The February 2012 edition of Village Voices is now available
Letters to the Editor October 12th 1906
from the "Wisbech Standard" Friday October 12th 1906
"Dear Sir,
In taking a tour through some country churchyards in Cambridgeshire, I was sorry
to see some of them in such a disgraceful and deplorable condition, a
disgrace not only to the dead, but also to those having friends lying there. One of
these churchyards is Guyhirn where people have to wade through nettles and
rubbish almost knee deep to find the graves of the dear departed. Marble stones
are erected on some of them in memory of the departed, while others have
monograms placed upon them which it is impossible to see buried in nettles and
rubbish. I am sorry that today most of them have been broken by persons
accidentally walking over them, not knowing which way to go to find the graves
they are looking for. At Guyhirn Old Church, one of the buildings which escaped
destruction when Oliver Cromwell was making such havoc among the churches,
the ivy is growing through what were once windows, but which are now falling
into decay through neglect.
Is it not a pity ,Sir, that such an old fabric should be allowed to fall to decay
through such neglect? Would it not be a credit if the clergymen of these poor
parishes, with their £300 or £400 per year, would take steps to restore these
ancient buildings for the sake of their parishioners, and able to show respect for
the dear departed by appealing to some of their rich brethren with their
thousands per year to subscribe and put them in repair? Many a poor man with
only, perhaps, 14s or 15s per week has erected something in remembrance of
friends dead and gone, out of his small pittance.
The late Vicar of Guyhirn (Revd Mr Carpenter), a gentleman highly respected by
all who knew him, always endeavoured to keep the Old Church and yard in
repair, so they that had departed friends lying there could visit the graves and
place flowers upon them, showing the respect they bore for the departed ones.
Hoping that some Good Samaritan will soon be found, who is a lover of ancient
relics and will take steps to restore this ancient fabric and not allow it to tumble to
the ground for the sake of a few pounds.
I remain, yours, etc.,
"Z"
Guyhirn, Oct 8th 1906
NOTE: Since c1975 the churchyard and cemetery at Guyhirn have been carefully
tended by retired gentlemen from the village. Visitors and villagers all agree that
Guyhirn now has the best-kept churchyard in the district. The grass is cut to lawn
perfection and roses grow amidst the gravestones. We are most grateful to all
those who have worked so hard during the past twenty-five years.
From the "Wisbech Standard" October 26th 1906
"Dear Sir,
I read a letter about the disgraceful state of Guyhirn churchyard, and I am sorry
the author of that letter omitted to mention the state of the playground of Guyhirn
schoolyard. The playground where the children play is in a disgraceful state w
here here and there pools of water and planks laid down for the little children to
walk upon. Such a state of things is a disgrace to the parish. It is no wonder, Sir,
that the little children are suffering from colds when they are turned out of school
to play among mud and water and then return into school with their shoes
covered with wet mud after playing about on planks which are placed over the
pools of water not wide enough to cover over the holes where the water lies.
Some of them unfortunately slip, or are pushed, in by the larger boys nearly ankle
deep.
It is not surprising some of the little ones absenting themselves from school
through colds when the playground is in such a state. Who is to blame for
allowing such a state of things to exist? Is it the school inspectors or the school
authorities? All I can say is that it is a perfect disgrace to those who are supposed
to be in charge of the school management to allow such a state of things to exist.
Winter will soon be upon us, so let us hope those in authority will at once draw
their attention to it, and put the playground in thorough repair. There are, at the
present time, lots of men out of work who would be only too pleased to drain the
water off, and so bank the playground up as to allow water to drain away after
heavy rains, and so prevent the little children returning home from school with
their shoes and socks saturated in water and mire.
This page was compiled by Brian Payne, a
local historian living in the village of Wisbech St Mary. Brian
is also Vice-Chairman of the Parochial Church Council and is
currently engaged in raising £20,000 for urgent repairs to
our beautiful fourteenth-century parish church [see appeal page]. If you
found these pages, which give an insight into the past social
life of the parish, interesting, you might wish to make a
donation to the Appeal. Any offerings would be most gratefully
accepted and acknowledged. Contact Brian on
