The cost of a burial in 1894

Yesterday I published the story of William Barnes Keylock who died in 1955. Today I am sharing the documents concerning the burial of his father in 1894.

One of the most poignant revelations of reading the Keylock family burial documents was the cost of a basic burial in 1894, yet so many Swindon families were unable to afford even that.

The two accounts published here were issued by the Swindon Burial Board for Charges and Fees, for Interment at the Cemetery.

The first invoice is dated April 28, 1894, the day following William John White Keylock’s death (the burial board didn’t hang around!) and was addressed to his son Mr W.B. Keylock of 11 College Street.

The costs include 5s for a burial in grave plot A856. An additional charge of 2s 6d was for the services of the officiating minister and 3s for the Sexton. There was a 6d charge for a grave space indicator (presumably the terracotta markers seen about the cemetery today) and finally 1s to toll the bell. The cost of a burial (not the funeral itself) amounted to 12s, little more than 50p in today’s money, but so much more in 1894 – more than many Swindon residents could afford. But the Keylock family had not been such a family.

William John White Keylock was born in 1853 the son of John, a painter and glazier, and his wife Ann. He grew up in Albert Street and began work with his father. He married Susannah Ponting on July 20, 1872 at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, The Planks and by 1889 he was working as a beer retailer at 12 High Street, later known as the Baker’s Arms.

The second invoice addressed to Mrs S. Keylock was issued on January 31, 1895, some nine months after her husband’s death. Susannah has paid for the Purchase of Grant of Right or Burial in Grave Space No 855 & 856 Section A at a cost of £2 2s. She paid a further 2s 6d to have her husband’s details entered in the Burial Register. These are the registers vital to our research and it had never occurred to me that some names might be missing due to an inability of the family to pay. Finally, Susannah paid 2s 6d for a burial certificate. There is no entry for erecting a monumental stone so maybe there never was one. Susannah paid £2 7s (less than £2.50 today) but a big expense in 1895 and of course the funeral costs would be in addition to this.

William John White Keylock, retired publican, died on April 27, 1894 at 11 College Street. He left effects valued at £74 (worth around £9,000 today) to his wife Susannah.

Susannah remarried. She died aged 72 in March 1925 at the house she had shared with William. She was buried on March 21 in grave A856 with William and in the plot next to her son and daughter-in-law.

Finding these records that Rose so very kindly provided several years ago has been a thought provoking experience.

To be continued …