Reading Old Cemetery

Reading Old Cemetery is a Victorian garden cemetery in the eastern part of Reading, Berkshire, England, right beside the busy road junction that took its name from the cemetery gates. It is Grade II listed and remains one of the town's most significant historic green spaces.

Where is Reading Old Cemetery?

The cemetery lies immediately east of Cemetery Junction, the major crossroads where London Road meets Wokingham Road, in the Newtown area of east Reading. The site is a large triangle between those two roads, which makes it easy to find: if you are standing at the junction, the entrance is the first thing you see. The coordinates are roughly 51.453 N, 0.946 W.

How did the cemetery start?

The Reading Cemetery Company was established in 1842 and obtained a private Act of Parliament allowing a cemetery to be built. The burial ground opened in 1843 and is counted among the earliest garden cemeteries in England. The idea was to create a landscaped, planted place for burial rather than a crowded urban churchyard. The grounds were divided into consecrated Anglican ground and unconsecrated ground for Dissenters and others.

Why is it called Cemetery Junction?

The entrance to the cemetery became known as Cemetery Junction, and the name stuck to the whole crossroads. Today it is a landmark in its own right and a common reference point in the town, even for people who have never gone inside.

What role did it play in Reading's history?

In 1856 the town's churchyards were closed for public health reasons, and the cemetery became the main burial place for Reading. Reading Borough Council took it over in 1959. Over more than a century and a half it has collected the graves and memorials of many local families, which is why local history groups and authors have taken an interest in the people buried here.

What can you see there?

The cemetery was built with an Anglican chapel and a non-denominational chapel, but both were demolished in the 20th century, so you will not find them today. What remains are the historic entrance buildings and monuments. Sources differ on exactly which structures carry their own listing. They mention the classical gateway and lodges, and a Sarcophagus Monument, among the Grade II listed features. The cemetery is also recorded on Historic England's register of parks and gardens.

Is it worth a visit?

If you like quiet, atmospheric places, Victorian funerary art or local history, it is a rewarding short stop. Walking the paths between older headstones gives a sense of how the town grew in the 19th century. Treat it as a place of remembrance: keep voices low and respect the graves.

Frequently asked questions

Is Reading Old Cemetery protected? Yes, it is Grade II listed, and it appears on the Historic England register of parks and gardens.

When did it open? In 1843, after the company behind it was formed in 1842.

Who looks after it now? Reading Borough Council has been responsible for it since 1959.

Are the original chapels still standing? No, both the Anglican and the non-denominational chapel were demolished in the 20th century.

Where is the entrance? At Cemetery Junction, on the east side of central Reading, at the meeting of London Road and Wokingham Road.