A BOOK detailing more than 2,780 headstones in Norton cemetery has been launched by Ryedale Family History Group.

Norton on Derwent, St Peter’s Church and Cemetery Monumental Inscriptions includes the completed transcription of all the headstones in the cemetery, along with all the inscriptions inside the church.

It is available either as a CD or download, which includes full colour photographs of every headstone and also a text only book.

The huge project has taken nearly a year to complete by volunteers and was co-ordinated by the group’s Monumental Inscriptions Co-ordinator Rita Gibson.

Volunteers Norman and Nid Bridges carried out all the recording of the headstones in the cemetery and Rita, along with Jane Jackson undertook transcribing all the inscriptions inside the church.

The volunteers also recorded the few remaining headstones near Derwent Pool where St. Nicholas’ Church once stood that hadn’t been seen before along with some damaged ones.

The Norton cemetery predates St. Peter’s Church, which was completed in 1911, and was opened in 1852, enlarged in 1886 with a further section consecrated in 1920 by the Bishop of Beverley. It was during the 1850s that many cemeteries were being opened as churchyards became full and posed a serious health risk. The Burial Acts allowed for the creation of Public Cemeteries, which were run by Burial Boards initially. Norton Town Council manage the Cemetery as part of their statutory duties.

Janice Wood, vice-chairman said: “We would like to congratulate Norman, Nid and Rita on all their hard work in completing this project, much of which took place over the winter months. They did a brilliant job and all credit to them for their stoicism.”