Until the Incorporation of the Borough in 1900, Swindon operated as two, quite separate entities. First there were the two Local Boards of Health (Old and New Swindon), then after the Local Government Act of 1894, the two Urban District Councils (Old and New Swindon). It was part of the reason the cemetery was so long in the consultation stage – neither of the local authorities wanted to pay for it!
One edition of the Swindon Advertiser, published on Saturday, November 23, 1895, included a Cemetery Committee report from the Old Swindon District Council while further down the page was a report from the Joint Cemetery Committee of the New Swindon Urban District Council.
How did local government ever get anything done?
Old Swindon Urban District Council
Cemetery Committee
This Committee in their report stated that during the last quarter 77 burials had taken place as against 72 in the corresponding period of last year. Dr Hoffmann, Her Majesty’s Inspector, had visited the cemetery and expressed his satisfaction at everything he had seen. The drainage at the Cemetery was now finished.
Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, November 23, 1895.
New Swindon Urban District Council
Joint Cemetery Committee
The report of this committee, among other items, contained the information that a sum of £79 15s 4d, was still unexpended of the £600 borrowed for draining the cemetery, the work having been completed. By this drainage scheme, the Surveyor reported that space had been made available for 6,996 more burials than was the case before, and that it was his (the Surveyor’s) intention of re-arranging the grave spaces, which would allow for about 800 more burials. Mr Longland, in moving the adoption of this report, expressed the indebtness of the Council to the surveyor and caretaker for the efficient manner in which the work was carried out at the cemetery.
Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, November 23, 1895.
published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.
Radnor Street Cemetery 