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53
Battersea Cemetery.—Owing to fears being entertained
of the law with reference to interments not being
properly carried out in this cemetery, I was requested to
report on the matter. I ascertained that deep graves were
dug in the common ground, and were allowed to remain
open till sufficient bodies were forthcoming to fill up the
said graves. To within a certain distance of the surface, as
many as 2G had been placed in one grave, and frequent
complaints were made to me by the Clergy who officiated
at funerals, of the very disagreeable smells proceeding from
these open graves, which I verified myself on inspection.
A considerable quantity of water was found in these deep
graves, in fact they were far below the drainage of the
cemetery which is 8 feet, and not connected in any way,
consequently they formed large receptacles for the water to
settle in. The number of bodies placed in these deep open
graves, the amount of earth left between each coffin, and
the distance of the uppermost coffin from the surface,
formed the chief subjects of inquiry before the Government
Inspector of Burial Grounds, which took place at the
cemetery on August 4. and at which several Members
of the Board of Works, the Surveyor, Mr. Estlin, and
other gentlemen wei'e present. After a long enquiry, the
Inspector said that the case for the Board was fully proved,
viz.; that the official regulations had not been carried out.
Since this, matters have mended, and I am informed that
burials are now being conducted strictly in accordance with
the law. This is most desirable ; for burial grounds in close
proximity to houses, may become serious nuisances and
most injurious to the health of tlie neighbourhood. It is
only by conforming to rules carefully considered, that
mischief can be avoided. With respect to this Cemetery,
considering the large number of interments (over 1000
annually), and the small space of ground remaining unused,
it must, it is surmised, soon cease as a general burial
ground.
Disposal of the Dead.—The rapid occupation of our