Peace, life and death in a Horsham cemetery
Take a stroll down Denne Road and idle a few moments in the cemetery. You’ll notice that the main avenue up the length of the site is an open, inviting pathway leading to a recently renovated gravel circle at a white post.
Further improvements are awaited including planting at the circle’s perimeter, all to complement the post.
It’s a Peace Pole and has not been as needed in all the years it has stood there as much as it is today.
War and its suffering prompted the foundation of a peace movement in Japan, which later transmogrified into a charitable organisation affiliated with the United Nations.
‘May Peace Prevail On Earth’ is the title of the movement which is also the inscription on the pole in our cemetery.
It is now one of 200,000 worldwide.
The cemetery itself has come under renewed scrutiny of late, and not only because of its peaceful sentiments.
A series of guided walks around the cemetery, led by
Horsham Society, have been successfully carried out over each of the last few years, proving surprisingly popular.
The graves are of keen interest because this cemetery was mainly used over the last half of the 19th century when Horsham was gradually transforming from a country market town into a wider settlement, thanks to the influence of the railway.
Over these fifty years those interred in the cemetery form a cross section of society in a manner impossible since, but probably quite typical of Horsham life for centuries beforehand.
There are splendid tombstones to the local gentry, elaborate graves for notable families, more modest affairs for everyday citizens and some space too for paupers.
There are Celtic crosses and table tombs, as well as a standard Imperial War Grave marker found universally where those who served their country lie buried, a further sad reminder of the cost of war.
The cemetery fell into disuse and became partly decayed and overgrown.
That is now an opportunity which HDC has taken up.
The railway line forms the eastern boundary on a raised overgrown embankment, and the northern end has run wild.
The plan is to leave the wilder parts to encourage wildlife, to modestly trim the access paths both to the Peace Pole and to the more notable graves, and thus yield a place of interest, reflection and relaxation for our citizens.
Wildlife has already responded emphatically to this favourable site.
A preliminary count of species to be found here numbers over 200, and many more await recording.
The wild population of birds, plants, insects and mammals will fluctuate over time and will have to be carefully monitored to be properly assessed.
It is clear already that this project is bearing fruit and will be a valuable asset.
It does need regular support from neighbours and friends to nurture its place in our town and we hope enough concerned people will come to its assistance now and over future years.
For more information see www.horshamsociety.org