No mention of the Burial Ground (Paupers Graves) is on the original Agreements relating to the House of Industry, but it can only be assumed that it was part of the original plans along with the Infirmary, which was part of the Burial Ground. It was certainly on a number of maps dating from the 1840’s obtained from Ordinance Survey. Unfortunately most of the records relating to the burial ground have been lost or destroyed over the years, the latest when a fire broke out in Stow Lodge when the NHS was responsible for the building. We do know that the Infirmary was pulled down in 1960 and that the site was allowed to become overgrown and left to deteriorate.
 

Onehouse Parish Council became interested in purchasing the site in 1999 when the government, who let it be known that they would release the site to the local council, approached them. The site became the property of the parish council on the 19^th November 2000.

Most burials on the site were for smallpox where the body was usually sown into a sheet, laid into the grave and covered with quick lime and then soil. It was not usual to be buried deep. A small wooden cross bearing a small metal number was then put at the head of the grave. It is still possible to see a number of these crosses.

Metal numbers were used up to one hundred and after that painted numbers were used. Many of the metal numbers have been found over the years where the crosses have disintegrated or been vandalised. A number were found in the 1980’s when the first tidy-up took place by the pupils of the local school under the leadership of Mr John Michelle. He placed them into a cardboard box for safe keeping at the school, sadly they are now untraceable, as the school has changed roles in the community. Mr Michelle also put in the two concrete posts to exhibit these numbers but this project was not completed before he left his post at the school. The numbers found in recent years held in the garden of Paupers View. Unfortunately none of the painted numbers have been found.

According to research completed by John Michelle the last burial in Paupers Graves was in 1933, not it is assumed from smallpox! Over the years a number of relatives have contacted local councillors, most recently someone from Canada was enquiring about the burial of their mother.

With thanks to M.J.Chase, Ipswich Record Office, Peter Higginbotham, and John Michelle.

Thanks to all who came along for a successful working party on the 5th and 6th Feb. We managed to get a great deal of work completed over the weekend and hopefully we all enjoyed the hard work.

The next time we meet is the weekend 5^th and 6^th March again at 09.30 If you are interested in helping, even for one of the days in this important conservation work, just come along. We meet at Paupers View next door to Highlands.  All you need is plenty of energy, a pair of loppers or a saw or both.  Gloves are also essential.

Mike Chase

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 our thanks to the contributors from the community of Onehouse.- particularly to Andrew Sykes, OHS Mag editor