Briefing Cemeteries, churchyards and burial grounds - Design Council
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Briefing Cemeteries, churchyards and burial grounds Urban burial grounds in the 19th century were originally envisaged as public open spaces, and were professionally designed to be attractive places to visit in their own right. Today, many cemeteries are neglected, with little to attract anyone apart from those visiting specific burial plots. This lack of design, planning and ambition means that the potential health and environmental benefits of cemeteries are not being realised.
Introduction should be brought back into the (sometimes called woodland
mainstream of parks and green burial, though this term is not used
There is a lack of information about space provision. by practitioners), a number of which
the number of operational or closed are privately owned and managed,
cemeteries, churchyards and burial Thus there is a need for local reflecting an interest in more
grounds in England. There is also cemetery strategies that should environmentally friendly forms
an absence of over-arching also be integrated into wider local of body disposal.
regulation of burial and cremation authority green space strategies.
practices. The Green Flag Award scheme is Dr Julie Rugg of the Cemetery
increasingly being used to monitor Research Group at York University
Different religions and cultures and reward good cemetery has provided some interesting
have developed different rites and management and provision. typological and anthropological
practices for the disposal of the distinctions between, cemeteries,
dead, and these have to be Cemeteries, churchyards and burial churchyards, burial grounds, mass
considered and respected. There spaces are often highly valued by burial sites, war cemeteries and
are a number of separate Jewish communities for their ‘spiritual’ as pantheons, which may be followed
and Muslim cemeteries, for well as place-making and place- up by reference to ‘Relevant reports
example, but there are also many marking qualities. The growth of and documents’, page 8.
cemeteries where different religions cemetery friends’ groups is a sign
are given separate areas within the that the public wish to engage There are also a growing number of
public cemetery. The dominant form again with conservation and pet cemeteries, privately run, where
of funerary rite in the UK is environmental projects based the actual or cremated remains of
cremation, accounting for 72 per on cemeteries and churchyards. pets are interred, reflecting the
cent of all disposals. It has been privileged attachment that many
argued that the high rate of Types of burial site people in modern societies feel for
cremation may not be wholly animals. This trend is growing, and
explained by choice, but may be In England and Wales, burial took local authorities are sometimes
partly explained by the absence of place principally in churchyards until under pressure to provide such
locally accessible, well-managed the 19th century. Concerns about facilities.
cemeteries with available burial hygiene in the mid-19th century
space. Natural burial is growing resulted in many town and city
in popularity for environmental churchyards being closed. This
reasons, though most natural was followed by the development
burial sites are still provided of larger joint-stock cemeteries
within existing public cemeteries. and municipal cemeteries, often
on urban fringes. These took on
Many historic cemeteries, now full, the larger proportion of burials. The
have become neglected, though term ‘burial grounds’ is often used
they may well contain buildings, to denote either, though it is also
artefacts and landscapes of great used to denote the burial place of
heritage value and interest. Many a distinctive group, either by
of the great 19th century urban religion or national identity.
cemeteries were designed and
laid out by the same people who Most cemeteries contain both
created public parks, and were consecrated and unconsecrated
considered to belong to the ‘park sections, sometimes with areas
family’. They were regarded as much given over to the burial of members
as public landscapes as they were of other religions. There are a
functional burial places. This close number of dedicated Jewish
relationship between the cemetery cemeteries, and several Muslim
and the park has disappeared from cemeteries in the UK. There are
many local authority perceptions also private burial grounds and
and strategies. Yet cemeteries may memorial gardens. In recent years
still deliver as many amenity and there has been a growth in the
ecological benefits as parks, and number of natural burial sites
2The legal status churchyards closed for burials Summary of statistics
of burial grounds responsibility for care and regarding cemeteries
maintenance.
