Witton Cemetery (grid referenceSP082921), which opened in Witton in 1863 as Birmingham City Cemetery, is the largest cemetery in Birmingham, England. Covering an area of 103 acres (0.42 km2), it once had three chapels; however, two of these were demolished in 1980. The cemetery would perform up to 20 burials a day; however, it was declared "full to capacity" in December 2013, allowing burials only in existing family plots, or of babies or cremated remains.[1] Extra capacity was therefore provided at the nearby New Hall Cemetery.[1] The cemetery office was opened in 1999.
View of central Birmingham from the highest point of the cemetery. In the left foreground is a CWGC headstone marking one of the cemetery's 683 Commonwealth war graves.1903 Ordnance Survey map
Started in May 1860 and consecrated by the Bishop of Worcester on 23 May 1863, it was the only cemetery owned by the Corporation of Birmingham until 1911, when an expansion of the city boundary brought in others.[2]Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemetery were private concerns.[2] It opened in 1863 with an area of 106 acres (0.43 km2). In 1869, 2 acres (8,100 m2) were bought by the Jewish community for their interments,[2] forming Birmingham Hebrew Congregation Cemetery, at the north of the site, across College Road. In 1882 an obelisk was constructed to replace the monuments that were previously at The Old Meeting House chapel, which itself was demolished to make way for New Street railway station.[3]
War gravesedit
The cemetery contains 459 Commonwealth service war graves from World War I, over 200 of whom form three denominational war graves plots marked by screen walls bearing names of those buried within the plots and elsewhere in the cemetery whose graves could not be marked by headstones.[4]
There are 224 Commonwealth war graves from World War II, the highest concentration (31 burials) in a small war graves plot in Sections 55 and 56, and the rest are scattered individually in the rest of the cemetery. The names of 12 service personnel of that war whose graves could not be marked by CWGC headstones were added to the screen wall at the World War I plots.[4]
^ ab[2] Burial Locations for VC Holders, city of Birmingham.
^Andrews, Harry (2008). The Follies of a Victorian Athlete (William Snook 1861–1916). Leonie Press (Anne Loader Publications). ISBN978-1-901253-56-6.
^Major, Joanne. "James Guidney aka Jemmy the Rockman".
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witton Cemetery.
Birmingham City Council page
January 01, 1970
witton, cemetery, grid, reference, sp082921, which, opened, witton, 1863, birmingham, city, cemetery, largest, cemetery, birmingham, england, covering, area, acres, once, three, chapels, however, these, were, demolished, 1980, cemetery, would, perform, burials. Witton Cemetery grid reference SP082921 which opened in Witton in 1863 as Birmingham City Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Birmingham England Covering an area of 103 acres 0 42 km2 it once had three chapels however two of these were demolished in 1980 The cemetery would perform up to 20 burials a day however it was declared full to capacity in December 2013 allowing burials only in existing family plots or of babies or cremated remains 1 Extra capacity was therefore provided at the nearby New Hall Cemetery 1 The cemetery office was opened in 1999 Witton CemeteryChapel near the highest pointDetailsEstablished1863 1863 LocationBirminghamCountryEnglandCoordinates52 31 30 N 1 52 43 W 52 5249 N 1 8787 W 52 5249 1 8787Owned byBirmingham City CouncilWebsitewww wbr birmingham wbr gov wbr uk wbr witton cemeteryFind a GraveWitton Cemetery View of central Birmingham from the highest point of the cemetery In the left foreground is a CWGC headstone marking one of the cemetery s 683 Commonwealth war graves 1903 Ordnance Survey map Contents 1 History 2 War graves 3 Notable burials 4 References 5 External linksHistory editStarted in May 1860 and consecrated by the Bishop of Worcester on 23 May 1863 it was the only cemetery owned by the Corporation of Birmingham until 1911 when an expansion of the city boundary brought in others 2 Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemetery were private concerns 2 It opened in 1863 with an area of 106 acres 0 43 km2 In 1869 2 acres 8 100 m2 were bought by the Jewish community for their interments 2 forming Birmingham Hebrew Congregation Cemetery at the north of the site across College Road In 1882 an obelisk was constructed to replace the monuments that were previously at The Old Meeting House chapel which itself was demolished to make way for New Street railway station 3 War graves editThe cemetery contains 459 Commonwealth service war graves from World War I over 200 of whom form three denominational war graves plots marked by screen walls bearing names of those buried within the plots and elsewhere in the cemetery whose graves could not be marked by headstones 4 There are 224 Commonwealth war graves from World War II the highest concentration 31 burials in a small war graves plot in Sections 55 and 56 and the rest are scattered individually in the rest of the cemetery The names of 12 service personnel of that war whose graves could not be marked by CWGC headstones were added to the screen wall at the World War I plots 4 Notable burials editPrivate George Ravenhill 1872 1921 VC recipient Boer War Grave currently 2012 unmarked 5 William Snook athlete 1861 1916 Died in workhouse hospital his funeral paid for by former running club Birchfield Harriers 6 Sergeant Arthur Vickers 1882 1944 VC recipient First World War 5 John Cadbury 1801 1889 was the proprietor of a small chocolate business in Birmingham England that later became Cadbury plc James Guidney 1782 1866 former soldier and pedlar 7 References edit a b Fears over chapel future as cemetery reaches capacity Great Barr Observer 28 February 2014 a b c In The Midst of Life A History of the Burial Grounds of Birmingham Joseph McKenna Birmingham Library Services 1992 ISBN 0 7093 0188 X Nicholson Jean et al The Obelisks of Warwickshire p 46 Brewin Books 2013 a b 1 CWGC Cemetery report a b 2 Burial Locations for VC Holders city of Birmingham Andrews Harry 2008 The Follies of a Victorian Athlete William Snook 1861 1916 Leonie Press Anne Loader Publications ISBN 978 1 901253 56 6 Major Joanne James Guidney aka Jemmy the Rockman External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witton Cemetery Birmingham City Council page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Witton Cemetery amp oldid 1140588702, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
