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Cemetery Registers
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What are they?
Registers of burials in civil cemeteries (as opposed to parish church yards).
What dates do they cover?
1836-date (with a number of gaps).
Where can I see them?
Sheffield Archives, 52 Shoreham Street.
What format are they in?
Most of the registers are only available in microform.
Do I need to order them in advance of my visit?
We strongly advise that you book a fiche or film reader in advance of your visit. If you are intending to visit on a Saturday you are advised to ring in advance to check whether the registers you wish to see are in original format. Sheffield Archives runs a restricted services on Saturdays. Original registers required on a Saturday should be ordered by the previous Thursday. Contact Sheffield Archives 0114 203 9395 or email us at archives@sheffield.gov.uk.
Can I get copies?
Yes, we can normally supply copies for private study purposes, subject to the usual copyright regulations. Please email us at archives@sheffield.gov.uk for further information.
Further information
Until the 17th century people were usually buried in parish churchyards. After the 1689 Toleration Act Nonconformist and Jewish graveyards were opened and from 1800 separate Catholic graveyards were opened.
Private cemeteries opened in the 18th & 19th centuries as commercial ventures - plots were purchased so, generally speaking, poorer people could not afford burials there. Public cemeteries became necessary as overcrowded churchyards were closed in the 1850's. Towns were empowered to set up Burial Boards to provide public burial grounds which were run by Local Authorities. Cemeteries usually consist of two sections - consecrated (for Anglican burials) and unconsecrated (for nonconformists and others).
Crematoria became a legal means of dealing with the deceased from around 1885. In Sheffield the crematorium opened in 1905.
After 1813 details of names, abode, age and date of burial together with occupation, date of death and place of grave, are usually contained in a Cemetery Register.
The General Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Sheffield was opened as a private cemetery in 1836 and was closed in 1978. Sheffield Archives hold records for cemeteries at Attercliffe, Darnall, Burngreave and City Road amongst others and all are held on microfilm.
Many gravestone inscriptions have been transcribed and copies of these monumental inscriptions have been deposited at Sheffield Archives. They often contain some good biographical detail and details of family members and are therefore a most useful resource.
Downloads
Downloadable copy of a list of cemetery registers available to researchers (Word version) (67.5 KB)
Downloadable copy of a list of cemetery registers available to researchers. (65.5 KB)
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