Three extracts relating to the The current consensus is that there
legal status of cemeteries and Although monuments are private are about 3,500 historic (pre-1914)
churchyards, taken from the property, the power to remove them cemeteries in the UK, according to
document Burial Law and Policy or make them safe now resides in the Confederation of Burial
in the 21st Century: the hands of local authorities under Authorities. Many more have been
the Local Authorities Cemeteries established since then, though the
‘Although it is the public law duty Order 1977. statistics remain uncollected.
of the Church of England and, to The Cemetery Research Group
a certain extent, of the Church in The particular role played by estimates that in England and
Wales, to provide for burials in cemeteries and crematoria is Wales, some 350 district level
open churchyards, there is at politically and culturally sensitive authorities maintain about 1,800
present no statutory requirement enough that the activities which cemeteries. This does not include
on any public authority or private take place within them are covered the number of cemeteries owned
undertaking to make available by: Anatomy Act 1871,1984; Births and maintained by parish councils,
a place for burial’ and Deaths Registration Act 1874, the figures of which remain
1926, 1953; Burial Acts 1852, uncollected. There is also
‘The law relating to burial 1906; Burial Law Amendment Act insufficient record of how many
(including exhumation and the 1880; Cemeteries clauses Act Catholic or nonconformist (eg
disturbance of human remains) 1847; Coroners Act 1988; Quaker) burial grounds there are.
is not to be found within a single Environmental Protection Act 1990;
statute or coherent body of Health and Safety at Work Act; In addition there are thousands of
legislation.’ Human Tissue Act 1961; Human churchyards in England and Wales,
Tissue Bill 2004; Interments Act many closed to further burials (at
‘The distinction between 1881; Local Government Act 1972; least 6,000 of which are now
consecrated and unconsecrated Medical Act 1956,1969, 1978; maintained as distinct eco-
burial land remains fundamental Open Spaces Act 1906; Planning systems), but with many others still
to English and Welsh burial law’ Act 1964; Public Health Act 1848, being used for human interments.
1875, 1936, 1984; Registration of
There is no obligation to notify any Burial Act 1864; Still Birth These figures can be related to the
local or national government body Definition Act 1992; Town and evidence given to the Select
that a cemetery has either been Country Planning Act 1990 Committee by the Commonwealth
opened or closed, and the War Graves Commission (CEM 23)
development of new burial grounds The most active form of regulation when they stated that: ‘In the
is largely unregulated. of cemeteries and new cemetery United Kingdom the Commission is
developments is now exercised by responsible for more than 170,000
Burial in ‘private’ or ‘family’ graves The Environment Agency, largely graves in over 12,000 burial
was assumed to be ‘in perpetuity’ due to a concern with the pollution grounds.’ In brief, the number of
until the Local Authorities’ of water sources. However there is existing and identifiable cemeteries,
Cemeteries Order 1977. This also concern at emissions from churchyards and burial grounds in
stipulated rights of burial for a crematoria, and new standards England and Wales, closed or
maximum period of 100 years, might bring about the upgrading operational, is more than 12,000
except in the case of the or re-siting of some existing but likely to be less than 20,000.
Commonwealth War Graves crematoria.
Commission, which can still grant The Survey of the Jewish Built
burial rights without limit. Heritage has documented a total
of 131 Jewish burial grounds in
Church of England churchyards England and Wales dating from
may be closed for further burials by 1656 to 1939. However there are
Order in Council, a process which a large number of dedicated Jewish
cannot be reversed. Under English plots in municipal cemeteries.
law the Church of England is
allowed to pass to local authorities
3A study by Andy Clayden at at some distance from the separate sections of a cemetery,
Sheffield University found that by community in which the deceased while other cemetery authorities
2004 there were nearly 190 natural once lived, breaking the connection may not have the space to do this,
burial sites in the UK, of which between the living and the dead. or may choose not to do so.
about 50 were privately owned,
130 owned by local authorities At present there are no consistent
(often within existing cemeteries),
Burial, cremation, and regulations concerning practices
and ten owned by charitable trusts. the burial of cremated and accepted forms of behaviour
The number of such burial grounds remains in churchyards and cemeteries
is increasing. across the UK – nor as much
The UK has one of the highest attention paid to enacting by-laws
In brief the number of churchyards, cremation rates in the world. People as so often happens with parks.
cemeteries and burial grounds in choose cremation for a variety of While the ‘Charter for the
the UK can be counted in reasons including efficiency, Bereaved’ is an excellent template
thousands, with little co-ordination hygiene, cost, and not wanting to for local authority bereavement
between owners, or managers, in leave behind the ‘burden’ of a grave practices, local authorities would
the sector as a whole. to maintain. Where people die welcome some kind of generalised
without making their preference for good practice guide to the day to
Many have considerable historic burial or cremation clear, surviving day codes and rules governing
heritage interest. As English family members generally choose cemeteries across the UK.
