Leicester cemeteries
Burial grounds in Leicester originally consisted of those attached to the seven churches and seventeen dissenting chapels. Some church yards have been used for burials for more than 800 years. This means that the ground attached to these churches was reused and these old churchyards consist of layers of burials, meaning some ground has been reused a staggering twenty-two. It is hard to believe that these small patches of land may consist of several thousand burials.
The first municipal cemetery to be opened in Leicester and the second outside of London was Welford Road Cemetery in 1847 covering 28 acres as burial grounds within churchyards were becoming overcrowded.
Belgrave Cemetery consisting of 5 acres of burial ground then followed in 1881 providing additional burial space in northern part of the City. These cemeteries have no remaining burial space although a very small amount of burials take place in family plots and vaults and offer an insight into the original Victorian cemetery with very little changing.
1901 saw the opening of the Gilroes Cemetery and Crematorium being the largest of all the cemeteries in Leicester boasting a 56 acre site. At the centre of the Cemetery is the Crematorium which was the second municipal crematorium in the UK. It is understood to be the eight busiest in the country. This Gilroes site includes a Jewish Burial Ground and a small section set aside for the Ahmadiyya faith. This site boasts the largest number of burials taking place within the City.
Lastly, the fourth and newest cemetery in the City is Saffron Hill which opened in 1929.
The first municipal cemetery to be opened in Leicester and the second outside of London was Welford Road Cemetery in 1847 covering 28 acres as burial grounds within churchyards were becoming overcrowded.
Belgrave Cemetery consisting of 5 acres of burial ground then followed in 1881 providing additional burial space in northern part of the City. These cemeteries have no remaining burial space although a very small amount of burials take place in family plots and vaults and offer an insight into the original Victorian cemetery with very little changing.
1901 saw the opening of the Gilroes Cemetery and Crematorium being the largest of all the cemeteries in Leicester boasting a 56 acre site. At the centre of the Cemetery is the Crematorium which was the second municipal crematorium in the UK. It is understood to be the eight busiest in the country. This Gilroes site includes a Jewish Burial Ground and a small section set aside for the Ahmadiyya faith. This site boasts the largest number of burials taking place within the City.
Lastly, the fourth and newest cemetery in the City is Saffron Hill which opened in 1929.