As well as reporting on the lack of sewers, the lack of domestic
water supply, and the problems of night soil, he said the
churchyards were full and a cemetery was needed. Action was
demanded and the result was that Chorley was given an
Improvement Commission which governed the town for almost 30
years. The Improvement Commission was established in 1853,
but concentrated on putting in a sewerage system in the town,
and improving the water supply. The Cemetery was only opened in
1857. The laying out of the site was the responsibility of
the surveyor James Derham. |

Sir Richard Rawlinson (1810-1898) |