The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Graves at a South Holland cemetery have been smashed as a huge tree uprooted in recent high winds.
Part of Holbeach cemetery has disappeared under the tree which has obliterated around 30 graves.
The full extent of the damage may not be known until the tree can be removed.
The graves, which date from the 1880s to the 1930s, are all in the non-consecrated section of the cemetery.
Linden Secker, of Holbeach genealogy and cemetery research, said the stonework could be lost for good as a result of the tree coming down.
“Unfortunately we have some fairly hideous damage to graves.
“It’s the third year that a big tree has come down and caused damage in the cemetery,” he said.
“The council is really good and will hopefully clear the tree, but the stones will be danaged. We try and put them back in the right place.”
The tree left a hole in the ground around ten feet deep where the roots were upended in the high winds over the weekend.
Fortunately Mr Secker has a full biography and details of the area that was hit so there remains a permanent record.
“There were some big family names from the time in there, such as the Thompson family,” he said.
“Luckily it just missed some big stone angels.”
Mr Secker is a regular visitor to the cemetery as he works on genealogy projects for families around the world uncovering their roots in the South Holland town.