Heritage admit: ‘As the general cremation. In the case of the deaths
appreciation of cemeteries as of young children, burial is generally In traditional burial terms, Jewish
designed landscapes increased chosen, and the creation of law allows only one body to be
during the 1980s and 1990s, it separate baby and children’s areas buried in any grave, and in
became clear that many more in cemeteries is one innovation of perpetuity. There is an absolute
deserved a place on the ‘Register the past 50 years. proscription against the disturbance
of Parks and Gardens’, In the of remains for any reason, though
1980s only 14 cemeteries were Some religions disapprove of historically this has happened.
thus registered, but by 2004 this cremation, including the Jewish, Nevertheless the presumption is
had jumped to 110. Of registered Muslim, and, until recently, Catholic that Jewish cemeteries will remain
cemeteries, about 60 per cent are faiths. Modern day environ- cemeteries in perpetuity, even after
Grade II, 30 per cent Grade II*, and mentalists may now prefer ‘natural closure. Muslims allow the re-use of
ten per cent classified as Grade I. burial’ in woodland settings to grave space in many countries, and
cremation, which is now coming are considered likely to adapt to
The amount of green open space under increasing scrutiny on whatever is the prevailing practice
taken up by cemetery land varies environmental grounds. in the UK.
from Authority to Authority. In parts
of London, for historical reasons, Burial rituals and practices vary It is becoming more difficult
the legacy of past burial practices amongst religions, and can be to acquire a burial plot locally,
is enormous. If you consider that a cause of conflict. For example, especially in the larger
in a borough like Newham in some bereaved groups may wish conurbations, and it is also
London over 60 per cent of public to hold very long graveside rituals expensive. Indeed it is now
open space is made up of cemetery and ceremonies, which may cause acknowledged that many local
land (the figure for Kensington & concern to other visitors or funeral authorities use pricing as a
Chelsea is 49 per cent), the lack parties; some groups insist on filling mechanism to manage demand.
of care and maintenance can have in the grave themselves; others may
a particularly depressing or wish to erect headstones or One counter-trend to the rigid
debilitating effect on surrounding monuments entirely out of scale distinction between burial and
communities. or keeping with the surrounding cremation in recent years has been
landscape. All these cultural the growing trend in the burial of
Yet today the very same inner differences have to be negotiated. cremated remains in ceremonial
London boroughs are running out of For this reason the management of containers. This means that
burial space and in some cases – cemeteries is a particularly sensitive crematorium gardens are becoming
Hackney and Islington, for example issue in a multi-cultural society. In once again like burial grounds, with
– have none left at all. This means some cemeteries different religions all the land-requirements and
that burials happen in cemeteries or ethnic groups may be given landscaping issues that implies.
4Is there a crisis for Equally worrying was the fact that The heritage value and
British cemeteries? the Yorkshire study discovered that use of burial grounds
although 35 per cent of Yorkshire
The lack of attention to the number cemeteries are in conservation There is a strong case to be made
and quality of cemeteries in the UK areas: ‘None of the Local Plans that cemeteries have especial
in the 20th century can be partly for the region highlight the architectural and landscape interest
attributed to the growing popularity conservation of cemeteries as because they have often been
of cremation, which now accounts valued historic environments’. trapped in a time-warp, and have
for 72 per cent of all ‘disposals’. not been modified, adapted,
Some cremated remains are buried Despite the perception that there overlaid, or even destroyed, as
in churchyards and cemeteries, is a national crisis to do with the has so much else in the historic
some are scattered in memorial conservation of historic cemeteries, environment. This is an argument
gardens, but many people take and maintenance of operational that is becoming increasingly
cremated remains away for private ones, there is also a view that this heard elsewhere in Europe.
