warcorrespondent
New member
I am grateful to Andyj23UK for his report on the Calderstones Cemetery prior to the dreadful vandalism that took place in 2008. His pre-destruction images can be viewed [ame="http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/showthread.php?t=5950"]HERE[/ame].
I recently visited and can give an depressing update:
Almost a thousand deceased asylum patients were buried here. When the NHS sold off the cemetery to developers, the headstones were taken away. Where? I do not know, but three remain leaning against a boundary fence. In 2008, vandals destroyed the magnificent garden of remembrance memorial, including its four statues - fragments of which lie on the ground - other parts lie in a heap of rubble next to one of two chapels - equally badly damaged. Two halves of a stone font that was toppled and broken in two lie next to the other chapel. The developers had the idea of using part of the area for woodland burials and renamed it Ribble Valley Remembrance Park. It has since been sold on.
Beyond the mostly barren plot, lies the Whalley (Queen Mary's Hospital) Military Cemetery. During the First World War, the 2,000 bed Queen Mary's Military Hospital was housed in the County Asylum at Whalley, remaining there until June 1920.
A shocking account of the destruction can be found HERE
url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurie-manton/5406205226/]
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RIMG0160 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0018 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0020 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0031 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0171 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0175 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0177 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0182 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0185 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0211 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0053 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0054 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0229 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0236 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
I recently visited and can give an depressing update:
Almost a thousand deceased asylum patients were buried here. When the NHS sold off the cemetery to developers, the headstones were taken away. Where? I do not know, but three remain leaning against a boundary fence. In 2008, vandals destroyed the magnificent garden of remembrance memorial, including its four statues - fragments of which lie on the ground - other parts lie in a heap of rubble next to one of two chapels - equally badly damaged. Two halves of a stone font that was toppled and broken in two lie next to the other chapel. The developers had the idea of using part of the area for woodland burials and renamed it Ribble Valley Remembrance Park. It has since been sold on.
Beyond the mostly barren plot, lies the Whalley (Queen Mary's Hospital) Military Cemetery. During the First World War, the 2,000 bed Queen Mary's Military Hospital was housed in the County Asylum at Whalley, remaining there until June 1920.
A shocking account of the destruction can be found HERE
url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurie-manton/5406205226/]
RIMG0160 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0018 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0020 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0031 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0171 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0175 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0177 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0182 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0185 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0211 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0053 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
DSC_0054 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0229 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
RIMG0236 by Creating Pictures In My Mind, on Flickr
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