Photo-a-Day  (Monday, 25th February, 2013)

Another bit of magic Dave....thank you....cheers!!!!

It looks like a scene from a Dracula film, is that Bela Lugosi behind that headstone?

I do wish alternative uses could be found for buildings such as this, rather than seeing them being left to decay in this way.

I think it's about time this eye- sore was demolished.

Spooky!!. I can almost see the blood dripping from Count Dracula's fangs.

A super image Dave - and again one that is well suited to the monochrome. Very sympathetically processed bringing out lovely detail.

Bring back the birds in colour!
Only one bird P-a-D so far this month - is it a record, Brian?
Someone wants a lesson in spelling - it`s Cemetery.

The photo is fantastic but the state of Wigan cemetary is a disgrace.

How sad it is when structures like this are allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair!

Eerie pic – great shot

Draculas crypt?....then again it is Ince!

Nice bit of hdr there dave
Super shot

this is a listed building they can't knock it down.

It wouldnt be in that state if the locals still used it to say there prayers.
So best thing now would be better knocked down and the stone reused to build a nice new house for someone.

There's a tree needs chopping,Dave!

You're right, cullie, the buildings in Ince Cemetery - the two chapels, the Lodge, and the entrance gates, are all Grade 2 Listed. The Lodge should be safe as it's now a private house, and the gates are not a real problem, but what can be done with the chapels? It's very difficult to think of a use for them which would justify the Council spending money on them in these straitened times - and who would want to buy them, given how crowded in they are by graves? It's a pity the Council didn't spend a little on them when they were first made redundant, to ensure they were weatherproof and secure, but even doing that now would be too expensive. I'm afraid it looks as if they'll be allowed to deteriorate to the point where demolition will be sought on the grounds of Health & Safety.
It's a pity, as I think they may represent the first major commission of the architect, Alfred Waterhouse - who went on to design many of our famous buldings locally and nationally, including Wigan's Library and the Natural History Museum in London.

I awoke this morning feeling a little depressed, Now I feel suicidal. The photograph has been well executed . Maybe I will get a reprieve.

Listed building..does it really matter these days, just look a the state it's in, "NOBODY CARES" Micks right, dismantle it before the act of god blows it down.

Theres video here, with a peep inside through one of the broken windows

http://youtu.be/oGlMUa3fTFA

http://www.youtube.com/user/singaporemick/videos?query=ince+cemetery

Councils spend money which is yours and mine, so I would hesitate to suggest this route to maintaining such properties.

The good Rev asks, "Who would want to buy them?" I wonder if such is the root of this problem.

If buildings such as this were offered free and gratis to anyone who would undertake to maintain their upkeep to a pre-agreed standard, I bet we would see very few of them decay in this way.

On second thoughts, to keep them out of the hands of property speculators, maybe some scheme where ownership is vested in a Trust, who in turn grant a lifetime tenancy at a peppercorn rent to the person who will provide for their upkeep: of course it would be necessary that it be free from restrictions, ie permitting residential or business use.

After all, the churches asked the community to give to provide these resources, why should not they be given back to the community when the need for them has passed?

God only knows what its like inside!

I would have thought that the money spent on st catherines steeple would have better spent on this building
Seems to me that the money spent on a steeple is wasted money when this building would have been of use

Brilliant photo,love it

Bob:

Not only God, Mick also knows. He has looked in through the broken window: he says so above!

Seriously though,
Cracking good photo Dave!

Rev David I've taken the following from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Waterhouse

"In executing the commission for the cemetery buildings at Warrington Road, Lower Ince, Wigan, (1855–56) he began his move towards designing public buildings in his developing Neo-Gothic style, ....."

and

Architectural work.
"Cemetery Gatehouse (Lodge and two Chapels), Warrington Road, Ince, Wigan (1855)"

Thanks folks - do like a bit o'moody mono :-)

Top photo - one of the best ever.

Super mono, that is Dave. But such a shame it's in such a state.

Neil - I'd not seen that reference, but it may be the result of my pointing out at every opportunity that Waterhouse began his practice in 1854, and the Ince commission of 1855 was probably his first major public works commission.
AP - you're right - anyone willing to take on the upkeep of these buildings (including taking them down and re-erecting them elsewhere) should be encouraged. The alternative is that they will eventually be taken down and lost altogether. As for ownership, they have never belonged to 'the church' - they were built by the local authority, and continue to be their responsibility. They have never, Mick, been places of prayer for the locals - they pray, still, in their own churches.
Pete - sadly the Ince cemetery chapels have no real purpose, unlike St Cath's, which still has a lively congregation. The cemetery is closed - the only burials there are in existing graves, perhaps 10 a year at the most, after a service elsewhere.

What a great photo.

Rev David Long:

Apologies: my comment in respect of churches, I had intended to address to the more general case of redundant ecclesiastical buildings. I had not made this clear, sorry! I had no intention of misleading anyone.

I would however argue the same case with respect to the local authorities.

Sounds like its a dead cemetery Rev David.

Rev David, I can see your hand at work on the web in this matter.

There are some other references such as http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1228334

and I believe there may be more in http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lancashire-Liverpool-Southwest-Architectural-Buildings/dp/0300109105/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1361834932&sr=1-1

and probably in Part I-3 of:-

ALFRED WATERHOUSE 1830-1905 BIOGRAPHY OF A PRACTICE COLLIN CUNNINGHAM AND PRUDENCE WATERHOUSE

Introduction

PART I THE EARLY YEARS

1. Quaker Roots
2. Becoming an Architect: Apprenticeship and Early Travels
3. Building a Practice: The Client Network
4. Some Early Commissions: The First Approach to Styles
5. National Acclaim: The Assize Courts and Strangeways
6. The Move to London and the Law Courts Competition
...

(note Prudence Waterhouse is the great-granddaughter of Alfred Waterhouse)

dabe b in Communicate, General; The mind boggles that you don`t realise that my comment above was said jokingly, in a sarcastic manner, in response to yet another P-a-D in monochrome.
Dave, I don`t like a bit o`moody mono as you very well know!

Hi Dave, could I please have a copy of this picture and use it as a title image in my Family's Family Tree for those buried within this cemetery. Obviously oyur name would be attached to the photo :)

Not at all a problem if not.

Went there once still haunts me to this day

James - feel free! I have some more if you'd like them.

If I'm not mistaken, They were up for sale a number of years ago.

WOW!! What a cracking photo.