Friends Burial Grounds

The first Burial Ground local Friends had was in Yeadon and was used from 1671 until 1699.

Refer to the Indenture.

It became known as Dibhouse burial ground and it is sad to note that amongst the earliest burials were those of the Overend family, who "dyed of feaver", John and Margaret, his wife, along with Alice, Mercy, Nathan and Joshua. They were all buried between 18.3.1696 and 1.6.96.

The gravestones of Nathan and Joshua Overend were later removed and taken from Dibhouse to stand against the schoolroom wall at Rawdon. Aged 36 and 39 years, they died within 3 weeks of each other. In 1801 Rawdon Meeting sold the Burial Ground and Wood, and around 1890 most of it was covered by the Guiseley, Yeadon and Headingley railway line, now disused.

Friends were concerned to demonstrate equality in death as well as life, so there have been times when gravestones were forbidden. Even now, if one is used, it is considered proper that only the name of the deceased with the date of birth and death are on it. The burial ground at Rawdon has upwards of 600 persons in it which may go some way to explain the higher level of ground within its walls.