Welford Road Cemetery

Welford Road Cemetery is a multi-faith Victorian cemetery in Leicester, in the English Midlands. Today it works as a burial ground, a historic park and a place for quiet walks among nineteenth-century monuments, and it is included on the national register of historic parks and gardens.

Why was the cemetery created?

In the middle of the 19th century Leicester was growing quickly and existing burial grounds were running out of space. The Leicester General Cemetery Company was formed in 1845 as a joint stock company to create a new cemetery. A design competition was held in 1848 and won by Hamilton and Medland of Gloucester, designers who also worked on cemeteries in Birmingham and Plymouth.

The cemetery opened for burials on 19 June 1849. Demand for plots kept growing, and the grounds were extended until, by 1869, they reached today's size of about 31 acres (just over 12 hectares). Between 1855 and 1902 it was in effect the only place for burials in the town, and through the whole Victorian period it remained Leicester's only corporation cemetery.

What can you see here?

The landscape structure has changed little since the mid-19th century. Curving paths, mature trees and a great many memorials define the layout. The core of the site contains many fine 19th-century monuments, and the cemetery buildings were designed together with the grounds as part of one plan.

Among those buried here are well-known historical figures. The most famous is Thomas Cook, pioneer of organised tourism, who has a monument in the cemetery. For anyone interested in local history, the inscriptions offer a way to read the stories of Victorian Leicester's residents.

Is it a protected site?

Yes. Welford Road Cemetery is a Grade II registered park and garden on the Historic England list, first listed in 1998. The register recognises places of special historic interest, and this cemetery is valued both for its surviving landscape design and for the quality of its memorials.

Condition and conservation

Over the years the site has suffered significant deterioration, and some monuments need conservation work. A Friends group was formed in 1999 to support conservation and care for the place. Efforts like this help keep the cemetery open to visitors interested in history and nature.

Frequently asked questions

When was Welford Road Cemetery founded? The company behind it was formed in 1845, and the cemetery opened for burials on 19 June 1849.

Who designed it? Hamilton and Medland of Gloucester, winners of the 1848 design competition.

Who is buried here? Among others, Thomas Cook, founder of modern organised travel, and many residents of Victorian Leicester.

How big is the cemetery? About 31 acres, or just over 12 hectares.

Is it a listed site? Yes, it is a Grade II registered park and garden.