The memorial tablet inside the church
The text carved on this white marble tablet reads:
TO THE MEMORY
OF THOSE,
WHO THROUGH ACCIDENTS
LOST THEIR LIVES,
IN CONSTRUCTING THE
RAILWAY WORKS,
BETWEEN SETTLE, AND DENT HEAD.
THIS TABLET WAS ERECTED
AT THE JOINT EXPENSE,
OF THEIR FELLOW WORKMEN,
AND THE
MIDLAND RAILWAY COMPANY
1869 TO 1876.
This tablet is a replica: the original now forms part of the collection of the National Railway Museum (ref 2007-7000).
The millenium memorial
An additional memorial was installed in the churchyard to mark the millenium. This takes the form of an inscribed metal plaque on a re-purposed stone gatepost. The text on the metal plaque reads:
IN THE MILLENIUM YEAR
2000
The church community of Chapel le Dale
erected this plaque To the Memory of the
many men, women and children resident in
this Parish between 1870 and 1877 who
died through accident or disease during the
construction of the Settle to Carlisle Railway
and who were buried in this churchyard.
The grave of Job Hurst
The text on the tombstone above the grave reads:
Sacred to the memory of Job Hurst who died December 7 1872 aged 57 years deeply lamented by his beloved wife and family he was sub-contractor for Batty Moss viaduct on the Settle Carlisle Railway this tomb was erected to his memory by his employees and friends as a mark of respect and esteem.
The tombstone was erected approximately one year after Hirst's death. It was designed and carved by Mr. J. Harrison, of Lancaster at a total cost of £43 1s., 5d. (the funds being raised by public subscription).
For a moving account of Hirst's death (which was attributed to 'heart disease') and his subsequent funeral, see Contemporary Account of SCR Construction: Lancaster Guardian - 1872, December 14th.
The grave of James Mather
The text on the tombstone above the grave reads:
When I was in the prime of life it was through a fall I lost my life.
No man in this world need boast of his might, he is alive in the morning and dead at night.
Acknowledgements
This snippet was complied by Mark R. Harvey (© Mark R. Harvey, 2019).