Cemetery in Birmingham, England

Cemetery in Birmingham

Witton Cemetery

Chapel near the highest point

Details
Established| 1863 (1863)
Location|

Birmingham

Country| England
Coordinates| 52°31′30″N 1°52′43″W / 52.5249°N 1.878697°W / 52.5249; -1.878697Coordinates: 52°31′30″N 1°52′43″W / 52.5249°N 1.878697°W / 52.5249; -1.878697
Owned by| Birmingham City Council
Website| www.birmingham.gov.uk/witton-cemetery
Find a Grave| Witton Cemetery

View of central Birmingham from the highest point of the cemetery. In the left foreground is a CWGC headstone marking one of the cemetery's 683 Commonwealth war graves.

1903 Ordnance Survey map

Witton Cemetery (grid reference SP082921), which opened in Witton in 1863 as Birmingham City Cemetery, is the largest cemetery in Birmingham, England. Covering an area of 103 acres (0.42 km2), it once had three chapels; however, two of these were demolished in 1980. The cemetery would perform up to 20 burials a day; however, it was declared "full to capacity" in December 2013, allowing burials only in existing family plots, or of babies or cremated remains.[1] Extra capacity was therefore provided at the nearby New Hall Cemetery.[1] The cemetery office was opened in 1999.

## History[edit]

Started in May 1860 and consecrated by the Bishop of Worcester on 23 May 1863, it was the only cemetery owned by the Corporation of Birmingham until 1911, when an expansion of the city boundary brought in others.[2] Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemetery were private concerns.[2] It opened in 1863 with an area of 106 acres (0.43 km2). In 1869, 2 acres (8,100 m2) were bought by the Jewish community for their interments,[2] forming Birmingham Hebrew Congregation Cemetery, at the north of the site, across College Road. In 1882 an obelisk was constructed to replace the monuments that were previously at The Old Meeting House chapel, which itself was demolished to make way for New Street railway station.[3]

## War graves[edit]

The cemetery contains 459 Commonwealth service war graves from World War I, over 200 of whom form three denominational war graves plots marked by screen walls bearing names of those buried within the plots and elsewhere in the cemetery whose graves could not be marked by headstones.[4]

There are 224 Commonwealth war graves from World War II, the highest concentration (31 burials) in a small war graves plot in Sections 55 and 56, and the rest are scattered individually in the rest of the cemetery. The names of 12 service personnel of that war whose graves could not be marked by CWGC headstones were added to the screen wall at the World War I plots.[4]

## Notable burials[edit]

* Private George Ravenhill (1872–1921), VC winner Boer War. Grave currently (2012) unmarked.[5]
* William Snook, athlete (1861–1916). Died in workhouse hospital, his funeral paid for by former running club Birchfield Harriers.[6]
* Sergeant Arthur Vickers (1882–1944), VC winner First World War.[5]
* John Cadbury (12 August 1801 – 11 May 1889) was the proprietor of a small chocolate business in Birmingham, England, that later became Cadbury plc.
* James Guidney (1782–1866), former soldier and pedlar[7]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Fears over chapel future as cemetery reaches capacity". Great Barr Observer. 28 February 2014.
2. ^ a b c In The Midst of Life - A History of the Burial Grounds of Birmingham, Joseph McKenna, Birmingham Library Services, 1992, ISBN 0-7093-0188-X
3. ^ Nicholson, Jean et al: The Obelisks of Warwickshire, page 46. Brewin Books, 2013
4. ^ a b [1] CWGC Cemetery report.
5. ^ a b [2] Burial Locations for VC Holders, city of Birmingham.
6. ^ Andrews, Harry (2008). The Follies of a Victorian Athlete (William Snook 1861–1916). Leonie Press (Anne Loader Publications). ISBN 978-1-901253-56-6.
7. ^ Major, Joanne. "James Guidney aka Jemmy the Rockman".

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witton Cemetery.

