Nearly-Midnight The genealogy website relating to the family. A tangled web of people all related to one another, explore!
Robert Clark The Father of Henry Martyn-Clark - A missionary out in the North-West Frontier of India. One of the first Europeans to set foot in Afganistan
Affetside Census
A small village north of Bury, Lancashire, I can trace many of my immediate ancestors from there. On the Roman Road, Watling Street
Andrew Martyn-Clark My Father and his part in my World. Also my mother and his parents too.
Henry Martyn-Clark My Great Grandfather, his roots and his achievements. Discusses malaria but also his confrontations with Islam.

Update!


Many photographs have been added! LazylikeSunday.net home page lists them Please copy and reuse them - a link to LazylikeSunday will be much appreciated!

Saturday 2 April 2011

Sunbrick Burial Ground

Looking towards stone plaque
The Stone Plaque
The metal Plaque in the doorway

Looking at the exit
The Burial Ground
I stumbled upon this Quakers burial ground at an unearthly time of the day, way before breakfast, the dew was still wet on the ground. It was to be several hours before bacon was to be had. The bacon stop was well on the way to the Hoad monument. What was immediately striking was the peace and sanctity of the place.

It was no surprise that the Quakers had chosen the same place as our ancient ancestors had on Birkrigg Common for their stone circle. I wonder what our Quakers had thought of that those ancient stones.

There was no obvious signs that this was a burial ground, There were no mounds of earth. It was enclosed with local stone walls - obviously the sheep "tended" the short grass. There were tell-tale signs! There was however a low door with an inscribed metal plate and an inscribed stone inside. The location of Sunbrick is here and the location of the Birkrigg Stone Circle is here.  The inscriptions on the two plaques are below.




The Stone Inscription

SUNBRICK 
FRIENDS BURIAL PLACE

BETWEEN THE YEARS 1648 AND 1767 THE REMAINS OF 223 FRIENDS WERE INTERRED HERE AMONG WHOM WAS MARGARET FOX WIDOW OF GEORGE FOX WHO DIED AT SWARTHMORE HALL THE 27TH OF 2ND MONTH 1702 AGED 89 YEARS THE REGISTERS ARE IN THE REGISTER OFFICE OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS HOUNDSDITCH LONDON

The Metal inscription in the doorway

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
SUNBRICK BURIAL GROUND

BETWEEN THE YEARS 1654 AND 1767 THERE WERE BURIED HERE 227 FRIENDS AMONG WHOM WAS MARGARET FOX WIFE FIRST OF JUDGE THOMAS FELL AND SECONDLY OF GEORGE FOX FOUNDER OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
SHE DIED AT SWARTHMOOR HALL ON APRIL 23 1702 AGED 87

Until I typed in the 2 inscriptions I didn't realise how many inconsistencies there were. I already knew that Swarthmoor Hall had been Swarthsmore. I had also been led to believe that Sunbrick had also been named Sunbreak, and in the circumstances I could fully believe that. Of course you can visit yourself to check out these inconsistencies. Our route was to take us past Swarthsmoor Hall,  a refuelling stop at Morrisons in Ulverston, up to the Hoad and and also Furness Abbey.  Truly a long day in the hills of South Lakeland!

1 comment:

  1. Judge Thomas Fell is my 9th great grandfather. Does anyone know if his father George, who died in 1677, is buried at Sunbrick. Thanks

    ReplyDelete