Leicestershire Parish Councils

After the possibility of extending the graveyard at St. Wilfrid's was rejected in 1891, a meeting of rate-payers was held and seven of them were elected to serve as members of a Burial Board. The Board looked at several sites with the intention of buying the most suitable for use as a joint burial ground for the two parishes. In July 1892 they entered negotiations with Merton College and the current site was purchased in May 1893. The Lychgate was completed by Edward Mason between July and October 1894.

At a meeting in 1973 it was resolved that a Joint Burial Committee be formed to become effective from April 1st 1974. There are seven members on the JBC, four from Kibworth Beauchamp and three from Kibworth Harcourt (Mike Bladon, Peter Knott and Bruce Moffat). The current chairman is Mrs Juliette Mortimer.

The JBC meets bi-monthly to approve memorials that are put forward and to agree any expenditure for the upkeep of the ground, as well as dealing with any matters that may arise. Dates and agenda are posted on the notice board situated in Jubilee Green and the minutes are available for inspection in Kibworth Library.

Recently the Lychgate has been renovated and is once more a beautiful building, well worth a look. The pathways have also recently been upgraded making access much easier. A major addition is an area for natural burials. This area is free from headstones and will be populated with meadow flowers.

The old records for the cemetery are kept at Wigston Record Office and more recent records are kept with the Clerk, Miss R. Lane. For further information please call Miss Lane on 0116 2792727.