Green Lane Cemetery, Farnham

Green Lane Cemetery is a small cemetery on Green Lane in Farnham, Surrey, in southern England. It is one of four cemeteries owned and maintained by Farnham Town Council. It is not a tourist attraction in the usual sense, but for anyone interested in local history, genealogy or memorial architecture it makes a quiet and worthwhile stop.

What is the history of Green Lane Cemetery?

The idea of a burial ground beside Green Lane grew out of the local Burial Board and requests from residents of the Bourne area who wanted a place of burial near the chapel. Official approval took a very long time, and the chapel and cemetery came into use in 1914. The chapel is credited to the architect Arthur J. Stedman.

Over the decades the cemetery has had several custodians: the former Farnham Urban District Council, then Waverley District Council from 1974. In 2003 the cemeteries returned to Farnham Town Council, which looks after them today.

How is the cemetery laid out?

The grounds are divided into six sections for different denominations. There is also a children's area and a section for cremated remains. The chapel eventually fell out of regular use; the council sold it, and it now serves as a meeting house for a Plymouth Brethren congregation.

Who is buried here?

Burials noted by the council and other sources include the writer George Sturt, the architect Arthur J. Stedman, the actor Eille Norwood and Major General Sir Robert Pringle. The cemetery also holds 13 war graves: two from the First World War and eleven from the Second World War.

Can you look up historic burials?

Yes. Farnham Town Council keeps burial records and makes them available by appointment at its offices. Its website also offers background on the history of the town's cemeteries and guidance for family-history research, which makes Green Lane a useful starting point if your ancestors lived in Farnham.

How should you visit?

This is a working burial ground, so keep noise down, be considerate of mourners and follow the cemetery regulations published by the council. A walk round is usually brief, but it is worth taking time to look at the headstones, the arrangement of the sections and the greenery, which is especially pleasant in spring. The site lies at roughly 51.2009 N, 0.8090 W.

Frequently asked questions

Is Green Lane Cemetery open to visitors? Yes, but remember it is an active cemetery. Farnham Town Council publishes the current rules.

Who runs the cemetery? Farnham Town Council, which maintains four cemeteries in the town.

Are there war graves? Yes, 13: two from the First World War and eleven from the Second World War.

Can I search for ancestors in the records? The council makes burial records available by appointment at its offices.

Is the chapel still a cemetery chapel? No. It was sold and is now used as a meeting house by a Plymouth Brethren congregation.