Headstone will mark 'forgotten' patients (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Headstone will mark 'forgotten' patients

3:10pm Friday 26th May 2006

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"FORGOTTEN" patients of Prestwich Hospital will be remembered forever following a poignant service at St Mary's Church.

The Bishop of Bolton, the Right Reverend David Gillett, performed a blessing on a new headstone installed to honour the memory of people who died while in the care of the former Prestwich Asylum.

It is believed that up to 5,000 patients were buried in a mass grave in St Mary's churchyard over the period of 1851 to 1968.

Patients came from far and wide to stay at the hospital in Bury New Road for a variety of reasons, including having illegitimate children.

The fact that the patients were buried together and did not receive individual gravestones was discovered by church members sometime later.

When St Mary's Churchyard Action Group was formed three years ago, the first project they wanted to tackle was the lack of a memorial to the forgotten 5,000.

Chairman of the action group Bill Cottam said: "We were made aware of this but at the time we didn't know how many there were. We wanted to create a lasting memorial to these people.

"They could have been admitted to the asylum for the slightest thing in those days and so had a bit of a rough time when they were alive. We wanted to right a wrong that occurred after their death."

The action group sought the support of the Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust, which is now responsible for the hospital, and Prestwich area board for money towards a fitting headtsone.

Fred Butterworth, whose family founded the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide, also contributed to the fund.

The group decided upon a five-foot high headstone made of a special and rare ruby grey Welsh slate, inscribed with a Celtic cross.

Mr Cottam added: "In the 1800s when rich people were buried in our churchyard, they had a Celtic cross and we wanted the same tribute to the patients. They can be laid to rest now."

Around 70 people attended an emotional service in St Mary's on Sunday, conducted by Rev Bryan Hackett.

The congregation then made its way outside to take part in a sermon and watch the Rt Rev David Gillett sprinkle holy water on the memorial.

It is hoped that all 5,000 names will eventually form part of a list, which will be read out in a future church service.

Rev Hackett, of St Mary's, said: "What we had thought were rough, unkempt areas of the churchyard turned out to be row after row of these unmarked, paupers' graves. The coffins were put in with just a thin layer of earth and lime between, and nobody ever laid flat the the mounds on the top.

"The rough ground where the patients are buried is a stark and shameful contrast to the fortunes lavished on the elaborate Victorian headtsones and modern graves. People in the community were very keen to remedy this injustice."

The service was attended by various clergy, a representative from the Trust, the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury, Coun Jack Walton and his wife Pat, Prestwich Heritage Society and chairman of the area board, Coun Vic D'Albert.

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