Salem Burial Ground

A Salem Baptist (Particular Baptist) Chapel is depicted on the Ordnance survey first edition map of 1891

The chapel and associated burial ground is depicted on the Ordnance survey county series map of 1905. At this time, the chapel is described as disused

The chapel appears to have been demolished by 1956, as it does not appear on the Ordnance survey 6inch map of this date

The chapel has long been demolished but the graveyard remains.

The Chapel and graveyard appears to have been established in the early 19th century. It was established by Francis Smith, a Baptist who separated from the rest of his family to become a Salem Baptist, and created the cemetery for his and his family's future use. A chapel was built put a baptismal bath in the open to the west of the the burial ground. The foundation date for the chapel appears to be 1814, the date provided by a lintel fragment recorded in the burial ground. A group of headstones belonging to the Smith family, including that of the founder, date to the period 1844 to 1885. Three grave slabs or vaults are also present: these belong to members of the Sharpe family who may or may not have been related to the Smith family. The latest gravestones are dedicated to Theodora and Lydia Smith who died in 19401 and 1943 respectively. A number of unreadable headstones and burial mounds without headstones are also present.