A century after it was forgotten, the grave of 15 orphans has been uncovered by diligent volunteer researchers.

These children, whose ages ranged from three to 18, had been under the care of a former Barnardo’s children’s home in Manningham, Bradford. Known as Dr Barnardo’s Home for Little Incurables, the facility sheltered them before they passed away between 1898 and 1911.

The establishment was dedicated to providing specialized care for youngsters suffering from terminal or severe illnesses, such as rickets and tuberculosis, which were widespread during that era.

After their deaths, the children were interred in a grave at Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford. This site had been acquired by the charity’s founder, Dr. Thomas Barnardo, but over time, it sank into obscurity and was lost.

Now, over a hundred years later, dedicated volunteers from the cemetery’s charity have rediscovered the mass grave by painstakingly transcribing historical records.

In their efforts, the team also unearthed a headstone inscribed with ‘Dr. Barnardo,’ seeing the light of day for the first time in about a century.

Irene Lofthouse, a volunteer and trustee at the charity, said the records covered 125,000 burials and took volunteers five years to transcribe.

She added: ‘It was a revelation to find out that Bradford had been a location for Dr Barnardo’s Home for Little Incurables and we and our research volunteers were excited by the discovery.

A long-lost grave of 15 orphans has been discovered in Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford, pictured, after 100 years

Diggers pictured restoring the grave and the large area of graves surrounding it which had sunk several feet below the ground

Children and staff who worked at the Dr Barnardo’s Home for Little Incurables. The orphans found in the grave all died between 1898 and 1911

‘As the database record gives the grave number, groundwork volunteers were then able to locate it and assess what needed to be done to restore it, enabling the cemetery to commemorate both Barnardo’s work and the children buried there.

‘Each time we uncover a record and a grave it adds and acknowledges not only to Bradford’s history but also national achievements – of which Barnardo’s is a part.’

The home provided residential care for up to 25 children before it moved to a bigger premise in Harrogate in 1911 which could hold twice the number.

Many of the children were orphans or from families struggling due to poverty.

Barnardo’s is now a large children’s charity which helps support children, young people, and families. 

Volunteers – including local gravedigger Graham Swain – are currently undertaking extensive work to restore the grave and the large area of graves surrounding it which had sunk several feet below the ground.

More than 120 tonnes of soil have been added to stabilise the ground in that area of the cemetery to enable members of the public to visit in future.

The grave, which is in the consecrated part of the cemetery, was previously only identified with a modest headstone and marked as ‘Dr. Barnardo’.

The restoration team are adding a new surround for the grave with individual memorial plaques for each child, as well as their own flower holders.

Researchers from the Undercliffe Cemetery Charity have also worked closely with Barnardo’s Making Connections team – who hold records of children the charity has supported over the last 150 years.

More than 120 tonnes of soil have been added to stabilise the ground in that area of the cemetery to enable members of the public to visit in future

The group also excavated the area revealing a headstone marked ‘Dr. Barnardo’ for the first time in around 100 years 

Graham Swain pictured with other volunteers at the grave in Undercliffe Cemetery. The work to restore the grave and surrounding area is hoped to be completed by mid-2026

They hope to create an account of the history of the children’s home and the life stories of the children buried in the grave.

Nadine Good, North Regional Director for Barnardo’s said: ‘We are deeply grateful for the care shown by the volunteers at Undercliffe Cemetery and for their incredible efforts in honouring the memories of these children, who were supported by Barnardo’s more than 120 years ago.

‘The Undercliffe team’s dedication to preserving local history means these children can be remembered for generations to come by the community they were once a part of.’

The work to restore the grave and surrounding area is hoped to be completed by mid-2026.