Work Continues On £1.4m Development At Victorian Cemetery

Work continues on the refurbishment of Wrexham Cemetery, as part of the £1.4 million Heritage Lottery Fund funded works to improve the Grade II Listed buildings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work began on the cemetery in the late summer of 2016, with the aim of returning the cemetery to its original Victorian, gardenesque roots. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The work was funded with £1.1m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with further contribution from Wrexham Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The buildings at the front of the cemetery are being refurbished for use as a chapel and offices, and will provide a community space for research, allowing members of the public the chance to look into the history of the cemetery, including historical records of the graves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Work on repointing the spire has been completed, along with the installation of pigeon netting to prevent access by birds to the internal structure of the spire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The listed gates and fences are being refurbished, and new paths lain to improve the former surfaces, using original brick tile edgings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as improving the appearance of pathways through the cemetery, the work will also improve accessibility along paths by providing a more even service for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David a Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “It is good to see the refurbishment work at the cemetery buildings and paths progressing, and I look forward to seeing the completed project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Alun Jenkins, ward member for Offa, said: “I’m very pleased to see not just the physical refurbishment work taking place on site, but also the emphasis placed on the community aspect of the development and the benefit it will provide to those interested in Wrexham’s social history once complete. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I also look forward to seeing this work complete – I’m sure it will be of great benefit to Wrexham residents as a historical and community resource.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the community work to be undertaken, a part-time Development Officer has also been appointed through Heritage Lottery Fund money support community involvement – including gathering stories about the cemetery’s history, which could be used on information panels and trails on-site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone with any interest in the history of Wrexham Cemetery or have any information to share about its past con contact Cemetery Development Officer John Whittaker on 07753 771645, or by e-mail at john.whittaker@wrexham.gov.uk. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​