These were the public graves containing the remains of local people who died in poverty. This type of burial was introduced in 1857 and continued until 1940. It enabled impoverished people to provide a decent burial for their loved one in a communal plot with a shared headstone. Rather than the family suffering the indignity of a paupers grave for their loved ones, a guinea or 21 shillings (that’s £1.05 in modern money), would pay for an inscription of up to 36 letters. These graves held up to 20 people and the graves were left open until they were filled. Some of the guinea graves in cemeteries around Leeds are inscribed with as many as 46 names. They were also often used in times of an epidemic. READ MORE: How Leeds improved its hygiene through the years LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
![An example of one of the 'guinea' graves, also known as subscription graves, located in Beckett Street Cemetery. The photo was sent to Leodis by a Mr. Bradley whose relative is commemorated here. Frederick Othick Johnson would have been his Great Great Uncle but sadly died at the age of only 17 months.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI3ZmUxNzMxLTE1YWEtNGZmMS1hMjI1LTVjZjUxODhhZmY4ODoxMWIyZjUzZi1jYjk0LTQ5YzAtYjA4MS02Y2U2ZmU2Y2Y0M2E=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Guinea graves
An example of one of the 'guinea' graves, also known as subscription graves, located in Beckett Street Cemetery. The photo was sent to Leodis by a Mr. Bradley whose relative is commemorated here. Frederick Othick Johnson would have been his Great Great Uncle but sadly died at the age of only 17 months.Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
![Does your family history include examples of those buried in guinea graves? Share your story with Andrew Hutchinson via email at: andrew.hutchinson@jpress.co.uk or tweet him - @AndyHutchYPN](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUxNTgzMjA3LTZkZDMtNGVlMS05NTYwLWNhYjIwNmZjMTUyYzplYTZmYmE3OC05NDgzLTRkMzctYmFjYS00NDFlZDYzOTU3ZDU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
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Does your family history include examples of those buried in guinea graves? Share your story with Andrew Hutchinson via email at: [email protected] or tweet him - @AndyHutchYPNPhoto: Gerard Binks