disposal (a practice that is frowned is very much a London perspective,
upon and in many cases forbidden and that outside London there are There are a very large number
elsewhere in Europe). many good examples of churchyard of listed buildings in cemeteries,
and cemetery management and according to the National
It could be argued that there now maintenance. Monuments Record Centre,
exists another example of including lodges and houses,
‘English/British exceptionalism’ with Nevertheless it is clear that in many boundary walls, gates, mortuary
regard to burial and funerary culture places there is a shortage of local chapels, cemetery chapels, tombs,
compared with elsewhere in the burial space, and pricing policies and mausoleums.
world. The high proportion of are being used to manage demand.
cremations, the legal proscription Some would argue that if local In Europe cemetery commissions
against the re-use of graves until burial is to be a genuine choice, have been sought and undertaken
the present time, together with the then some form of subsidy may by many great architects – Asplund,
large number of people who make need to happen – but from where? Lewerentz, Rossi, Scarpa, Miralles,
private arrangements for the Also, local authority cemetery David Chipperfield (in Venice).
disposal of cremated remains, managers are talking about a However, in the UK there has been
leaves the traditional churchyard, forthcoming upsurge in burial no real equivalent interest among
cemetery or burial ground in a demand, as the present older big name architects since Lutyens.
seriously weakened position, generation finally succumbs to One or two crematorium buildings
especially in its role as a public the demands of longevity. have some architectural interest,
green space or landscape of local and Geoffrey Jellicoe’s Memorial
identity and belonging. One way in which some public and Gardens in Walsall (1949-54) is
private cemeteries are dealing with now listed.
So while there is a very limited the lack of burial space is through
number of burial ground types, ‘cramming’ new graves into historic
cemeteries, often in inappropriate
Contemporary benefits
there is an enormous range of
differences in design aesthetics places such as footpaths, and of burial grounds
and culture across the UK. For planting areas. This then destroys
the original design and aesthetic The 1994 report on the
example, the English Heritage study
harmony of the cemetery. management of old cemeteries
of a select number of registered
(Dunk & Rugg, 1994) enumerated
cemeteries in Yorkshire discovered
four different kinds of value which
distinct regional features to their
cemeteries represent to today’s
design and the materials used,
society: historical, ecological,
representing: ‘The genius of
education and leisure (or amenity)
local designers and Yorkshire’s
benefits. This four-fold scheme is
nonconformist heritage, rather
echoed in ‘Paradise Preserved’
than grand names’. It is also not
which lists the most important
surprising that cemetery landscapes
benefits as being architecture,
reflect the wider landscape and
landscaping, wildlife and local
topographical characteristics of
amenity.
their region and setting, and for this
reason are particularly interesting.
5A well-maintained cemetery the historic townscape. The place- practice to lay new stones flat on
is still the site of a number of making or local identity properties the ground, as well as old stones
contemporary rituals. A study of of churchyards and cemeteries are thought to be in danger of toppling.
users found that different religions especially valued. Some argue that traditional
and cultures visit cemeteries at monolithic headstones, in which
different times: Orthodox Jews The ‘Living Churchyards’ project, one-third of the stone was sunk
'during the month of Elul, the time already mentioned, is another into the ground, did not cause
of the Jewish New Year, and also on example of how churchyards and these problems.
the Hebrew anniversary of death’. cemeteries are increasingly valued
Greek Orthodox on anniversary of for their bio-diversity value.
death, All Souls' Day and at Easter. According to ARC (Alliance of Burial grounds within
Religions and Conservation) ‘more the wider green space
On the other hand, research of than 6,000 British churchyards run typology
cemetery users suggests that the their small plots of land as sacred
bereaved often pay little attention eco-systems – without pesticides It is often argued that the
to the wider landscape of the and mowing the grass only once a Victorian cemetery was part of the
cemetery – as long as it generally year – ensuring that birds, reptiles, wider public park family, with many
feels safe and well managed – and insects and bats can thrive’. being designed and laid out by
many are very focused on the one established park designers. As well
burial plot in their visit, often never as functioning as burial sites, they
walking or even looking at any other Current concerns – were also regarded as places for
part of the cemetery when visiting. health and safety visiting and promenading of a more
While cemetery managers are dignified and morally uplifting kind.
principally concerned with serving In many historic churchyards and The nineteenth-century legislation
the bereaved directly, other local cemeteries, there is increasing that provided for new burial
and national organisations may concern about Health and Safety grounds seemed to have envisaged
need to argue more cogently for issues, notably to do with the that they would in due course
the wider historical and heritage dangers to children of falling become public open spaces
aspects. masonry. This is currently (for which provision was made
presenting local authorities with in the Open Spaces Acts 1887
Some of the increasing public a major headache, as they have and 1906).
