Moorside Burial Ground, Golgotha, Lancaster

Tucked behind a small door in a high wall, squashed between historic cottages and a university sports centre is an unobtrusive plot of land, forgotten by most. This place has gathered a folkloric/mythical reputation; as it seems do a number of features in the Golgotha part of the city. Also known as ‘the Quaker graveyard’, is the now disused Moorside Burial Ground…

The ground itself is a small rectangular enclosure, at either side of the stone flags at the entrance is a stone bench. It was purchased by the Religious Society of Friends in the mid 1600s. The Friends (or Quakers) held the belief that a burial ground did not need to be a consecrated piece of land and during a time of persecution, a piece of land on the edge of town was probably more easy to come by than one in the town centre.

Cross Fleury in “Time Honoured Lancaster” recorded in 1891 that there was just one carved gravestone, which said “Here lies the body of John Lawson of Lancaster who departed this life on the 18 day of September in the 74th year of his age anno domini 1689”. John Lawson, he goes on to say, was the man who sheltered George Fox, the founder of the Quaker religious society when he was stoned by members of St Mary’s Church (The Priory) after trying to preach to them. John himself, as a follower of the same beliefs had a life of persecution, and was fined and imprisoned in the castle on a number of occasions. Today, this carved tombstone stands inside the Friends Meeting House on Meeting House Lane. Interestingly, in the same year that John Lawson passed away, King James II passed ‘The Toleration Act; a law ending the persecution by the state against non-conformists.

Historically, there would have been a much greater number of grave markers but during the 1840s and 50s, stricter members of the Society of Friends disagreed with tombstones, believing that memorials to individuals were unbefitting and they were removed. It was at this time the burial ground became disused, being handed over to the town as open space. 

Despite local folklore, there is no documentary evidence that those who died during past epidemics or those hanged as ‘witches’ in 1612 (or indeed any other people executed nearby) were buried here prior to it being used by the Friends.

If you choose to visit this peaceful site, despite it’s unkempt appearance, please remember it is a burial ground and treat it with care and respect. Candles and flowers may sometimes be seen left in remembrance here.