London Road Cemetery marks 170th birthday

[dutchman]

Opened on October 9 1847, London Road Cemetery's anniversary is being celebrated on Sunday October 8



One of Coventry’s key historic sites is celebrating its 170th anniversary this weekend.

London Road Cemetery was opened on October 9 1847 and the landmark anniversary is being celebrated on Sunday October 8.

It has been rated as one of the top five historic cemeteries in the UK.

The oldest section of the cemetery - nearest the city centre, between Deasy Road and the railway line - is of national importance, with a Grade I listing by Historic England.

The cemetery was designed as an arboretum, with many new species of trees and combines a cemetery and an arboretum park over a seven hectare site. It also includes three chapels.

It was the first municipal burial ground in the country and designed by renowned architect and Coventry MP Joseph Paxton.

Paxton, who lived from 1803 until 1865, also designed one of the UK’s most iconic buildings ever - the Crystal Palace, which was built specially for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.

Sunday’s celebrations, which get under way at 2pm, include a walk and talk tour, followed by refreshments in the cemetery’s Anglican Chapel.

A special guest will be attending in the shape of Tommy Stoney, who is Joseph Paxton’s great great great grandson.

Sunday’s event is being organised by the Friends of London Road Cemetery, who are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year.

Built on the site of a former quarry, London Road Cemetery is the final resting place for many of Coventry’s famous citizens.

Several former mayors and key figures involved in the city’s industrial history are buried there.

It also contains a mass grave for the hundreds killed during the Coventry Blitz.

Notable Coventrians buried in the cemetery include George Singer who founded the Singer Cycle Company. His works’ football team, Singer FC, went on to become Coventry City FC.