Quaker Graveyard
During and after the English Civil War (1642–1651) many dissenting Christian groups emerged, including the Seekers and others. A young man named george Fox was dissatisfied with the teachings of the Church of England and non-conformists. He had a revelation that there is one, even, Christ Jesus, who can speak to thy condition, and became convinced that it was possible to have a direct experience of Christ without the aid of an ordained clergy. Quakerism gained a considerable following in England and Wales, and the numbers increased to a peak of 60,000 by 1680. However, the dominant discourse of Protestantism viewed the Quakers as a blasphemous challenge to social and political order, leading to official persecution under the Quaker Act 1662 . This was relaxed after the Declaration of Indulgence (1687–1688) and stopped under the Act of Toleration 1689.
There were many Quakers in the Wilmslow, Mobberley and Morley area. They had to practice in secret in private houses. Yarwood House on Wood Lane was almost certainly one of these
In 1669 a 400 square yard plot was purchased in what is now known as Graveyard Lane from Edward Alcock and others by Thomas Janney. In 1677 more was added to make 560 square yards. Alan Dale (Knutsford Historical Society) recorded 397 quaker burials. It’s thought that in its 200 year history (the last burial was in 1848) the total number of burials on the site was about 500. The burial registers for St Wilfrid's list 264 burials in the Quaker Burial Ground starting in 1679 and ending in 1753 and Quaker records list some earlier. Quaker records list 116 births from 1655-1789
In 1977 the plot was sold to John Alfred Davies and it remains in his family today but is sorely in need of some tlc. The wall is Grade 2 listed.
There were many Quakers in the Wilmslow, Mobberley and Morley area. They had to practice in secret in private houses. Yarwood House on Wood Lane was almost certainly one of these
In 1669 a 400 square yard plot was purchased in what is now known as Graveyard Lane from Edward Alcock and others by Thomas Janney. In 1677 more was added to make 560 square yards. Alan Dale (Knutsford Historical Society) recorded 397 quaker burials. It’s thought that in its 200 year history (the last burial was in 1848) the total number of burials on the site was about 500. The burial registers for St Wilfrid's list 264 burials in the Quaker Burial Ground starting in 1679 and ending in 1753 and Quaker records list some earlier. Quaker records list 116 births from 1655-1789
In 1977 the plot was sold to John Alfred Davies and it remains in his family today but is sorely in need of some tlc. The wall is Grade 2 listed.
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The graveyard in better days (right)
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