interest in cemetery conservation to balance safety, cost and heritage
can be attributed to the growing factors when considering what to Yet there is also a counter-tradition,
popularity of family history, and the do to ensure the public use and which suggests that cemeteries
use of burial records and cemetery appreciation of historic cemeteries should be regarded as distinct
registers to identify family burial and churchyards. from parks. For example, Jewish
places, gravestones and cemeteries largely operate as
monuments. Local Friends’ Groups Between 1995 and 2004 closed spaces, literally and
have also played an important role there were four deaths caused by symbolically. Many are locked,
in campaigning to improve the falling memorials in burial grounds, and only opened for interment
conservation of cemeteries. Even and today many thousands of ceremonies, or by prior
so, there is no national collection headstones and memorials are now arrangement.
or library of local cemetery guides. being force-tested for safety. Where
found unstable, they are removed The Muslim Gardens of Peace at
There are a number of closed or laid flat, causing public concern Hainault in Essex, welcomes visitors
churchyards which have become that cemeteries are once again but within clear guidelines, and
public amenity land, especially in being ‘vandalised’. Many of the least codes of dress and behaviour.
London, where park facilities and stable headstones date from recent While some people find turning
even children’s play equipment times and are the result of poor closed cemeteries and churchyards
can now be found. design, or faulty workmanship. into public amenity land acceptable,
others do not. They continue to feel
The heritage conservation This concern with safety is now that a cemetery will always be a
movement has also identified influencing the design, robustness ‘sacred’ place of some kind, even if
historic cemeteries as places of and positioning of new memorials they are agnostic or without any
specific local heritage interest, as and gravestones. In Jewish religious belief at all.
well as being very much a part of cemeteries it is becoming the
6Similarly there are differences The need for separate which cemeteries and former
in time frame. Researchers national cemetery churchyards are maintained by local
commissioned by the City of authorities, including:
London Cemetery and Crematorium
strategies
to interview cemetery users, chose – A lack of specific policies for
In 2002, HLF director Anthea cemeteries (Dunk & Rugg, 1994)
to frame their discussions within the
Case, giving evidence to the select
time-scale of ‘the next 100 years’,
committee argued against – The low status of the service and
somewhat longer than might be
establishing a dedicated cemeteries its personnel within local
thought appropriate in wider
strategy or funding programme. authorities (Dunk & Rugg, 1994)
public space policy.
However, the select committee was
keen to stress that it did not regard – The very low level of appropriate
In public funding terms, the burial
cemeteries as being covered by the training among cemetery
ground presents typological
HLF urban parks programme. managers (Dunk & Rugg, 1994)
problems of another kind. While
the cemetery itself may be publicly
The national planning policy – The failure of higher levels of
owned and accessible, the
guidance note 17 (PPG17) on management within parks or
individual plots and monuments
open space, sport and recreation leisure departments to appreciate
remain in private hands, and so
includes cemeteries within its that ‘cemeteries are special
grants for improvement could be
recommended open space typology, environments’, requiring much
contested from the point of view
indicating that they should be more sensitive and site-specific
that public money is being spent
included within local open space management and maintenance
on private benefit. This delicate
standards. However, public concern regimes (Dunk & Rugg, 1994)
private/public ecology has
concerning the re-use of graves
implications for both architectural
may require public agencies to – Whether cemeteries flourish
and landscape integrity. Kitsch
re-think the priority they give to better within ‘Bereavement
monumental tombs may destroy the
cemetery issues. Services’ departments rather
overall architectural effect, as may
inappropriate planting. There is than parks or leisure services
The establishment of the (Select Committee, 2001)
much more regulation of memorial
Association for Significant
size and characteristics in Sweden,
Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) – No Best Value Performance
for example, where the notion of a
indicates a revival of academic Indicators for cemeteries at
‘good grave culture’ is widespread,
and architectural and landscape present (Select Committee,
and the collective aesthetic is given
history interest in cemeteries 2001)
precedence over individual taste.
