50
accounts, laying a rate for maintaining the fabric of the church. The warden for Drypool was appointed by the vicar, and his colleague for Southcoates by the parish. This system alternated. The rate for Southcoates was usually double that for Drypool, and separate accounts were kept.
DRYPOOL GREEN AND DRYPOOL FEAST
In 1831, the new road was cut to Hedon, and in the following year Drypool was incorporated in the Borough of Kingston-upon-Hull. In 1836 Drypool Square was granted to the parish in perpetuity by Sir Thomas Aston Clifford Constable. This lay in front of the church, and was partly occupied by a stagnant piece of water called the Green Well, which was being progressively filled in. Gradually the green was cut up for road widening, but the last portion, which until recently housed the major part of Drypool Feast, was only built on in 1958.
Most village feasts were associated with the dedication of the parish church. There is a minor feast of title on 1 st August, St. Peter ad Vincula. The feast was held in the second week of August, and if one makes allowance for the calendar alterations in 1751, the link with the patronal festival will be seen.
THE NEW BURIAL GROUND
The old part of the parish, Drypool-in-Sutton, was rapidly becoming industrialised by the middle of the nineteenth century. Oil mills, glue factories, the Hull Flax and Cotton Mills, and the Eagle Cotton Mills, completely changed this part of the parish, which was cut off and formed into a separate parish when St. Mark's was built. Increase in population meant increased burial space was needed, and the matter was further complicated by the requirements of the Dock Company
|
51
who, in 1843, requested a portion of the churchyard to make the lockpit for the projected Victoria Dock. The negotiations took four years, and finally a sum of £1,800 was accepted, the Company agreeing to build" a sufficient wall with Iron Palisading," and also undertaking" All expences and responsibilities attending the removal of the bodies, Vaults etc." These were the days of the body snatchers, and railings had replaced the old high walls, so that their activities might be observed.
The loss of part of the churchyard necessitated a new ground. Eventually it was decided to accept an offer of the Corporation of Hull" of a close of land on the North side of the Hedon Road." In addition, a further acre and a half was available from several members of the Grimston family. The land was secured and in September, 1848, it was decided to erect a sacristy and lodge.
This new cemetery has been a source of concern and embarrassment since its inception. Scarcely had it been purchased before it was suggested that it should be taken over by the Corporation without compensation. The frontage of the ground was never consecrated, and in 1883 an Act of Parliament was obtained to sell this, after reserving a space for a church and parsonage. The proceeds of the sale, after expenses, had been deducted were to go:- £1,000 to the Corporation, acting as the Burial Board, the rest to endow the new church and to improve the endowments of both St. Andrew's and St. Peter's. The sale was never proceeded with, and in 1890 an action was started by the solicitors concerned to recover their fees, so that when the land was sold no money was available for endowment purposes. There were other irritations to face, such as complaints about the state of the graves and their upkeep, and on occasion it was the sexton's language which was at fault. The ground was finally closed in 1929, and the sacristy demolished two years later. It has now been taken over by the Corporation, and will be turned into a garden
.
|