The Leader of Oldham Council has announced that permanent memorials will be placed in Oldham’s cemeteries to remember adults, children and babies who were buried in unmarked graves.
The plan for the memorials was announced by Cllr Aooj Shah at Oldham’s full council meeting on Wednesday 11 September.
It comes after family members of stillborn children discovered their relatives were buried in a large unmarked grave in Royton cemetery.
The graves are believed to hold 145 stillborn babies, 128 babies and young children and 29 adults.
Cllr Shah said: ”Our hearts go out to the family members who have discovered their relatives were buried in unmarked graves.
“Sadly, the burying of people – including babies and children – in unmarked graves happened in graveyards all across the country.
“Thankfully this practice no longer happens, but it is wrong there is no acknowledgement of this in our cemeteries.
“I’ve now asked our cemeteries team to arrange and install memorials in all our Council cemeteries to remember those who were laid to rest in these circumstances.