* Birmingham City Council page

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Buildings and structures in Birmingham, England

Highrise
(in height order)|

* Sutton Coldfield mast
* BT Tower
* 10 Holloway Circus
* Chamberlain Clock Tower
* Alpha Tower
* Orion Building
* Sentinels
* Rotunda
* 103 Colmore Row
* The Cube
* Five Ways Tower
* Hyatt
* Centre City Tower
* Two Snowhill
* One Snow Hill Plaza
* Quayside Tower
* Colmore Gate
* McLaren Building
* Metropolitan House
* Edgbaston House
* The Colmore Building
* Jury's Inn
* Lloyd House

Civic|

* Aston Library
* Baskerville House
* Central Police Station
* Chamberlain Clock
* Chamberlain Memorial
* Council House
* Edgbaston Waterworks
* Energy from Waste Plant
* Hall of Memory
* Library of Birmingham
* Moseley Road Baths
* Other baths
* Municipal Bank
* Town Hall
* Town Hall (Sutton Coldfield)
* Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

Main railway stations|

* Moor Street
* New Street
* Snow Hill
* Other stations

Universities|

* Aston University
* Birmingham City University
* Birmingham School of Art
* Newman University
* University College Birmingham
* University of Birmingham
* Barber Institute
* Queen's College, Birmingham

Hospitals|

| Current|

* Children's
* City
* Good Hope
* Orthopaedic
* Queen Elizabeth
* Women's

|

Defunct|

* Accident
* General
* Old Queen Elizabeth
* Selly Oak
* Witton Isolation

Religious|

| Christian|

* Ascension, Hall Green
* St Agatha, Sparkbrook
* St Agnes, Moseley
* St Alban, Highgate
* St Andrew, Handsworth
* St Anne, Moseley
* St Anne, Digbeth
* St Augustine, Edgbaston
* St Barnabas, Erdington
* St Bartholomew, Edgbaston
* St Benedict's, Bordesley
* Bishop Latimer, Winson Green
* St Catherine, Bristol Street
* St Chad's Cathedral
* St Cyprian, Hay Mills
* St David, Shenley Green
* St Edburgha, Yardley
* St Edward, Selly Park
* Erdington Abbey
* SS Faith & Laurence, Harborne
* St Francis, Bournville
* St Francis, Handsworth
* St Gabriel, Weoley Castle
* St George, Edgbaston
* Handsworth Cemetery Chapel
* Holy Trinity, Birchfield
* Holy Trinity & St Luke
* Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield
* St James, Handsworth
* St John, Ladywood
* St John, Perry Barr
* St John, Sparkhill
* St Laurence, Northfield
* St Lazar, Bournville
* St Martin, Bull Ring
* St Mark, Washwood Heath
* St Mary, Acocks Green
* St Mary, Handsworth
* St Mary, Moseley
* St Mary, Selly Oak
* St Mary's Convent
* Methodist Central Hall
* St Michael & All Angels, Bartley Green
* St Michael, Handsworth
* St Michael, Moor Street
* St Nicolas, Kings Norton
* Oratory
* St Paul, Birmingham
* St Paul, Lozells
* St Peter, Harborne
* SS Peter & Paul, Aston
* St Philip's Cathedral
* St Silas, Lozells
* Stechford Baptist

|

Islamic|

* Central Mosque
* Darul Barakaat
* Ghamkol Shariff
* Green Lane
* Jami

Jewish|

* Central Synagogue
* Singers Hill

Sikh|

* Guru Nanak, Handsworth

Hindu|

* Shree Geeta Bhawan

Houses|

* Anchorage, The
* Christopher Wray Lighting works
* Edgbaston Hall
* The Endwood
* Hay Hall
* Highbury Hall
* Moat House
* Moor Hall
* Moseley Hall
* New Hall Manor
* Northfield Manor House
* Peddimore Hall
* Penns Hall
* Pype Hayes Hall
* Sheldon Hall
* Stratford House
* Winterbourne

