Coventry Telegraph

£1.7m facelift for historic city cemetery

THE WORK INCLUDES NEW TOILETS AND IMPROVED VISITOR FACILITIES

- By ELIS SANDFORD

COVENTRY’S London Road Cemetery is set for a major facelift - with a seven-figure sum set to be spent at the site.

The 42-acre cemetery, located to the south east of the city centre, has been given a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant which will allow for improvemen­t works to take place.

In total £1.76million is to be spent - restoring some of the original Victorian features and ensuring that it is well looked after in future years.

The grant, which comes from money raised by National Lottery players, will pave the way for restoratio­n work, with the aim of showcasing the site’s history and heritage.

Coventry City Council is set to appoint a main contractor for the work - which is set to start in early March 2020.

It is thought that work will be completed by October this year.

The London Road Cemetery in Coventry is a Grade I-listed arboretum cemetery, designed by Joseph Paxton at the height of his career. It is Paxton’s only cemetery and is recognised by Historic England as one of the top five historic cemeteries in the country.

It is also known to be one of the best-preserved Victorian cemeteries in the UK.

A number of well-known individual­s, such as the founder of Arsenal Football Club, David Danskin, are buried within the cemetery grounds.

The project involves the reinstatem­ent of the original landscape design and the repair of major features, including the promenade and listed Anglican Chapel, along with multiple monuments and graves.

The phased programme of works will also see improvemen­ts to the path network, new horticultu­ral features and seating, repairs to stonework and significan­tly improved visitor facilities to the Anglican Chapel, including new toilets.

The former mortuary chapels are set to be opened up to provide spaces for exhibition­s, and tours and educationa­l informatio­n will be organised around the site to highlight the cemetery’s historical importance.

Other improvemen­ts will include work to safeguard and extend the life of the trees within the cemetery, including the ‘candelabra’ lime trees, which have been a popular feature for many years with visitors to the cemetery.

Councillor Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services, said: “It’s wonderful that this Lottery grant will enable us to make so many improvemen­ts for such an important historical site.

“It might seem a bit strange to talk about a cemetery as a relaxing place to enjoy a walk - but Paxton’s London Road Cemetery is a really beautiful setting and these improvemen­ts will ensure it is maintained and preserved for future generation­s to enjoy.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant will help to open up some of the buildings that have been closed for many years and an education programme will help to make more people aware of the cemetery.”

Anne Jenkins, director for England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “London Road Cemetery in Coventry is a place of immense heritage value. Designed by Joseph Paxton, it is Grade I listed and his only cemetery design.

“Cemeteries provide vital connection­s to our history, local communitie­s and nature, although their role as public open spaces is often overlooked.

“Thanks to National Lottery players this grant will support essential restoratio­n work across this extraordin­ary cemetery; saving monuments at risk and maximising its potential as a green space for people to visit, use and enjoy.”

 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom