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56
A few years later found the churchyard so deplorably
kept as to provoke a public remonstrance. The subjoined
letter was read to the Vestry in May, 1816:—
Carlisle Street, Soho,
9th May, 1816.
Gentlemen,
The Church Yard of Saint Margaret, Westminster having
become very offensive to the public from the great quantity of
fresh Sculls Bones and Fragments of Coffins constantly thrown
up on opening the Ground which for a longtime past has not been
capable of admitting with propriety or decency any further
Interments ; I have been directed to inform you that under the
advice of Sir Christopher Robinson and Sir Samuel Shepherd, His
Majesty's Advocate and Solicitor General, the Commissioners
under the Act of Parliament of the 46th George 3d Cap. 89, have
determined to institute a Proceeding in the Ecclesiastical Court
to compel you to desist from depositing more Bodies in the
present Ground, but I am at the same time also to intimate that
the Commissioners are desirous that you should voluntarily take
effectual means for preventing any more Burials there, without
obliging the Commissioners to have recourse to any legal proceedings
for that purpose. The favour of an early answer will
oblige,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and very humble Servant,
E. ALLEN,
Cleric to the Commissioners.
To the Church Wardens of the
Parish of St. Margaret.
A Committee was appointed to investigate the subject of
this letter, upon which a report was shortly afterwards
presented:—
Friday, 21st June, 1816,—The Report of the Committee appointed
on the 28th of May last to ascertain the state of the Church
Yard was again laid before the Vestry and the result thereof
ordered to be entered in the proceedings of this day.
ST. MARGARET'S CHURCH YARD.
There are Coffins.
636 Super Yards of unoccupied Ground in the six
divisions* which calculating there is room for two
Coffins in depth will hold 636
320 Do Do. In the center path leading from East
to West which calculating there is room for three
Coffins in depth will hold ... ... ... ... 405
* The Plan of the Church Yard was divided into six parts.