Sheffield General Cemetery

Sheffield General Cemetery is a Victorian burial ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, that today works as a historic park, a nature reserve and a place for local events. It opened in 1836 and was the city's principal cemetery of the 19th century, with more than 87,000 burials before it closed to new interments in the late 1970s.

Why was the cemetery founded?

In the early 1830s Sheffield's churchyards were overcrowded, and the cholera epidemic of 1832 sharpened the problem. The General Cemetery was created as a Nonconformist burial ground, open to Dissenters who did not want to be buried in Church of England grounds. Architect Samuel Worth designed the buildings, and Robert Marnock advised on the landscaping of the hillside site.

What is there to see?

The main entrance on Cemetery Road is an Egyptian-style stone archway from 1836, also by Worth. The original chapel and other buildings combine Greek Doric and Egyptian-inspired details, which was a fashionable approach in cemetery architecture of the period. The Nonconformist chapel has been restored and is now called the Samuel Worth Chapel; it hosts arts and community events.

Anglicans negotiated an extension of the cemetery in 1846, and the eastern section was consecrated in 1850 by the Archbishop of York. The Anglican chapel there is in Neo-Gothic style, in contrast to the classical look of the older part. A boundary known as the Dissenters' Wall separates the original Nonconformist grounds from the Anglican section.

Why is it protected today?

The cemetery is a listed landscape on the Register of Parks and Gardens kept by Historic England. It is also a Local Nature Reserve, so the paths, old trees and weathered monuments are home to wildlife as well as history. The site is owned by the City of Sheffield and managed on the council's behalf by a local community group, the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sheffield General Cemetery still used for burials? No. It closed for burials in the late 1970s. Today it is a heritage site and green space.

Who owns and runs it? The City of Sheffield owns it. The Sheffield General Cemetery Trust, a community group, manages it for the city.

What kind of architecture can I expect? Greek Doric and Egyptian-style buildings by Samuel Worth, plus a Neo-Gothic Anglican chapel in the later extension.

Is it a nature reserve? Yes, it has Local Nature Reserve status, alongside its listing as a historic landscape.

Are there events on site? The restored Samuel Worth Chapel is used for arts events. Check the Trust's current programme before you visit.