Page 20 - Hunstanton Town & Around - January 2016

20 Hunstanton Town & Around January 2016 Tel: 01485 533422 email: editor@townandaround.net
The English Way of Death HUNSTANTON & DISTRICT CIVIC SOCIETY

John Maiden Andrew Murray
More than sixty people attended scale, dependent on one's position During the summer of 2011, the Maiden, Andrew Murray, Ivy
Hunstanton & District Civic in society and the trade had Civic Society became aware that Scales, Ann Stevens, Mavis
Society's monthly talk in certain rules regarding the format Old Hunstanton Parish Council Windibank and Adrian
November, given by Dr Julian of a funeral for an artisan; a had voted to demolish the shelter Winnington.
Litten whose subject was ‘The professional individual; or a on Chapel Bank dedicated to the Ann Stevens and Margi
English Way of Death’. With the member of the aristocracy; and memory of Mercy Gray. One Blunden prepared a very tasty
aid of some well-chosen woe betide the funeral furnisher councillor described the shelter as buffet which was much
illustrations, he gave a history of who endeavoured to provide a being dangerous, dilapidated and appreciated. This was followed by
the English funeral trade from its funeral of a quality more elevated an eyesore. Since that time the a most entertaining talk by David
early beginnings in the late to the deceased's rank. area around the shelter has been Reeve about his experiences
sixteenth century through to its Towards the end of the tidied and efforts have been made whilst “Policing Sandringham”
zenith in the Georgian and Victorian era the middle classes to finance its re-location and The next talk at Hunstanton
Victorian eras. began to rebel against the repair. From 20th to 24th Town Hall will be at 7.30pm on
According to Dr Litten the excessive street panoply, November 2015, Tony Armstrong Wednesday 20 January 2016 when
golden age of undertaking was demanding a simple, dignified and John Smith mounted an Maureen James will be giving an
the 18th century; a period when cortege. Rather. Not wanting to exhibition at the Le Strange Arms illustrated talk about the history of
members of the nobility and lose any profit from hiring-out Hotel illustrating the way in which Witchcraft. Admission £1 for
gentry were being provided with funerary accoutrements, the Hunstanton area looked at the members, £3 for non members,
bulky oak coffins richly undertakers went down-market, time of the first World War and the refreshments included. Prior to
upholstered in scarlet or black allowing the items formerly importance of the Gray family. each Talk, members and visitors
velvet, with silvered or gilt reserved for the gentry to be sold Despite the poor weather, many have the opportunity to get an
handles and gilt-brass coffin- lower down the social scale, people turned out and were update from the Society on current
plates. Destined for dynastic which is where the myth of the fascinated by the quantity of issues.
burial vaults or brick graves grand East End of London funeral pictures and information that had A letter has been sent to the
within churches, these items has its beginnings. been assembled. Planning Inspectorate supporting
contained a solid lead coffin, When answering questions, Dr As a result of a successful bid to the Borough Council's refusal to
encasing an inner wooden coffin Litten expressed sadness that so the Sustainable Development grant planning permission to
that contained the corpse. But this few funeral directors really knew Fund of the North Norfolk Area of develop land within the
had nothing to do with the history of their trade and that Outstanding Natural Beauty with Conservation Area adjacent to 29
preservation of the deceased; there were less than fifty funeral a contribution from the Borough Sandringham Road. The Borough
rather it provided a sanitary directors nationwide who knew, Council a new concrete base was Council has now responded to
barrier to encapsulate the odours or could provide, that which installed near to the lighthouse and issues raised by the Inspector
and gasses of decomposition. made for a quality funeral of even the shelter was re-positioned on during the Hearings in Public and
Some funeral furnishers 1915. However, Dr Litten has 1st. December. It is a testament to he will now complete his report.
dispensed with the use of a lead already purchased his brick grave the quality of the original build by The bid for Heritage Lottery
shell, which frequently gave rise on the Central Avenue in Boulton & Paul in 1937 that the Funding for renovations to The
to some unpleasant odours within London's Kensal Green Cemetery shelter withstood the move so Green and Esplanade Gardens is
church buildings, from which the and has even erected his own well. being prepared for submission in
expression ‘stinking rich’ derives. monument, on the grounds that mid January.
Prices were more expensive ‘one cannot really trust one's If you would like to support us,
than they are today, when a relatives to do that which one please join the Civic Society (£10
funeral costs the equivalent of a would desire’. Nevertheless, he single, £18 double), come to our
month's salary. In the 19th assured the audience that it would Talks evenings, volunteer to meet
century it was two month's salary, be many years before he would our wonderful public at the
and in the 18th century, three take advantage of his pre-need Heritage Centre – and enjoy
month's salary. Furthermore, acquisitions. Hunstanton looking to the future
funerals were sold on a sliding and preserving the best of the past.
Please visit our new website:
www.
The shelter as advertised hunstantoncivicsociety.org.uk –
in the Boulton & Paul speak to – Andrew Murray (01485
catalogue of 1937 532376), email
andrew.murray1@virgin.net or see
Repairs will now be carried out us on the door at one of our Talks.
to the shingle roof and woodwork. Hunstanton Heritage Centre –
The Civic Society's AGM was 15 The Green, Hunstanton PE36
held on 9 December and attended 5AH
by 58 members. Election of the After closing time on 22
chairman was deferred until the November a small reception was
first committee meeting. Alethea held for the volunteers to thank
Gillard was elected in her absence them for their work in continuing
as secretary and Stephen Kent has to make the Centre a success. The
become our new treasurer. The Centre will be closed until 19
elected committee members are February but could be opened for
Anthony Armstrong, Terry pre-arranged groups.
Dr Julian Litten is pictured with Ashworth, Margi Blunden, John
Civic Society Chairman, Andrew Murray