Undercliffe Cemetery Charity

19/11/2025

Tomorrow morning (Thursday 20th) we will be officially opening our new ashes scattering and burial areas at Undercliffe Cemetery. The 'Historic England' Grade II* listed site is still very much a working cemetery. The launch starts at 10:30am and ends at 12:30pm.
Visitors will have the chance to view Victoria Gardens, our newly recovered area for burials, and see the Christine Chapple Circle of Remembrance - our new ashes scattering area. Both are located at the end of our magnificent main promenade and afford superb long distance views over the city, providing a link with the past and future of this green space, recently designated a 'Local Nature Reserve'.
All members of the public are welcome to attend and we especially look forward to seeing representatives of local funeral directors. Refreshments will be provided (along with washroom facilities) in our cosy Lodge and Trustees and Volunteers will be on hand to share information, not only about the history of our beautiful Cemetery, but also about the costs and siting of plaques. You can even hire the Lodge for mourners.
A representative from BMDC Bereavement Services will also be on hand where details of Bradford's new Shay Grange Crematorium can be discussed. Forming a mutually beneficial partnership with our Cemetery.
For interest - Shay Grange will be holding a Christmas Memorial Service on 6th December. See poster for full details.

See you there!

11/11/2025

Our annual Remembrance Service took place today at the Cemetery. A most appropriate setting where almost 400 of Bradford’s war casualties are either buried or commemorated.
Attended by the Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Peter Ackroyd MBE, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Fozia Shaheen and her Consort, Mr Nasar Hussain and the Reverend Duncan Milwain, Curate of Bradford Cathedral.
We were also joined by dozens of local schoolchildren, whose school representatives placed wooden memorial crosses on our Cross of Sacrifice in honour of local soldiers who lost their lives.

Each year, we produce a souvenir programme featuring the stories of two soldiers who are laid to rest within the Cemetery. The pages are reproduced here. The first, 2nd Lieutenant Harrison Leetham Storey, a former Bradford Grammar School pupil who died of his wounds on 12th September 1916 aged 22. Bradford Grammar School’s Combined Cadet Force can be seen visiting his grave just off the main promenade.
The second soldier, Company Sergeant-Major, William Boxshall, whose grave was recently discovered and renovated, can be seen being visited by members of the volunteer team whose hard work and dedication was responsible for the present superb condition of this previously lost soldier’s grave, one of many the team have been working on.

Special mention should also go to master Jacob Gill of the Queensbury Scouts for his note perfect rendition of the Last Post and the Reveille. Well played Jacob.

Thanks also to the many other organisations including the Royal British Legion that supported our event today. Not forgetting our amazing team of Trustees and volunteers, including kitchen staff, that ensured the event ran smoothly, despite the atrocious weather.

Lest we Forget.

09/11/2025

Our Glorious Dead

Glorious, Glory, an old word, needing an update?
Self-sacrificing , brave, finding a courage you can’t describe,,
Digging deep to find a strength not previously known,
Standing up when it would be easier to hide.
Every sinew crying no, but you still march forward.
Up the beach, over the top, through jungle and minefield.
Wherever you’re needed to go, the bullets, no excuse.
Across an ocean, through the sky, underground – posing as a person -
you clearly aren’t, tortured, executed as a spy.
Lucky to come home alive –
but dead inside. Loved ones - alien, normality – alien.
Still you don’t speak, you don’t complain.
You just watch the next generation flourish.

DS

06/11/2025

On the 4th April 1877, Joseph Pollard paid Undercliffe Cemetery Company for the burial of Isaac Johnson aged 38 who had died in the Bradford Infirmary a few days earlier. The grave was a Company grave or pauper grave and he shared his grave with 21 others. Who was Isaac? On the burial order he is described as a gymnast but he is also known as the African Hercules or Professor Johnson.
So, Roll up, Roll up and hear a little more about Isaac.
It is unknown when he began his career. He would have learnt his art over many years during which he is unlikely to be billed individually. Life at the circus was hard, poor living conditions, constant travelling, dangerous acts, and cruelty to both children and animals. Many children drifted to the circus as they had nowhere else to go or the alternatives were worse. The earliest advert billing him as the African Hercules appears in the Morning Herald (London) 13th March 1867 stating that for the first time in England the African Hercules....

