A new charity has been launched aiming to breathe new life into Lancaster Cemetery.
The recently formed Friends of Lancaster Cemetery are keen to see the cemetery brought into wider public use not only as a place of reflection and remembrance, but also as a community hub where people can meet and chat, exercise, enjoy performances and learn about the heritage of the space.
The group has published its plans to support Lancaster City Council's Cemeteries department in making improvements to the Quernmore Road cemetery.
They aim to revamp one of the cemetery chapels and make it suitable for performances and exhibitions and as a welcoming space for visiting residents.
Among the historical figures buried at the cemetery are James Williamson, otherwise known as Lord Ashton.
Lord Ashton was born and raised in Lancaster and was the son of James Williamson I who was mayor in 1864/5. He became the prominent business figure of the city in the late 1800s, managing businesses that employed much of the district’s population.
Lord Ashton is buried with his third wife Jessie Hulme and Lady Florence Maud Whalley (Lady Ashton).
Margaret Williamson - Lord Ashton’s first wife - is buried in the neighbouring grave.
Edward Graham Paley, a prominent and highly successful local architect is also buried in Lancaster Cemetery.
Paley designed many significant buildings in the Lancaster District, notably all three of the cemetery’s chapels, both cemetery lodges, Lancaster Priory, and Lancaster Cathedral. He travelled from his birthplace near York to work as a pupil of Edmund Sharpe, and later became his business partner. His contribution to the community extends all across the north west of England.
"The cemetery is a wonderful and peaceful green space with a long and interesting history," said Catherine Stott (pictured below), chair of the Friends group.
"It is full of stories and has quiet reflective spaces. You can sit and think or wander and catch a glimpse of the varied wildlife that lives here. But we want more for it.
"Our aim is to help improve this space for the people of our city and beyond. We wish to make it a place full of peaceful quiet corners where people have time to themselves if they want to pay respects to those passed.
"But we also want it to be a vibrant cultural and community resource with storytelling, music, theatre, fun activities, opportunities for learning and more. And we are really keen to establish the cemetery further as a wildlife haven."
Lancaster City Council has made available to the group one of the three cemetery chapels, which has been closed for many years. The charity's hope is that funding can be secured in order to refurbish the chapel.
The group will also conduct regular maintenance tasks around the cemetery such as litter picking, general tidying, pathway and flowerbed maintenance and other practical jobs in order to help the cemetery look cared for.
There are also walks and tours of the cemetery taking place each month and there is a plan to welcome school groups to the cemetery so pupils can learn more of its significance in the city's history.
The charity would like to hear from anyone interested in joining the Friends group and who feel they could help in improve the cemetery. A membership application form can be found on the group's website.
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