Baysdale and a Digression into the Art of Grave Digging

Baysdale today, perhaps the remotest dale in the North York Moors, accessible by car only from its head. This is Shepherd’s House, the last in the dale—or perhaps the first, depending on one’s perspective. I have already posted about Baysdale ad nauseum¹Out & About passim., so instead, I shall give you a little snippet from the Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, dated 2 March 1861²Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury 2 March 1861 Page 5. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000366/18610302/017/0005?noTouch=true.

The Newcastle Guardian originated in 1846, having evolved from the Tyne Mercury, which had been in circulation since 1802. The newspaper adopted a Liberal stance, tirelessly championing the separation of Church and State, the rights of Dissenters, the virtues of Free Trade, and the repeal of the Corn Laws, before ceasing publication in 1872³Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, The British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/newcastle-guardian-and-tyne-mercury.

The following story has a certain familiarity. It could almost be a sketch from that well-known Irish comedian of the 1960s and 1970s, Dave Allen. Perhaps I am remembering it from one of his television shows. It is, in any case, far more entertaining in the language of the original report (and, conveniently, it spares me the effort of further commentary), so I shall quote it in full:

“DISGRACEFUL PROCEEDING.—On Thursday week the remains of Mr George Forster, late manager of the Consett Iron works, were interred at Medomsley. The corpse was brought a considerable distance and orders were given to the sexton for the grave, which he began to dig on the morning of that day, but from his frequent visits to an adjoining public-house, the grave digging proceeded very slowly. The body on arrival was taken into the church, but the grave was not yet dug, and the part dug was found to be too small. Two men volunteered to finish the grave and the service was completed when the old sexton staggered forward to fill in the earth. He had scarcely got one shovelful of soil thrown in, however, before he went in full length himself upon the coffin. Endeavouring to gain the surface again he slipped his knee from the edge and went back over flat on his back with great force upon the coffin. He was then assisted out, but immediately decamped, leaving the friends to finish the work.”

• 1
  Out & About passim.
• 2
  Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury 2 March 1861 Page 5. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000366/18610302/017/0005?noTouch=true
• 3
  Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury, The British Newspaper Archive https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/newcastle-guardian-and-tyne-mercury