across Europe. They are seen
to embody period and regional – Absence of proper management
Some closed churchyards and
cultural traditions which are fast information and appreciation of
cemeteries are acquiring a new
disappearing elsewhere in the built cultural value, which results in
role in the green space typology
environment and designed low levels of funding (Select
as wildlife havens, but even this is
landscape. Committee, 2001).
role is disputed by some who fear
heritage value will be displaced
or even destroyed by an over- A good example of a specific
The need for local cemetery management plan and
emphasis on natural habitat
priorities. Some would argue that
authority cemetery environmental strategy is that
this has been the case at Nunhead strategies produced by Trafford Metropolitan
Cemetery, an early recipient of Borough Council for Green Flag-
Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) While many local authorities have, winning Altrincham Crematorium
funding, but a place where a or are currently developing green and Dunham Lawn Cemetery
landscape programme of what has space strategies, few have separate 2004-2009.
been termed ‘managed withdrawal’ cemetery strategies, though they
has left the architectural heritage are likely to have service plans or Another difference between
compromised. business plans for the bereavement cemeteries and parks is that local
services. authorities are slightly more willing
to consider handing over closed
A number of reports have identified churchyards, cemeteries and burial
particular problems with the way in grounds to local trusts on long
7leases. The number of cemeteries Funding for Felicori, Mauro, and Zanotti,
now managed by trusts already improvements Annalisa (2004), Cemeteries of
exceeds the number of parks so Europe: A Historical Heritage to
managed – though the figures are The HLF has funded a range Appreciate and Restore, Bologna
still relatively insignificant. Examples of cemetery and churchyard
include Abney Park Cemetery Trust, improvement projects to date D. Francis, L. Kellaher & G.
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust in including some large grants include Neorphytou (2005), The Secret
Bristol, Sheffield General Cemetery over £3 million to Arnos Vale in Cemetery, London
Trust, and York Cemetery. Bristol, and over £1 million each
to Nunhead and Hampstead. It Grainger, Dr Hilary (2005), Death
Green Flag cemeteries has also helped fund churchyard Redesigned: The Architecture of
restoration projects under its British Crematoria, Spire Books
and other incentives to
Local Heritage Initiative.
improvement Institute of Burial and Cremation
Administration (1996), Charter for
An increasing number of cemeteries Relevant reports the Bereaved, London
and churchyards are being entered and documents
for the Green Flag, and winning. Kadish, Dr Sharman. (2003)
Between 2003 and 2007, the Clayden, Andy (2004), Natural Jewish Burial Grounds and
number of Green Flag winning Burial, British Style, Landscape Funerary Architecture, English
cemeteries and crematorium Architecture, May, USA Heritage, London
memorial gardens has increased
from three to 14. Davies, Douglas & Shaw, Alastair Lambert, David, (2004) Heritage
(1995), Re-using Old Graves: A Lottery Fund Cemeteries Needs
Over the past decade there have Report on Popular British Attitudes, Assessment
also been several other industry Crayford
initiatives to encourage best National Federation of Cemetery
practice in cemetery maintenance Dunk, J. and Rugg, J. (1994), Friends (1997), Notes on Saving
and management. The ‘Charter for The Management of Old Cemetery Cemeteries, Croydon
the Bereaved’ was established in Land, Crayford
1996 by the then Institute of Burial Rugg, J. (2000) Defining the place
and Cremation Administration (now English Heritage & English Nature of burial: what makes a cemetery a
the ICCM), and is awarded to (2002), Paradise Preserved: an cemetery? Mortality, 5,3.
