Due to the rapid growth explosion and industrialisation of Victorian Britain, traditional burial grounds such as parish churchyards became filled at ever increasing rates, creating an urgent demand for land that could be utilised for burials.
Welford Road Cemetery was established by the Leicester General Cemetery Company as a private burial ground for dissenters. However due to public pressure provision was made also for Anglican burials, and on 19th June 1849 the 17 acre cemetery was opened with a grand public ceremony.
Increasing demand for burial space, coupled with rules regarding the time allowed between burials in the same grave plot, led to the cemetery expanding numerous times in the 19th century, eventually reaching its present day size by the start of the 20th century. Two chapels were also constructed in the eastern part of the Cemetery, one for Anglican burials and one for Dissenter burials. These fine gothic style buildings were the centrepiece of the Cemetery and allowed expansive views over the growing town and beyond to Charnwood Forest.
There existed a number of buildings around the Cemetery, including Lodges at the southern (now the main) and eastern entrances. The latter is still in existence today and is now used by Leicester University as its Chaplaincy, with the original gate piers still visible on University Road.
With the creation of Gilroes and Saffron Hill Cemeteries in the early part of the 20th century, Welford Road Cemetery became used less and less over time with the effect that the buildings on site were slowly demolished one by one. The once grand chapels were demolished in the late 1950’s for reasons of safety, and the lodge buildings by the southern entrance were replaced with toilets and a small ancilliary building.
Like many other parks and cemeteries, years of reducing funding and budgets had led to a steady decline in the Cemetery. An application for capital funding was submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2004, with a subsequent award of £759,000.
Find out more information on the restoration project.
