The History of Carlisle Cemetery.
Carlisle cemetery was
opened in 1855 on high ground called Spital Moor on the then
outskirts of Carlisle. The land was chosen because it drained well
and could be excavated to six feet.
The Cemetery created a dramatic
change in local funeral arrangements and helped to improve local
health and the environment (helping to eradicate cholera and
typhoid). It also provided a central social point for the bereaved
and the general public.
The Cemetery was designed and laid
out on the principles of Loudon, a famous landscape architect.
These suggested that cemeteries should be open, well laid out with
trees and shrubs and that the buildings and memorials should
display fine architecture and design.
Overall, cemeteries were seen as
places to enliven the spirit and not as places of morbidity and
depression. Carlisle cemetery certainly meets these requirements,
and has received many recent awards including Cemetery of the Year
in 1998, 2006 and 2007. Cumbria Business Environment Network
Silver Award for recognition of progress in assessment and control
of environmental practice 2007 and Cumbria Biodiversity Award 2007
both for the layout, maintenance and quality of service.
Carlisle Cemetery contains in
excess of 100,000 burials set out in 22 wards. The cemetery was
extended prior to the First World War and again in the 1950’s and
more recently with the Woodland burial.
Each of the wards varies due to
age, ward one being the oldest and the start of the Old
Ground, where in the mid 1990’s large grass areas were
transformed into conservation zones or "Living Churchyards" where
techniques to improve environmental management have been
developed. These techniques have seen the re-appearance of
owls, butterflies and many wild and unusual flowers and
plants.
In the early years of the Cemetery
1,060 yew trees (Taxus bacatta) were planted, many of the
to form topiary trees along the main drive. These yews
still exist to this day and are trimmed annually and the clippings
sold to pharmaceutical companies to create anti cancer drugs.
The Crematorium
and grounds were opened on September 26th
1956. The grounds were mainly laid out to lawn and a few
shrubberies. In the early 1980’s the gardens were transformed
and laid out as wooded areas; The Months of the Year Memorial
Gardens and the larger Peace Garden.
The
Woodland Burial was the first site of its
kind. Opened in 1993 it provides an alternative burial
option where graves are located in a woodland
setting. Instead of head stones, families are
asked to plant native trees, English oak (Quercus sp)
Hazel (Corylus avellana), Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
and Scots Pines (Pinus sylvestris).
This purpose of this is to
encourage wildlife to the cemetery, particularly
the endangered Red Squirrel (Scurius vulgaris).