Monmouth Cemetery is a

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many death, dead people are burial, buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ...

located at Osbaston Road,

Monmouth Monmouth ( or ; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated on where the River Monnow joins the River Wye, from the Wales–England border. The population in the 2011 census was 10,508, rising from 8 ...

Wales Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...

. It was available for burials between 1852 and 2012.

History

Monmouth Cemetery was opened on 1 December 1851. The ground was consecrated on 23 June 1852 by the

Bishop of Llandaff The Bishop of Llandaff is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. Area of authority The diocese covers most of the County of Glamorgan. The bishop's cathedra, seat is in the Llandaff Cathedral, Cathedral Chu ...

with the vicar of Monmouth, the Reverend E. F. Arney. The first burial took place on 25 June 1852. The first ashes to be interred, in February 1930, were those of Reverend Kean Mottram Pitt, who died aged 70 on the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight (Help:IPA/English, /waɪt/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''WYTE'') is an island off the south coast of England which, together with its surrounding uninhabited islets and Skerry, skerries, is also a ceremonial county. T ...

, and were placed in his parents' grave.David Harrison, "Monmouth Cemetery, Trail 1", June 2008, p.5 Monmouth Cemetery 1880

The cemetery came into existence because

Monmouth Council Monmouth Council, Scouting America, established in 1917, serves all of Monmouth County, New Jersey and part of Middlesex County, New Jersey. The Council was the starting point for the landmark US Supreme Court case ''Boy Scouts of America v. Dale' ...

had decided to close St Mary's Churchyard in Monmouth for burials as decaying human remains were appearing above ground. This was caused by the raised height of the churchyard. Residents in neighbouring Whitecross Street suffered a high mortality rate as a result and unpleasant odours from the churchyard were also evident

Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort Major (rank), Major Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort (5 February 1792 – 17 November 1853), styled Earl of Glamorgan until 1803 and Marquess of Worcester between 1803 and 1835, was a British peer, soldier, and politician. Background Beauf ...

sold the land to the council for use as the new cemetery. The cemetery has been enlarged several times and now covers about . Monmouth Union Workhouse (opened 1870) and

Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls was a boarding and day private school in Monmouth, Wales. Established by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892, in June 2022 the Haberdashers began a consultation on proposals to merge the school ...

(1897) are nearby. Because of its proximity to Monmouth workhouse an area of the cemetery, currently used for cremated remains, was designated for use of the

paupers Pauperism (; ) is the condition of being a "pauper", i.e. receiving relief administered under the Irish and English Poor Laws. From this, pauperism can also be more generally the state of being supported at public expense, within or outside of ...

. The Paupers' Graves are mostly unmarked however in 1909 a hooded wooden cross was set in stone and unveiled. It is inscribed in Latin with ''Ave Crux Spes Unica'' meaning 'Hail, O Cross, Our Only Hope'. The site is now owned and maintained by

Monmouthshire County Council Monmouthshire County Council (or simply Monmouthshire Council) () is the governing body for the Monmouthshire principal area – one of the unitary authorities of Wales. The current unitary authority was created in 1996 and covers the eastern ...

. There is a small former chapel of rest at the cemetery, designed by Rev. M. Wyatt and built by Charles JacksonDavid Harrison, "Monmouth Cemetery, Trail 1", June 2008, p.4 in 1851.

Keith Kissack Keith Edward Kissack MBE (18 November 1913 – 31 March 2010) was a British schoolteacher and historian. He is notable for his many publications on the history of Monmouth and Monmouthshire. Life Kissack was born in Clun, Shropshire, to Rev. B ...

, ''Monmouth and its Buildings'', Logaston Press, 2003, , p.88 It was closed to the public about 1969, but restored in 2010 and, following a celebratory opening on 26 June 2010, is now used as a

genealogy Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kin ...

centre. The cemetery is open all hours with open access and parking. Its hillside situation means that some of its paths are quite steep. In 2012 the cemetery closed for new burials due to lack of space.

Facilities

* Three water points, placed at intervals on the path network. * Limited parking at the chapel, mid-way and at the top of the cemetery.

Notable interments

* William Wilson Allen VC - served at the

Battle of Rorke's Drift The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was an engagement in the Anglo-Zulu War. The successful British defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal ...

; died 12 March 1890 of influenza * Mary Ellen Bagnall Oakeley - local artist and antiquarian * Dr. Alfred Edwin Monahan - third bishop of Monmouth; died 10 August 1945David Harrison, "Monmouth Cemetery, Trail 1", June 2008 p. 9-10 *The

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

maintain and register the war graves of eight British service personnel of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

(seven of them soldiers of the

Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) is the most senior regiment of the British Army Reserve. The regiment was formed in 1539 during the reign of by King Henry VIII. The R Mon RE (M) became a militia unit in 1660 and then became a p ...

) and six from

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

.
CWGC Cemetery Report.

Gallery

Monmouth Cemetery Chapel.jpg, Rear of the chapel William Wilson Allen VC.JPG, Grave of

William Wilson Allen William Wilson Allen ( – 12 March 1890) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be a ...

VC View of Monmouth Cemetery from lower Road.JPG, View of the cemetery from the lower road Monmouth Cemetery Sappers.jpg, Sloping land sold to the council. Foreground headstones are of soldiers of the

, from

Monmouth Cemetery - Looking towards the Former Workhouse on the hill.JPG, View towards the former workhouse on the hill Monmouth Cemetery - Looking towards the Town from near the top.JPG, View towards the town from near the top Monmouth Cemetery - Looking towards the Town from near the bottom.JPG, View towards the town from near the bottom Monmouth Cemetery - Looking towards the Chapel from half way up the hill.JPG, View towards the chapel from halfway up the hill Monmouth Cemetery looking North East.JPG, Looking towards the North East - Hereford Road

References

External links

Monmouth Cemetery Site Map DownloadFriends of Monmouth Cemetery
{dead link, date=February 2018 , bot=InternetArchiveBot , fix-attempted=yes Buildings and structures in Monmouth, Wales Cemeteries in Wales History of Monmouthshire Tourist attractions in Monmouthshire