Whitworth Road Cemetery was opened in 1916, upon entering the gates you will see directly in front of you a red brick chapel built to facilitate funeral services, it has a seating capacity of about 60 people with an organ and a loop system for the hard of hearing.
The graves at the top of the cemetery are arranged in a traditional format with large memorials and full kerb sets, in 1967 the layout was changed to a lawn section cemetery where memorials are placed back to back in straight rows, this provided the opportunity to greatly improve the standard on grounds maintenance and generally make the cemetery more aesthetically pleasing and tidy. However on the flip side some people feel the cemetery has become too rigid and uniform, losing the character of the older parts of the cemetery.
Within the cemetery there are two separate areas set aside for both Jewish and Muslim interments. Although no specific area for war graves there are a number of individual war graves from Second World War noticeable from their distinct design of stone and standard size. At the top of the cemetery there is small area specifically for the burial of babies. These are small individual grave spaces for babies. In the middle of the section there is a large wooden cross to which bronze plaques can be fixed.
In the lower half of the cemetery a special designated area was set aside purely for the burial of ashes this proved extremely popular with two extensions to the original area. Each area is divided in sections holding 84 individual plots with the capacity to accommodate two ashes burials in small caskets.
Since 1967 new graves in the cemetery have been covered in lawn, with memorials and plantings confined to the memorial end of the grave. There are two reasons for this; it makes the cemetery more tidy and attractive, as machinery can be used for cutting the grass regularly; and it is easier and safer for visitors to walk around to find a particular grave.
Many people have said how much they appreciate the care taken by the Council in looking after the lawn part of the cemetery. This standard of care is only possible because it is a lawn cemetery and, in order to keep up this standard, certain regulations have been made so that it will remain attractive for generations to come. Placing markers to show the boundary of any individual grave space or placing vases on the turf cannot be allowed as this would obstruct the regular grass cutting needed to maintain the cemetery to a high standard.
There are no kerbstones, grave mounds or individual gardens. Wooden crosses are not permitted and all planting is restricted to a soil border at the memorial end of each row of graves.
There need be no delay before any memorial is fixed into position since the ground where the memorial is erected has not been disturbed. There may be a delay however before lawn is laid over the grave. This is because lawns from turf or seed can only be laid when ground, weather and seasonal conditions are suitable.
During this delay the soil settles and extra soil is placed on the grave to keep the ground level.
Placing anything on the grave space, which will prevent this work being done, is prohibited.
The grant document should be carefully preserved, as it must be produced whenever the grave is reopened.
| Month | Opening Time |
|---|---|
| March | 8.00am - 6.00pm |
| April | 8.00am - 7.00pm |
| May - July | 8.00am - 8.00pm |
| August | 8.00am - 7.00pm |
| September - October | 8.00am - 6.00pm |
| November - February | 8.00am - 4.00pm |
Further information please contact Adam Bartoszewski – Superintendent and Registrar of Cemeteries and Crematorium. Tel (01793) 822259
Whitworth Road Cemetery, Whitworth Road, Swindon, SN25 3AS.
Accessibility Guideline Notes
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