Glasgow Necropolis

Glasgow Necropolis is a Victorian cemetery on a low but prominent hill just east of Glasgow Cathedral, and one of the most atmospheric places to walk in the city. It sits between the Townhead and Dennistoun districts, a short distance north-east of the modern centre, and combines history, funerary art and wide views over Glasgow.

What is the Glasgow Necropolis?

It is a large garden cemetery from the nineteenth century. Around fifty thousand people have been buried here, yet, as was typical of the period, only a small share of them are named on monuments, and not every grave has a stone. About 3,500 monuments remain on the hill, ranging from modest markers to tall, elaborate memorials. Together they make an open-air record of how the city's families remembered their dead.

How did it begin?

Planning started in 1831, led by the Merchants' House of Glasgow under Lord Provost James Ewing of Strathleven, in anticipation of a change in the law. The Cemeteries Act was passed in 1832, and the Necropolis officially opened in April 1833. The Merchants' House commissioned a feasibility study and held a design competition. The model was the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, with its landscaped slopes and monuments set among paths. In September 1832, shortly before the opening, a Jewish burial ground was established in the north-west section of the land.

What is the John Knox monument?

The tallest and best-known landmark predates the cemetery itself. A column topped with a statue of the reformer John Knox, about twelve feet high, was placed on the hill in 1825, when the area was still a park. The statue looks west towards the cathedral. Knox is not buried here. The monument was raised in his honour, and it gives visitors an easy point of orientation as they climb.

What is the Bridge of Sighs?

The main entrance is reached over a bridge known as the Bridge of Sighs. Crossing it is part of the experience: you leave the city streets behind and step onto a hillside of paths, trees and stonework.

What should you see and how long should you plan?

• The summit. The climb to the Knox monument rewards you with a view over the cathedral and the city.
• The monuments. Take time to read the inscriptions and look at the carving. With roughly 3,500 of them, no two visits need be the same.
• The setting. The Necropolis stands beside the cathedral, so the two are easy to combine in one outing.

Allow an hour or more for a relaxed walk. Paths are on a slope, so wear sturdy shoes, especially after rain.

Frequently asked questions

Where is it? On a hill east of Glasgow Cathedral, in the area bordered by Townhead and Dennistoun.

How many people are buried there? About fifty thousand.

How many monuments are there? Approximately 3,500.

When did it open? In April 1833, after the Cemeteries Act of 1832.

Is John Knox buried there? No. The statue and column honour him, but they were erected in 1825, before the cemetery was laid out.

Is it a good place for photographs? Yes. The monuments, the trees and the views toward the cathedral and city make it a favourite with visitors who enjoy photography and history.