From: Sue Rowbotham
Journal Editor
Cheltenham Local History Society

A very short article 'Gravestones Rediscovered' in Cheltenham Local Histo
ry Society, Journal 1 (1988) p15 reads as follows:

'The recent discovery of two gravestones on the disused Honeybourne railw
ay at Pittville caused a degree of interest and controversy in Cheltenha
m. The evidence available now suggests that the stones originated from t
he Old Parish cemetery in the Lower High Street. In 1965 this was clear
ed by the Borough Council and under the powers given by the Open Spaces A
ct of 1906 the gravestones were removed. Many were dumped at Folly Lane Ti
p; others found their way to the King George V Playing Field at St. Mark'
s, while some were used to build a wall in a small open space in St. Paul'
s.

One of the Pittville stones was from the grave of Samuel Harper, an import
ant figure in 19th century Cheltenham. Harper was a Liberal and Radical ac
tivist, publisher and founder of two local newspapers, the Cheltenham Fr
ee Press and the Cheltenham Mercury... '

An illustration by Aylwin Sampson of Samuel Harper's gravestone beneath t
he article reads:

Sacred to the memory of
SAMUEL CHARLES HARPER
Registrar of Births Deaths &
Marriages for the district of Cheltenham
October 11th 1869 aged 70 years

I am assuming that the words are accurate but am not sure whether Aylwin a
ctually sketched the stone itself.

Cheltenham Reference Library has copies of the newspapers that Samuel Harp
er published.

Note from MM: The date of death is incorrect it should read 1859 but no do
ubt the engraving was quite weathered making it difficult to read.