St Woolos Cemetery

St Woolos Cemetery is the main burial ground of Newport in south Wales. Officially called the Newport and St Woolos New Cemetery, it is a large Victorian landscape of paths, chapels and carved memorials on the western side of the city, and it is still in use today.

What is St Woolos Cemetery?

The cemetery was the first municipally built cemetery in England and Wales. Instead of a church or a private company, the town's own burial committee created it. That makes it an important place in the history of public health and civic life in Britain. The committee bought the land from Lord Tredegar in February 1854, and the first burial took place on 18 July of that year. The old graveyard around the cathedral stayed in use for a while longer and closed to new burials in 1866.

Where is it?

The cemetery lies about one mile west of the Church in Wales cathedral that carries the same saint's name, St Woolos. The cathedral stands on the hill above the city centre, so the walk between the two takes you from the medieval heart of Newport out to the Victorian expansion of the town. The name refers to Gwynllyw, the Welsh saint whose church gave the area its name.

What is there to see?

The cemetery has four chapels. Accounts differ on the exact number and condition of the buildings. Two mid-19th-century chapels stand near the south gate and a smaller, later chapel lies to the north. A former mortuary chapel near the northern boundary is a listed building. Some of the chapels have been unused in recent years, so expect to admire them from outside.

Among the grounds you will find ornate memorials from the early Victorian period, a good place to study how Victorians used stone, symbols and inscriptions to express grief and status. One notable monument is a granite obelisk for the men killed in the Newport Docks disaster of 1909, when a retaining wall in the excavation of Alexandra Dock collapsed and 39 workers died. A blue plaque near the entrance commemorates the artist James Flewitt Mullock, who also served as clerk to the burial board.

Heritage status

The cemetery is on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. This recognises both its design and its role in the history of burial reform.

Doctor Who connection

The atmospheric setting has attracted film crews. The cemetery has been used as a filming location for the BBC series Doctor Who, which was made largely in and around Wales. Fans of the show may enjoy looking for familiar-looking corners among the avenues of stone.

Practical tips

• It is a working cemetery, so keep your voice down and keep away from funerals.
• Paths can be uneven and slippery after rain, so wear sturdy shoes.
• Photography is generally fine for architecture and monuments, but be respectful of recent graves.
• Combine the visit with the cathedral and the city centre for a half-day of Newport's history.

Frequently asked questions

Is St Woolos Cemetery still used for burials? Yes. It remains the principal burial ground for Newport.

When did it open? The first burial took place on 18 July 1854.

Why is it historically significant? It was the first municipally constructed cemetery in England and Wales, and it holds a place on the Welsh register of historic parks and gardens.

Can I see the chapels? You can see them from outside. Some are no longer in regular use.