Hastings Cemetery

Hastings Cemetery is a Victorian-era burial ground in Hastings, East Sussex, reached from the Ridge road on the town's northern side. Opened in 1856, it is both a working cemetery and a quiet record of the town's history, from nineteenth-century residents to the casualties of two world wars.

What is Hastings Cemetery?

It is the main municipal cemetery of Hastings and neighbouring St Leonards. Like many cemeteries created in England in the mid-1800s, it was laid out as a landscaped space for the growing seaside town, with paths, planting and monuments set across the hillside. It remains in use today, so visitors should treat it as a place of remembrance first and a sightseeing stop second.

What buildings can you see?

The original 1856 Gothic-style burial chapels were built from local sandstone. In 1955 Hastings Crematorium was built within the grounds and incorporated these two chapels, so the Victorian architecture is still part of the site's character. For anyone interested in funerary architecture, the chapels are the most notable structures.

Why do visitors come for the war graves?

The cemetery contains a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) plot. The CWGC records Commonwealth service burials from the First World War, among them two unidentified Royal Navy sailors, as well as a smaller number of Second World War burials. Casualties without individual headstones are commemorated on a Screen Wall Memorial. A Cross of Sacrifice stands in the Second World War section. Other sources add details about German servicemen buried here and civilians killed in air raids on Hastings and St Leonards, though the published figures differ between sources, so check the CWGC records if you need exact numbers.

The CWGC has also run guided War Graves Week tours here, including during the VE Day and VJ Day 80th anniversary commemorations, with the Cross of Sacrifice as the meeting point.

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, if you enjoy local history, genealogy, military history or Victorian architecture. It is not a typical tourist attraction, and there are no facilities designed for sightseers, so plan a short, respectful walk rather than a long stop.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Hastings Cemetery? Off the Ridge road in Hastings, East Sussex, England, at roughly 50.879 N, 0.593 E.

When did it open? In 1856.

Is there a crematorium? Yes. Hastings Crematorium opened on the site in 1955 and incorporates the original Gothic chapels.

Are there war graves? Yes. The CWGC maintains First and Second World War graves here, and a Cross of Sacrifice marks the Second World War plot.

Can I join a tour? Occasional CWGC tours have been held during War Graves Week. Check the CWGC events pages for current dates.

Is it open to visitors? It is an active cemetery. Be considerate of funerals and mourners, and keep noise and photography discreet.