Hotels|

* Grand Hotel
* Hyatt Regency
* Hotel Indigo (The Cube)
* Jurys Inn
* Radisson Blu
* Resorts World Birmingham
* Other hotels

Pubs|

* Adam & Eve
* Anchor Inn
* Antelope
* Bartons Arms
* Black Horse
* Brookhill Tavern
* Crown
* Fighting Cocks, Moseley
* Fox and Grapes (demolished)
* Golden Eagle (demolished)
* Lad in the Lane
* Old Crown
* Queen's Arms
* Red Lion (Handsworth; closed)
* Woodman

Complexes|

* Brindleyplace
* Bull Ring
* Friends' Institute
* International Convention Centre
* Mailbox
* Grand Central
* Longbridge plant
* Paradise
* Swan Shopping Centre

Art and theatres|

* The Alexandra
* Barber Institute
* Birmingham Odeon
* Crescent
* Drum
* Hippodrome
* mac
* Rep
* Oak Cinema
* Odeon, Kingstanding
* Old Rep
* Piccadilly
* Symphony Hall

Museums|

* Aston Hall
* Back to Backs
* Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
* Blakesley Hall
* New Hall Mill
* Newman Bros Coffin Factory
* Sarehole Mill
* Selly Manor/ Minworth Greaves
* Soho House
* Weoley Castle

Sports venues|

* Alexander Stadium
* Edgbaston (cricket)
* Edgbaston Priory Club
* St Andrew's
* Villa Park

Other|

* 1–7 Constitution Hill
* 17 & 19 Newhall Street
* Arena Birmingham
* Ashford & Son
* Assay Office
* Birmingham Banking Company
* Birmingham Crematorium
* Bromford Viaduct
* Castle Bromwich Assembly
* Chinese Pagoda
* Fort Dunlop
* Gas Retort House
* Gas Street Studios
* Great Western Arcade
* Holliday Street Aqueduct
* ICC
* Millennium Point
* New Street Signal Box
* Perrott's Folly
* Perry Bridge
* Prison
* Proof House
* Ringway Centre
* Roundhouse
* Saracen's Head
* Selfridges
* St James's House
* Victoria Square House
* Victoria Law Courts
* Victoria Works
* Woodcock Street Baths

Demolished|

* Aston Hippodrome
* Birmingham Manor House
* Bishop's House
* Bishop Ryder Church
* Bordesley Hall
* Central Goods railway station
* Central Library
* Christ Church
* Church of the Messiah
* The Crescent
* The Exchange
* Fox Hollies Hall
* Heathfield Hall
* Highfield
* Island House
* St James the Less' Church
* Langley Hall
* Market Hall
* St Mary's, Whittall St.
* Metchley Fort
* Pebble Mill Studios
* Post & Mail Building
* Public Office
* Union Workhouse

* Architecture
* Tallest
* Board schools
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* Scheduled
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Parks and open spaces in Birmingham, England

Parks & gardens|

* Adderley Park
* Billesley Common
* Bleak Hill Park
* Brookvale Park
* Calthorpe Park
* Cannon Hill Park
* Cofton Park
* Cotteridge Park
* Eastside City Park
* Grove Park
* Handsworth Park
* Highbury Park
* Highgate Park
* Kingfisher Country Park
* Kings Heath Park
* Lickey Hills Country Park
* Lightwoods Park
* New Hall Valley Country Park
* Moseley Park
* Perry Hall Park
* Perry Park
* Pype Hayes Park
* Queens Park
* Selly Oak Park
* Senneleys Park
* Sheldon Country Park
* Shire Country Park
* Short Heath Park
* Sutton Park
* Swanshurst Park
* Walkers Heath Park
* Ward End Park
* Woodgate Valley Country Park

Gardens|

* Botanical Gardens
* Martineau Gardens
* St Thomas' Peace Garden
* Winterbourne Botanic Garden

Nature reserves
(not listed above)|

* Edgbaston Pool
* Harborne Reserve
* Moseley Bog
* Plantsbrook Local Nature Reserve
* Sandwell Valley (part)

