New gardens in upgrading plan to lift cemetery
ROCHDALE Cemetery is set to get an upgrade, with plans being submitted for two new memorial gardens, each with a memorial tree.
There will also be new railings, footpaths, seating areas, and landscape work, plus ramped access to the West Lodge entrance.
The Design and Access Statement said: “Rochdale Cemetery is a public cemetery opened in 1855 and is a Grade II registered landscape, listed in the ‘Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England’, with a Grade II listed principal entrance gateway.
“The cemetery currently has two remembrance gardens. One was laid out in 1938 when the crematorium was built in the northern part of the cemetery.
“The second memorial garden is located within the footprint of the former Anglican chapel, enclosed by the remnants of its stone walls and is dedicated to children.
“To the southwest of the existing War Memorial is the site of the former nonconformist chapel which is now a grassed, vaguely triangular island along the main driveway used as a sunny seating area with seasonal planting.
“This site is proposed to be a new memorial garden and the location of a new Memorial Tree feature. At the main entrance gateway, West Lodge is currently being sympathetically restored and will be used as a new Memorial Hall facility.
“The 20th century extension has been demolished as part of these works.
“It is proposed to site another Memorial Garden on the footprint of the former extension to provide a setting for a new Memorial Tree feature.
“The garden will be accessible from the restored West Lodge Memorial Hall, and will be used as a setting for other memorials.” The memorial trees will not be real trees - they will be made of steel, and the leaves will be engraved with names, and will have 600 leaves.
The council will decide on the plans at a later date.