The description makes one wonder where he performed before England; Africa or perhaps America? Perhaps he was escaping the American Civil War?
He worked in a variety of music halls, In Sheerness in 1868, he is described as:
The First Appearance of the African Hercules.
Mr Isaac Johnson.
The Man with the Iron Jaw and Lion Strength, who competed with the Prince of Morrocco (their spelling, not mine).

He is billed with Miss Jenny Stanley on the trapeze and Eugene Floyde the Champion one legged dancer!

By 1868, he is well established and tours Britain over the next ten years. He works with Manleys Great Cirque Olympique. This is not to be confused with the great the Cirque Olympique of Paris. However, he did not work exclusively with Manleys. In 1868, you could have seen him in North Shields as part of an “Endless succession of Novelties”, including Mons Jullian and his “Unparalleled leap of life in mid air”, “Five Mirth Provoking Clowns” and “Daring and Graceful Acts of Equitation”. The cheapest price of admission was 6d for a place in the gallery. The most expensive seats were 3s for reserved seats.

He went on to tour Scotland.
1869 saw him in Edinburgh. See Below.

In March 1870, he appears at the Royal Pavilion Music Hall in Sheffield. There is a bit of competition from other theatres in the town. At the Alexandra Opera House and Music Hall there was Dred, the fugitive of the Great Dismal Swamp and also introducing highly trained steeds. At Quaglieni’ s Great Italian Cirque at Barkers Pool there was monkey performing the “cleverest Acts of Equestrianism”.
In 1874, Isaac performs in Bradford at Pullan’s music Hall which was off Drewton Street. Henry Pullan and members of his family are also buried in Undercliffe Cemetery including his mother-in-law, Mary Dunn who is attributed with bringing the music Hall to Bradford. The write up in the London & Provincial Entr’acte (14/11/1874) states:
“Professor Johnson, the African gymnast is a clever artiste [with a *] sinewy frame giving one and all unlimited confidence [of his*] safety during some of his perilous feats.” *Some of the text is missing.
He continues to tour sometimes billed as the “Bronze Athlete” and he is now performing on an oscillating trapeze. He still manages to be billed as the “strongest man in the universe!” It is unclear whether he is still as strong as he once was or this is just used for marketing purposes. By this time he could have started with the chest problems that ultimately killed him. By August 1876 he is back in Bradford performing at Joe Pollard’s Star Theatre alongside several female performers who sing comic songs which I suggest could perhaps be on the b***y side. (Bradford Daily Telegraph 22/08/1876). His billing is not as grand as it had once been.

A matter of days before his death he is performing at Pullans Theatre. He dies on the 30th March 1877, certainly not a rich man for all his fame.

The money collected included 10shillings for his pauper burial.
Perhaps we should leave him with the description given of him for the Birmingham Concert Hall:

“Great Success of Professor Johnson, the Modern Hercules; the Sensation Wonder of Gymnastic Art”

(Aris’s Birmingham Gazette 02/12/1876)

North Briton 26th December 1869 + The Leeds Times 07/04/1877

04/11/2025

Another long overdue restoration completed by Graham and his team at Undercliffe. A rather simple but striking pink granite monument where one of ‘Bradford’s Worthies’, Mr James Gwynne Hutchinson, along with his wife, Elizabeth and five of their six children are laid to rest. About five years ago, the dislodged decorative urn had been rescued and kept safe (yes, people DO steal some of our fallen urns) in Graham’s workshop. Time to put it back where it belonged!

