Brignall Old Churchyard
Brignall, Durham Unitary Authority, County Durham, England
It is believed that the villagers abandoned the original village and moved to the present location because of an outbreak of plague.
The artist J. M. W. Turner visited and painted the church in 1823. At that time it was in splendid isolation, but still in use.
In 1834 the villagers dismantled it, and carried its stone up over the bridges to use for their "new" church, leaving behind a fascinating ruin and the old churchyard, which is sadly overgrown.
Although the earliest legible headstone in the new churchyard dates from 1835, burials in the old churchyard continued for several years afterwards.
Many headstones still stand, but most of the inscriptions are largely or totally eroded and illegible.
The churchyard is reached down a steep, narrow public footpath to the side of the "New" 1834 Church of Saint Mary in Brignall Village.
At a signpost indicating "Public Footpath to Greta Bridge", "Public Footpath to Brignall Village" & "Public Footpath to Brignall Mill", the churchyard is visible in the direction of Brignall Mill.
It is believed that the villagers abandoned the original village and moved to the present location because of an outbreak of plague.
The artist J. M. W. Turner visited and painted the church in 1823. At that time it was in splendid isolation, but still in use.
In 1834 the villagers dismantled it, and carried its stone up over the bridges to use for their "new" church, leaving behind a fascinating ruin and the old churchyard, which is sadly overgrown.
Although the earliest legible headstone in the new churchyard dates from 1835, burials in the old churchyard continued for several years afterwards.
Many headstones still stand, but most of the inscriptions are largely or totally eroded and illegible.
The churchyard is reached down a steep, narrow public footpath to the side of the "New" 1834 Church of Saint Mary in Brignall Village.
At a signpost indicating "Public Footpath to Greta Bridge", "Public Footpath to Brignall Village" & "Public Footpath to Brignall Mill", the churchyard is visible in the direction of Brignall Mill.
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- Added: 24 Aug 2017
- Find a Grave Cemetery ID: 2649590
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