Linthorpe Cemetery is the oldest working Cemetery in Middlesbrough with the first burial dating back to 1869. It encompasses an earlier Quaker Burial Ground whose first burial took place in 1668. There are also two Jewish sections. It covers an area of 52 acres and contains over 50,000 graves with over 150,000 burials. The development of the cemetery is closely linked to that of the town and Middlesbrough's 19th century Mayors, aldermen, notable clerics, philanthropists and trades people are buried there. There are many large and interesting memorials, some of which have been sensitively restored in keeping with the surroundings.
It is the largest wooded area in Middlesbrough, many of which were planted in the 19th century. The dominant species are horse chestnut and sycamore with scattered species of pine, lime and oak. The cemetery is rich in bird life, both resident and seasonal visitors. Regular songbirds include the nuthatch, green finch, dunnock and siskin. There is some dead standing timber with luxuriant ivy growth which provides important nesting and feeding sites for tawny owls and great spotted woodpeckers.
The Friends of Linthorpe Cemetery
is a local group who aim to promote the cemetery and its wild life and hold regular events throughout the year.
To the cache
The cache is hidden at
N54 °33.ABC’ W001°15.DEF’
and should take around half an hour to complete. As you progress round the trail, find the numbers that replace the letters in the clues and substitute them into the cache location.
The clues to the cache are found on the newly opened heritage trail (marked with numbered posts around the cemetery) post 1 is nearish the Hebrew prayer house at grid reference N54 °33.822’ W001°15.219’ (the trail is circular so you can start at any point).
Follow the trail until you find the headstone for Private W Gascoigne (N54 °33.722’ W001°15.344’). What was his number?
D6690
Continue on until you reach the Mortuary House (N54 °33.645’ W001°15.437’), now home of the Friends of Linthorpe Cemetery. In what year was the cholera epidemic?
18C1
Next meet William Fallows, Middlesbrough’s 6th mayor (N54 °33.606’ W001°15.465’). In what year did he marry?
182F
Onwards around the trail to (N54 °33.648’ W001°15.166’) where you will find Thomas Dormand Stewarts grave. Thomas kindly donated the land for Stewarts Park to the people of Middlesbrough. He was born in
185E.
Continue and you will find Linthorpe Cemetery’s most unexpected burial Moses Carpenter (N54 °33.738’ W001°15.091’). In what year was he born?
18B4
Almost done now. Move on to the earliest part of the cemetery the Quaker Burial Ground.(N54 °33.779’ W001°15.088’) In what year was it established?
1AA0
You should now have all the information you need – happy hunting!
But if you are interested see if you can also spot:
• Thomas Carter, the founder of the Carter Bequest Hospital
• Joe Walton, the founder of a boys’ club in Middlesbrough.
• Fred Hardisty, one of Middlesbrough Football Clubs founders.
The cemetery is open until 8pm in the summer, and dusk in the winter.
Thanks to Claire Pitcher, Cemetery Project Officer, for her help with this cache.
Please remember this is still a working cemetery and to show respect.