/Smilie%20icons/laughing001.gif


Good job she did not sneeze!

[Sandyhall]

Hi
Oh no she wouldn't mind :D
On the other hand he just want's us to "Hoy him in the River" (Tyne that is, hes a Geordie) He was in a quandary as to what to do with her and the girls wouldn't eat in the Dinning Room where he kept her ashes.
Both my Nieces have been out to stay at the house in Spain and have said their Mum would have loved it there. Its just so sad she never got to go there herself so to say. |laugh1|
Sandy

[tony vines]

Hi Sandy

How come you've posted over 500 times since joining this January when I've only managed just over 200 since 2004. Are you going for a world record?

cheers

[Sandyhall]

Hi Sandy

How come you've posted over 500 times since joining this January when I've only managed just over 200 since 2004. Are you going for a world record?

cheers

Tony

I am retired and hate housework but I do love a puzzle. I have a sub to A******y and decided to use it not only for my own benefit but for others as well so anything I can look up I will and I'll even save it to a tree for you or anyone who wants it. I also have two Libraries near to me where I can do look ups in Parish Records which I do for other people. I look on the forum every day to see if anyone needs help. I think I even helped you a some point.
Sandy

[tony vines]

Sandy

You're a star. I was only expressing my incredulity that anyone could have entered so may posts in such a short time. More power to your elbow I say

Tony

[earthmother]

As an aside, and I realise this is an old thread, but can I ask how you found out about the open day? Is it a regular event?

My family have quite a few ties with All Saints, and I would love the chance to have a look around, but with it no longer being in regular use (so I believe), I had assumed the opportunity wouldn't present itself.

[Angelaj]

The church is open this year as part of the Heritage Open Days event. Times are 11-6 on thursday 10th September, the same on friday and saturday and 2-6 on sunday. You can visit it at other times, there is a contact number outside the church. Tou can also get this information from the Heritage Open Days website - there may be other places open that you're interested in.
Angelaj

[earthmother]

Thank you - that's great to know - I'll take a look at the site :)