Ford Park Cemetery

Ford Park Cemetery is a convert|34.5|acre|ha|lk=on|adj=on cemetery in central Plymouth, England, established by the Plymouth, Stonehouse & Devonport Cemetery Company in 1846 and opened in 1848.cite web|url=http://www.plymouthdata.info/Cemeteries.htm|title=Cemeteries|last=Moseley|first=Brian|date=2008-04-10|work=The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History|publisher=Plymouthdata|accessdate=2008-08-27] At the time it was outside the boundary of the Three Towns and was created to alleviate the overcrowding in the churchyards of the local parish churches. Its official name at the time of inception was The Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse (Ford Park) Cemetery,Fact|date=August 2008 although it is now seldom referred to by that title.

The cemetery was originally convert|18|acre|ha in size, but a further convert|16.5|acre|ha were added in 1875. It came into use during one of the largest outbreaks of cholera in the country and during its first year it saw over 400 burials related to that disease. During Victorian times it was the main cemetery for the Three Towns,cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/outdoors/walks/plymouth_cemetary.shtml|title=Trail highlights Victorian past|date=2005-04-15|publisher=BBC Devon|accessdate=2008-08-27] and it is estimated that approximately a quarter of a million people are buried within its grounds.Fact|date=August 2008

Among the more famous graves is that of the Reverend Robert Stephen Hawker, the author of "The Song of the Western Men". There are 752 war graves from the First World War, over 200 of which are in a dedicated naval plot; and 198 war graves of the Second World War are scattered throughout the site. [cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2086000&mode=1|title=Ford Park Cemetery (formerly Plymouth Old Cemetery) (Pennycomequick)|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|accessdate=2008-08-27] The Victorian chapel building designed by J.R. Hamilton and James Medland is Grade II listed.cite web|url=http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/push-Ford-Park-Cemetery-funding/article-280957-detail/article.html|title=Last push for Ford Park Cemetery funding|date=2008-08-20|work=The Herald|publisher=this is Plymouth.co.uk|accessdate=2008-08-27 (Archived [http://www.webcitation.org/5aNo30aYX here] .)] Along the top side is a connected but walled-off Jewish cemetery.Fact|date=October 2008

During the 1970s and 80s, poor management, a loss of revenue because few people were paying for the maintenance of plots, and the popularity of cremation, all led to the dilapidation of the site.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2008/04/11/ford_park_cemetery_sg_feature.shtml|title=Bringing life back to a Plymouth cemetery|last=Geddes|first=Stuart|date=2008-04-11|publisher=BBC Devon|accessdate=2008-08-27] After the original cemetery company went into liquidation and after much public debate, in 2000 a trust was set up which reopened the cemetery, made dangerous structures safe, cleared the undergrowth, obtained renovation grants and created a walking trail around some of the graves of notable people.

The cemetery is a member of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe and the trust was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in 2005.cite web|url=http://www.cemeteryfriends.org.uk/87.html|title=Ford Park Cemetery Trust|publisher=National Federation of Cemetery Friends|accessdate=2008-10-11] As of 2008, there are further plans for renovation, aided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, including the renovation of the chapel, [cite web|url=http://www.ford-park-cemetery.org/|title=Ford Park Cemetery Home - Stop Press!|publisher=Ford Park Cemetery Trust|accessdate=2008-10-11 (Archived [http://www.webcitation.org/5bUzggWBN here] .)] and provision of a memorial to the civilian dead of World War Two. It is estimated there are over 10,000 usable grave spaces remaining in the cemetery.

References

External links

* [http://www.ford-park-cemetery.org/ Ford Park Cemetery Trust website]