A renowned and respected character, recognisable as a monocle wearing avid s***f taker (for younger readers, s***f is powdered to***co, inhaled directly into the nostrils!) he was painted by famous Victorian Bradford artist, John Sowden, coincidentally, also buried at Undercliffe under a pink granite monument a little further down our main promenade. His collection of paintings, from street vendors to the wealthy ‘Worthies’ can be seen on the Bradford Museums & Galleries website.

Here is Sowden’s description of James.
“Mr Hutchinson was born in 1832 at West House, Wyke. His father, Mr Henry Gwynne Hutchinson, was a well-known solicitor in the district who practised at Leeds and Pudsey, and subsequently at Bradford. Mr Hutchinson came of a yeoman family which was for more than two centuries settled on its own little estate at Pudsey. Mr J G Hutchinson was educated at the Moravian School at Fulneck. He was intended for holy orders but he entered his father's office at Pudsey in 1847. His eldest son Mr Charles Harry Gwynne Hutchinson was taken into partnership. In 1892 his third son Mr James Gwynne Hutchinson Junior, was taken into the firm which took the title of Messrs Hutchinson & Sons. During a period of 20 years Mr Hutchinson built up a large practice and was appointed Coroner for the city in 1878. He relinquished his practice as an advocate & filled the position as Coroner until he resigned in January 1900. A staunch Churchman. Was an enthusiastic angler and was one of the founders of the Bradford Waltonians Angling Club. He died in April 1900.”

As we like to say at Undercliffe, every grave tells a story, and this one is no exception.
Incidentally, two of James’s grandsons; James (named after his father and grandfather - see image of a rather dapper character) and Leslie Gwynne Hutchinson were educated at Cambridge, during the First World War, both joined up and attained the rank of Lieutenant, both were killed in action, James, serving with the Royal Artillery, on 10th November 1917, his younger brother, Leslie, serving with the East Yorkshire Regiment, on 10th September 1918. Both are commemorated on the Burley-in-Wharfedale war memorial.

We are indebted once again, not only to Graham and his team, but to local Bradford companies, Bradford DIY and Fairway Roofing LTD for supplying all equipment, materials and labour completely free of charge, helping to preserve Bradford’s History in Stone.

31/10/2025

Well , All Hallows is upon us and before we stuff our heads in pumpkins and poke someone’s eye out with a plastic wand, remember this is the time to remember and feel close to our forebears. Undercliffe Cemetery has over 130,000 of those. In recent times I was part of a ghost tour at the cemetery and the story I conjured up was that two children came into the cemetery at night as a dare and met with all the phantom children who came out to play in the darkness. One of the living children was lured away by the phantoms never to be seen again. No, you’re right, it wasn’t a huge success but the bleak and sad fact is that probably half of those in the cemetery are children. A friend and colleague, Steve Lightfoot, who is running the transcribing project, recently sent me a list of those who are buried in the cemetery who have no surname (in fact no name at all). Out of the 29, 5 are adults and 25 children. How could the adults not be identified? Two found in streets, one being the busy highway, Bolton Road, One in a clay pit in Manningham, one in a quarry off Wood Lane, Bolton, another in the Bradford Canal also at Bolton. As for the stillborns, leaving them in ash pits seems to have been one place where these small lifeless bodies were discarded. Some were just left in the street, in the Parish Church grounds, the Vicarage gardens when it was at Goodmansend or indeed in Undercliffe Cemetery itself. Not forgetting in a mill damn. Some of these nameless infants were born alive. One can only hope that they were not discarded until death took them. One boy who lived for about two hours was found in a railway carriage at the Midland Railway Station. Even some of those born alive suffered the fate of being left in an ash pit. These souls neither have a name nor a headstone on which to engrave it. So when you are communing with past friends and relatives this All Hallows, remember those who were born or left this world with no identity. DS

31/10/2025

I'm sure many of you will have seen the magnificent new handrails that lead down to our historic core. Funded by a legacy payment left by a devotee of the Cemetery, the late Fiona Walker, who is buried here at Undercliffe, the handrails (shortly to have commemorative plaques attached in her memory) were made by Brighouse company, J.M.V. Contracts Limited, whose brief was to manufacture and fit steel handrails that would complement the Cemetery's Victorian heritage. I think we can all agree that they did a magnificent job!

Lovely to see that traditional craftsmanship is still alive and kicking.

25/10/2025

Beautiful day for a Ghost performance.

22/10/2025

Vertigo inducing video of the recent monument restoration😵‍💫 Great views of the cemetery is an added bonus. Thanks, once again, to Graham and his team and for the generous help provided by Bradford DIY and Fairway Roofing LTD. Video filmed and expertly edited by Riaz of Bradford Through The Lens. Make sure to check out his YouTube channel for more amazing Undercliffe videos.

In this unique stunning grave restoration challenge, we take on one of the most awkward graves – but there's a twist: it's all filmed from above with an acti...

12/10/2025

Another terrific monument restoration at the cemetery yesterday. Toppled by a tree branch over 50 years ago, the exquisitely carved top and cross had lain forgotten and forlorn at the base of their column. Standing at the end of the main promenade this was one of the cemetery’s earliest (1857) monuments and ripe for restoration, however, due to the lifting height and sheer weight of the granite, specialist and expensive equipment was needed to perform the task. Thanks to Graham Swain’s contacts, he was able to call upon the support of two local companies who were only too pleased to help out; Bradford DIY and Fairway Roofing LTD .
A fantastic example of community spirit and local enterprises who were willing to give up their free time to help preserve Bradford’s history. Along with the ever illustrious members of Graham’s team, all equipment and manpower was provided completely free of charge.
Impossible to express how grateful the management and volunteers at the Undercliffe Cemetery Charity are for their most generous and ongoing support.

Please keep an eye on Riaz’s ‘Bradford Through The Lens’ channel where aerial footage of this restoration will be broadcast shortly.

Bit of info on one of the grave’s residents for interest.
“Andrew Scott McLaurin born in Dalbeath, Scotland was a stuff merchant who traded as AS McLaurin and company of 31 Peel Place Bradford. In 1849 he married a Phoebe Milligan in Bradford. 1851 census shows he lived at 26 Spring Gardens, Bradford, 1861 census shows he lived at Bramley Villa Hipperholme. However West Yorkshire census records, there are a few show he lived at Hopewell House in Lightcliffe. The 1853 County directory mentions Slead Hall, Brighouse and Heptonstall, with his home address as Bradford.”
Thanks to Chris Lawson - Local researcher.

We hope you enjoy our photos and if you can, please try and support the local businesses mentioned in the post.

22/09/2025

There appears to be a story doing the rounds on Facebook today about a large Police presence at the cemetery late last night. Pleased to report that it was nothing sinister. The Police had received a call about somebody digging in the cemetery, it’s really not that unusual but certainly not during the hours of darkness!!! Turns out, somebody had been burying their dead cat. It was duly removed by the Police.

11/09/2025

We can now reveal our latest tour - Whispers from the Grave with Julia Varley.

Join us for a spooky performance walking tour with Ann Morgan and friends at Undercliffe Cemetery.

Our themed ghost tour will lead you through the eerie and mysterious history of this historic site, where you will meet the ghost of Julia Varley, who continues her life's work fighting for the rights of women and workers.

Saturday 25th October tours at 2pm and 4pm.
Tickets are £10 each [plus a booking fee]

Book your tickets here for the 2pm tour - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/whispers-from-the-grave-with-julia-varley-tickets-1679882536889?aff=oddtdtcreator

Book your tickets here for the 4pm tour -
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/whispers-from-the-grave-with-julia-varley-tickets-1679965314479?aff=oddtdtcreator