Redan Road Cemetery

Redan Road Cemetery is the main public burial ground for the town of Aldershot in Hampshire, England. It is also known as Aldershot Civic Cemetery or simply Aldershot Cemetery, and it is maintained by Rushmoor Borough Council. For visitors it is a quiet place with a history reaching back to the mid-nineteenth century and a telling record of a garrison town's past.

Where is Redan Road Cemetery and what is it?

The cemetery lies in Aldershot on Redan Road, at the foot of Redan Hill, at roughly 51.249 N, 0.748 W. It is the town's principal civilian burial ground. The much larger Aldershot Military Cemetery is a separate site nearby.

How did the cemetery begin?

In the 1850s the Army moved into the area, and the civilian town grew quickly alongside it. A new burial ground became a pressing need. The Aldershot Burial Board was formed in October 1860, and before the year was out it had bought a plot known as "Bedford's Field" at the foot of Redan Hill. The cemetery opened in 1861.

What can you see there?

• Two chapels. One chapel for the Church of England and one for Nonconformists were built on either side of the entrance roadway. The Redan Road chapels still host funeral services today.
• Jewish section. The Jewish section was consecrated in 1865 and also contains two military Jewish graves.
• War graves. Most military burials take place at the nearby Aldershot Military Cemetery, but 57 servicemen from all three services who died on active service in the First and Second World Wars are buried at Redan Road.

Who is it for?

This is a working cemetery, so it is first of all a place of mourning and remembrance. It may interest people researching local history, family history, Jewish communities in Hampshire, or war commemoration. Visitors should keep quiet, respect those tending family graves, and follow the rules set by the cemetery's managers.

Frequently asked questions

Who runs the cemetery? Rushmoor Borough Council, the local authority for Aldershot and the surrounding area.

When did it open? In 1861, after the burial board was formed in October 1860.

Are there war graves? Yes. 57 people from all three services who died on active service in the two World Wars are buried here.

Is there a Jewish section? Yes, consecrated in 1865. It also holds two military Jewish graves.

Is the crematorium on the same site? No. The crematorium is a separate site, while the chapels at Redan Road are used for funeral services.

Can I visit? The cemetery is public but still in use. Visit respectfully and check the current guidance on the Rushmoor Borough Council website.

In short

Redan Road Cemetery combines the role of a living town cemetery with the story of nineteenth-century Aldershot, which grew up around the Army. Its two chapels, Jewish section and war graves make it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the local history of Hampshire.