Cemeteries|

* Brandwood End
* Handsworth
* Key Hill
* Lodge Hill
* Perry Barr Crematorium
* Warstone Lane
* Witton

Reservoirs|

* Aston
* Bartley
* Brookvale Park Lake
* Edgbaston
* Frankley
* Lifford
* Perry Barr (covered)
* Perry
* Witton Lakes

Related|

* Birmingham Parks Police

* Category

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Cemeteries in England

East Midlands|

* Boston (Marian Road)
* Eckington Cemetery
* Leicester (Welford Road)

East of England|

* Baldock
* Biggleswade
* Cambridge American Cemetery
* Cambridge Ascension Parish
* Cambridge (City)
* Cambridge (Histon Road)
* Cambridge (Mill Road)
* Hitchin
* Hoddesdon
* Lowestoft Cemetery
* Lowestoft (Kirkley)
* Letchworth
* Norwich (Earlham Road)
* Norwich (Gildencroft Quaker)
* Norwich (Rosary)

North East|

* Bishopwearmouth
* Middlesbrough (Linthorpe)
* Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Jesmond)
* Marske-by-the-Sea (St Germain's)

North West|

* Barrow-in-Furness (Thorncliffe)
* Birkenhead (Flaybrick Hill)
* Blackpool (Carleton)
* Blackpool (Layton)
* Chester (Overleigh)
* Darwen
* Liverpool (Allerton)
* Liverpool (Anfield)
* Liverpool (Everton)
* Liverpool (St James)
* Liverpool (Toxteth Park)
* Liverpool (West Derby)
* Macclesfield
* Manchester (Blackley)
* Manchester (Southern)
* Burials
* Rochdale (Middleton)
* Salford (Agecroft)
* Salford (Weaste)

South East|

* Aldershot Cemetery
* Aldershot Crematorium
* Aldershot Military Cemetery
* Ash, Surrey
* Brookwood Cemetery
* Brookwood American Cemetery
* Deal (Hamilton Road)
* Farnham (Green Lane)
* Farnham (Upper Hale)
* Farnham (West Street)
* Guildford (Mount)
* Hastings
* Kent & Sussex
* Oxford (Holywell)
* Margate Cemetery
* Oxford (Osney)
* Oxford (St Sepulchre's)
* Oxford (Wolvercote)
* Reading Old
* Royal Burial Ground (Frogmore)
* Southampton Hollybrook
* Southampton Old
* Southampton (South Stoneham)
* Westmill Woodland Burial Ground
* Winchester (Magdalen Hill)

South West|

* Barnstaple
* Bath Abbey
* Bath (Locksbrook)
* Bideford (East-the-Water)
* Bideford (Higher Cemetery)
* Bournemouth (East)
* Bournemouth (Kinson)
* Bournemouth (North)
* Bournemouth (Wimborne Road)
* Bristol (Arnos Vale)
* Ilfracombe
* Plymouth (Ford Park)
* Smallcombe (Bath)
* Tiverton
* Torquay

West Midlands|

* Birmingham (Brandwood End)
* Birmingham (Key Hill)
* Birmingham (Lodge Hill)
* Birmingham (Warstone Lane)
* Birmingham (Witton)
* Cannock Chase
* Coventry (London Road)
* Dudley (Lye and Wollescote)
* Greenhaven Woodland

Yorkshire and the Humber|

* Bradford (Undercliffe)
* Halifax (Stoney Royd)
* Harrogate (Stonefall)
* Hull (General)
* Leeds (Beckett Street)
* Sheffield (Abbey Lane)
* Sheffield (City Road)
* Sheffield (Crookes)
* Sheffield (General)
* Sheffield (Intake)
* Sheffield (Norton)
* Sheffield (St. Michael's)
* Sheffield (Tinsley Park)
* Sheffield (Wardsend)
* York

By city|

* Brighton and Hove
* London

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