Friends of the Cemetery
The Milton Road Cemetery Friends Group is a newly established group whose aim is to create awareness of the vast historical interest there is in Weston-super-Mare's only Cemetery.
Designed in 1856 by Mr Charles Davies, the Cemetery was designed as a Victorian Garden Cemetery, with a vast array of native and exotic trees and pathways to lead you round grounds to enjoy the spectacular views the Cemetery has to offer. At the time of construction, the Cemetery was built on the outskirts of the town, on a site which was previously used as a Bronze Age burial site.
The original design for the Cemetery consisted of two Chapels, a Non-Conformist Chapel and a Church of England Chapel. These were built with a six inch gap between them and the Bell Tower central to the driveway, this was requested by the then Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend Robert John Eden 1854-1869.
Building commenced in May 1855 by a local Builder and Stone Mason, Mr John Palmer.
The two Chapels together before the
Non-Conformist Chapel was dismantled
The picture to the left was provided to the Town Council in June 2009, after a request was made in the Weston Mercury, looking for a picture of the two Chapels together before the Non-Conformist Chapel was dismantled.
Weston-super-Mare Town Council took over ownership of Milton Road Cemetery in October 2003 and the Groundstaff, employed by the Town Council, have worked extremely hard to improve the Cemetery Grounds.
Unfortunately in November 2008, the Town Council had to close the Chapel to the public, due to the structure of the Bell Tower becoming unsafe.
The Town Council has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for financial assistance with the Chapel's repair and the Friends Group has been brought together to run a heritage project based on the heritage found in the Cemetery, including the flora and fauna.
If you are interested in finding out more about Milton Road Cemetery Friends, or the Heritage project planned, please contact the Development Officer at the Town Council on Tel: 01934 632567 or email develop@weston-super-maretowncouncil.gov.uk.
