After finishing earlier this year what was intended to be my last project because of health (& age) problems, I felt rather guilty of not producing anything for Holy Trinity, except Burials Publications in my role as Projects Co-ordinator for Wakefield & District Family History Society. I grew up in South Ossett and so most of my work was centred in or around it.
After living for over 18 years next to Holy Trinity (sharing a garden wall) I had been very used to seeing the gravestones. I knew that The Church had some records of Interments but that they were not easy for researchers to find. So, whilst looking out of the window at some of the gravestones I got the idea to photograph all the remaining ones. I thought it would be a nice, gentle task for my ‘retirement’ :>))).
Six months later I completed my task, visiting and re-visiting, many times, the churchyard in the early mornings whenever possible. I had no intention of copying out the Memorial Inscriptions as I hadn’t got the energy/stamina to stand for long periods at each stone, so I edited them at home. Some of them were illegible and many very difficult to read.
On the following pages are photographs of all the gravestones still standing or lying in Holy Trinity Graveyard, more than 1100. Obviously, there are several hundreds more bodies buried there but the records for these are held at the Church. I have given each image a number. NOTE: this is NOT the official Grave number, allocated by the Church Authorities. For this information please contact the Parish Office.
The Plan I obtained from the Church was an old one, before the churchyard was enlarged so I have drafted my own and divided it into areas. The Church uses the word ‘sections’ for their records, but these are not necessarily in the same order that I have done my photography.
©️ Joan P Smith 2018
This evening I walked around Holy Trinity Churchyard to think about my memories of the late Queen Elizabeth ll.
I was born in October 1936 in the short reign of Edward VIII but did not have any memories of him (except things I learned later), so I remember George VI being King when I was a child, (during the war years.)I was at Ossett Grammar School in 1952 when we were summoned to the hall by the Headmaster E.C. Axford. You could have heard a pin drop as we waited to hear what he had to say – there was a pause and he then said “The King is dead, long live the Queen”!! It was such a shock, many of us cried!! —–The following year on 2nd of June I took part in Ossett celebrations of his daughter Elizabeth’s Coronation, in a Square Dance group, which should have taken part in the market place but as you know it rained so we had to dance in the Town Hall!!
Hearing about her death has made me very sad. In all these 70 years I have known her I cannot find a single thing to criticise her with! God Bless Queen Elizabeth !!!
Joan P Smith September 10 2022
On the following pages are two indexes showing the area, image number, names, and other information.The first is alphabetical, so that the researcher can look for a particular name, find the area and image number and then consult the numerical index for a better understanding of the area. I hope! I am happy for my work to be used but please acknowledge the source.
ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF NAMES OF FIRST OCCUPANT
NUMERICAL INDEX OF GRAVESTONES
©️ Joan P Smith 2018
I’ve been unable to find the headstone below in Joan’s collection, so I’m adding it here.
Edited and updated April 2024
Anne-Marie Fawcett
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HORBURY & OSSETT FAMILY & LOCAL HISTORY 
