Bard Cottage Cemetery

Bard Cottage Cemetery is a First World War burial ground located near Ypres, Belgium. Maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, it is the resting place of 1,607 identified casualties from the fighting that took place in this sector of the Western Front.

Where exactly is the cemetery located?

Bard Cottage Cemetery sits half a kilometre north of Essex Farm Cemetery, another well-known war cemetery in the same area. The site's coordinates are 50.87633, 2.86842, placing it just outside Ypres — a town that became the focal point of one of the longest and deadliest stretches of the Western Front, remembered today as the Ypres Salient.

Why is this site historically significant?

The countryside around Ypres was the setting for several major battles between 1914 and 1918, and the land surrounding the town is dotted with dozens of military cemeteries cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The Commission was established to commemorate, in a dignified and permanent manner, the servicemen of the Commonwealth who died in both world wars, ensuring a consistent standard of care across cemeteries worldwide. Bard Cottage Cemetery is one such site — modest in size but holding well over a thousand identified graves, a reflection of how intense the fighting was in this particular stretch of the front.

What should visitors know before going?

Its proximity to Essex Farm Cemetery means the two sites are often visited together as part of battlefield tours and historical studies of the Ypres Salient. The route connecting them passes through terrain that once sat directly behind the front lines and today forms a quiet, green landscape dedicated to remembering those who died there. Visitors to war cemeteries in this region should keep in mind that these remain active burial grounds maintained with great care, not simply tourist attractions, and should be approached with quiet and respect.

Frequently asked questions

How many people are buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery? The cemetery holds 1,607 identified casualties from the First World War.

How far is it from Essex Farm Cemetery? Essex Farm Cemetery lies about half a kilometre south of Bard Cottage Cemetery.

Who is responsible for maintaining the cemetery? The site is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the organisation responsible for the upkeep of Commonwealth war graves around the world.

Is the cemetery close to Ypres? Yes, Bard Cottage Cemetery is located just outside Ypres, the town central to the history of the Ypres Salient during the First World War.