Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The history of cholera in Exeter in 1832 / by Thomas Shapter. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
179/338 (page 145)
![The Board of Health were not, however, idle, and from their representations, the Corporation of the Poor, having been induced to review their decision of the 17th, had, on the day previously, ’ ’ J 1 ' 24 July, 1832. resolved,—“ that the North-west corner of Little Bury Meadow J0“7Voted'by he forthwith appropriated for a burial-ground for persons dying ^n^uhe™' of Cholera; and that a sum of money not exceeding £200 be 1°”r' placed at the disposal of this body for purchasing a piece of ground for the burial of persons dying of Cholera, if a more desi- rable situation than Bury Meadow can be found.” A Committee of the Corporation of the Poor immediately pro- ceeded to Little Bury Meadow, and having there staked out a piece of ground, “ part thereof containing in breadth 22 feet from the root of a tree in the hedge, in a south-easterly direction, and in length from the last named point, 192 feet, and in breadth at the lower end 33 feet, for the purpose of a burial-ground for persons dying of Cholera, deputed tlieir Chairman to wait on the Mayor of Exeter as chairman of the Board of Health, and inform him thereof.” On this, some circumstances worthy of passing note occurred : ^Juiy, under the impression that the above portion of ground was now (f^.d]!ru^|'llon dedicated to the purpose of a Cholera burial-ground, an order rioTln^on- was given that the body of a person then lying dead of Cholera,sequence- should be there interred, and the grave-digger was accordingly directed to proceed with the necessary arrangements. The pa- rishioners of St. David’s, having felt generally aggrieved at this appropriation of ground in their parish, rose in tumult, and somewhat of a riot ensued—the grave-digger’s webs were cut to pieces, bis tools scattered abroad, he himself assaulted, and even- tually obliged to fly ; while the warden of the parish retained many persons in his own house during the night, in order to pre- vent any further attempt at the interment. It was however evi- dent, on consideration, that this was not yet a legally constituted burial-ground, and the interment of this body therein was conse- quently abandoned. It took place early the following morning in the Bartholomew-yard, but it was with the greatest difficulty the men employed to assist could be prevailed on to enter upon their duty. On the coffin appearing in the street supported by webs L](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28041975_0179.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
