Talk:Robert Raikes (1765–1837)

Source ?
The Raikes mausoleum is one such and, for this reason, of particular interest. His son, yet another Robert Raikes, married Eleanor Catherine Puget. His other son, Thomas married Elizabeth Armstrong (from Ireland). She died at the age of 27 years and was interred in the vault beneath the mausoleum. Also buried in the vault in lead shells are...Robert (1765-1837), his wife Anne (nee Williamson); and Eleanor Catherine Raikes (nee Puget)((Roberts first wife)) along with 2 baby sized coffins, (possibly stillbirths as this was very common in the 19th century).

In 1960 the vault under the mausoleum was broken in to, the two baby lead coffins were forced open and that of Elizabeth Raikes (nee Armstrong) ((Thomas's first wife)). Her skull was stolen and found near Hessle foreshore. A police investigation and HM Coroners inquest ensured that her skull was laid back to rest in its rightful place.

Soon after that, the vault deep beneath the mausoleum was permanently sealed with rubble and concrete. The then land owner Sir Basil Parkes kindly helped fund this.

The land on which the mausoleum lies was consecrated by the Church of England in 1822. Alongside the mausoleum is Welton Dale burial ground where residents of the parish had the right of burial. This new burial ground did not prove popular with locals, probably due to its distance from the village. Burials continued in St Helen's churchyard until 1883; when a new burial ground was opened in Common Lane, Welton and is still in use today.

I've rewritten some of this, and I think there was too much macabre detail - but a source is still needed.Mddkpp (talk) 22:18, 23 February 2012 (UTC)