Hunnaball Family Funeral Group Honoured to Create Memorial for Colchester Cemetery’s First Burial

A special ceremony took place this week at Colchester Cemetery to unveil a new memorial marking the final resting place of the very first person ever buried there, bringing together local dignitaries, descendants and members of the community to honour an important piece of the city’s history.

Thomas Bolton, a respected Colchester bootmaker, became the first person to be laid to rest in Colchester Cemetery on 2nd May 1856, aged 72. For almost 170 years, the grave he shared with his wife, Elizabeth, who was buried there in 1868, remained unmarked.

The unveiling ceremony welcomed descendants of Thomas and Elizabeth Bolton, alongside the Mayor of Colchester, Sir Bob Russell and invited guests, all gathering to witness the dedication of a memorial that finally recognises the couple’s place in Colchester’s history.

The project was made possible through the efforts of Russell from Colchester Crematorium, who worked alongside Sir Bob Russell and Sharon Mooney to seek support for providing a permanent memorial. Hunnaball Family Funeral Group was honoured to be invited to create and install the headstone, ensuring the story of Thomas and Elizabeth Bolton will be remembered for generations to come.

Thomas Bolton (1783–1856) was baptised at St Mary-at-the-Walls Church and married Elizabeth Bennell there in 1816. A bootmaker by trade, he lived and worked in Crouch Street before retiring to the Winsley Square Almshouses on Old Heath Road. Elizabeth passed away aged 81 and was buried alongside her husband on 28th August 1868.

To reflect the significance and heritage of the cemetery, Hunnaball’s Memorial Team carefully selected a traditional half-round headstone with a curved front base, crafted from Nabresina, a durable Italian limestone renowned for its timeless appearance and suitability for memorials of the Victorian period.

The completed memorial now provides a fitting tribute to the couple while marking a significant chapter in Colchester’s rich history.

Everyone at Hunnaball Family Funeral Group is immensely proud to have played a part in such a meaningful project.

Our Chairman, Trevor Hunnaball said, “Our Memorial Team approached this with the utmost care and respect, recognising the historical importance of Thomas and Elizabeth Bolton’s story. It has been a privilege to create a lasting memorial that honours not only the first burial in Colchester Cemetery, but also a family whose descendants were able to share in this very special occasion.”

Hunnaball Family Funeral Group would like to thank everyone involved in bringing the project to life, particularly Russell from Colchester Crematorium, Sir Bob Russell and Sharon Mooney for their dedication to ensuring Thomas and Elizabeth Bolton’s contribution to Colchester’s history is permanently recognised.

Most of all, the Group would like to congratulate its Memorial Team for their exceptional craftsmanship in creating a beautiful and enduring tribute that will stand for many years to come.