cemeteries that can demonstrate a introduction to the assessment,
proper respect for the rights of the evaluation, conservation and Worpole, Ken (2003), Last
bereaved with regard to grave management of historic cemeteries, Landscapes: the architecture of
choice, cremation procedures, London the cemetery in the West, London
monuments, ceremonies,
maintenance of graves, and other English Heritage & Heritage Lottery
services. There are also the Fund (2004), Heritage Counts
‘Phoenix Awards’ organised 2004: The State of England’s
annually by the Association of Burial Historic Environment, London
Authorities to encourage creativity
in cemetery and memorial design, Environment, Transport and
and the ‘Cemetery of the Year Regional Affairs Committee (2001),
Awards’ sponsored by the House of Commons, Cemeteries:
Confederation of Burial Authorities. Volumes I & II, London
8Contacts Heritage Lottery Fund Memorial Awareness Board
Can provide grants to cemetery Organisers of the ‘Cemetery of
Association of Burial Authorities conservation projects of heritage the Years Awards’
Principally concerned with burial, value. mab@mdacomms.com
rather than cremation. The 7 Holbein Place, London SW1W
Association also organises the 8NR National Association of
Phoenix Awards. www.hlf.org.uk Cemetery Friends
Waterloo House, 155 Upper Street, Links voluntary groups in the UK
London N1 1RA Ministry of Justice who wish to conserve and preserve
Tel: 020 7288 2522 Decides applications for exhumation local cemeteries and churchyards
aba@swa-pr.co.uk licences, regulate the removal of Gwyneth Stokes, 42 Chestnut
human remains from disused burial Grove, South Croydon CR2 7LH
Association of Significant grounds and consider applications
Cemeteries in Europe for the closure of churchyards. Also
www.significantcemeteries.net provides advice on burial law and The Natural Death Centre
practice for the public and for burial Advises on natural burial and co-
The Cemetery Research Group professionals. ordinates the Association of Natural
Undertakes research into cemetery Burial Grounds
history and management issues. Selborne House, 54 Victoria Street, 6 Blackstock Mews, Blackstock
Dr Julie Rugg, Centre for Housing London, SW1E 6QW Road, London N4 2BT
Policy, University of York,
Heslington, York YO10 5DD Local cemetery contacts
www.york.ac.uk/inst/chp/crg
Institute of Cemetery and Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust
The Civic Trust Cremation Management www.arnosvale.org.uk
Organises the Green Flag Award Professional body handling
for well-managed parks and green education, training, and standards, Abney Park Cemetery Trust
spaces, including cemeteries. and publishers of the important
www.greenflagaward.org.uk ‘Charter for the Bereaved’.
City of London Cemetery, Sheffield General Cemetery
Commonwealth War Graves Aldersbrook Road, Manor Park, Trust
Commission London E12 5DQ www.gencem.org
Looks after 170,000 graves www.iccm-uk.com
in 12,000 burial grounds across York Cemetery
the UK. Jewish Heritage UK www.yorkcemetery.org.uk
2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, www.jewish-heritage-uk.org
Berkshire
Tel: 01628 634221 Living Churchyards
Encourages good practice in the
English Heritage conservation of historic churchyards
‘Landscapes at risk’ research as wildlife reserves.
and cemetery listings. Alliance of Religions and
23 Savile Row, London W1S 2ET Conservation (ARC), 3 Wynnstay
Tel: 020 7973 3000 Grove, Manchester M14 6XG
www.english-heritage.org.uk Tel: 0161 248 5731
9This briefing is based on a 2005 report
by writer, environmentalist and CABE
Space enabler Ken Worpole. It looks at
current concerns about cemeteries and
whether they are facing a crisis. It
considers their legal status, heritage
value and their contemporary benefits.
It addresses the problems arising from
the way that cemeteries are currently Published in 2007 by the
Commission for Architecture
maintained by local authorities. It and the Built Environment.
includes a useful bibliography and Graphic design: Duffy
contact list.
All rights reserved. No part
of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, copied or transmitted
without the prior written consent
of the publisher except that the
material may be photocopied
for non-commercial purposes
without permission from the
publisher. This document is
available in alternative formats
on request from the publisher.
CABE is the government’s
advisor on architecture, urban
design and public space. As a
public body, we encourage
policymakers to create places
that work for people. We help
local planners apply national
design policy and advise
developers and architects,
persuading them to put people’s
needs first. We show public
sector clients how to commission
buildings that meet the needs
of their users. And we seek to
inspire the public to demand
more from their buildings and
spaces. Advising, influencing and
inspiring, we work to create well-
designed, welcoming places.
CABE Space is a specialist unit
within CABE that aims to bring
excellence to the design,
management and maintenance
of parks and public space in
our towns and cities.
Cover image St John the Baptist,
Aldbury, Herts © English
Heritage/National Monuments
Record/James O. DaviesYou can also read
