The war graves have a simple, clear cut style of their own, recording the name, rank and date of death, with a simple inscription, as seen in the video below. There are imposing ornate tombstones of our Victorian and Edwardian predecessors – notably the stone Angel of the Resurrection alighting with wings spread on the grave of Marie Corelli, When entering the cemetery it is interesting to just look at the tombstones and see how the styles have changed over 11 decades. It was fitting therefore that in June 1949 the Stratford Borough Council arranged for the Cross of Sacrifice to be unveiled by His Excellency the High Commissioner for Canada. 22 Operational Training Unit based at Wellesbourne. Most of the 177 buried here were members of the Commonwealth Air forces, particularly Canadians attached to No. Within forty years of opening, the cemetery had to be extended and in 1939 the Stratford Borough Council set aside land specifically for Service War Burials, which are now within the care of the Commonwealth War Grave Commission. Daily, visitors come to tend the graves and the cemetery staff are proud to keep the grounds in an exemplary manner and have been awarded for their efforts by the Britain in Bloom contests. Sadly many of these trees have succumbed to old age and have been removed but the tradition of a tree lined avenue is being preserved and repeated in the newer paths and in the extension which was opened in 1956.įlowers have always been important to Stratford, and the cemetery is no exception. Originally, the careful layout of the paths along avenues of cedar trees, were chosen because their evergreen leaves would remind mourners of mortality. This desire and responsibility has not changed and continues to be a priority of the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council. It is clear that the Borough Council were concerned right from the beginning that the cemetery should be a fitting and dignified resting place for its citizens. One can picture the funeral party dressed all in black standing in the chapel listening to the Vicar of Holy Trinity reading from the Prayer Book Funeral Service before proceeding across the still unused lawns to that first little grave plot. She was buried by the Reverend G Arbuthnot. The very first entry was of a three month old baby girl named Harriet Hannah Wright who died in Ashbourne Court, Meer Street 123 years ago in October 1881. Not only are the gravestones his work, but also of his father and his grandfather, and his father’s cousin, Charlie Clifford, actually helped to build the cemetery chapel in 1881, walking over eight miles from Ilmington, six days a week.įrom the 1852/53, the register of burials was kept by the Superintendent in the office adjoining the Chapel, in pursuance of “The Burials (Beyond the Metropolis) Act 16 & 17 VICT. In our local stonemason, the late Jack Clifford, there was a wonderful link with the cemetery. In those days, the cemetery was in open countryside. The Lodge and frontage wall were built in the same matching style, and the local stonemason, the late Mr Jack Clifford, used to advise that the reason the gates were kept closed was to prevent cattle and sheep from straying in to the cemetery when being herded up the Evesham Road to market. It was built from local stone with the reproduction medieval features so fashionable at the time, notably arches, turrets and buttresses. The cemetery buildings were conceived as an entity – with chapel and superintendent’s office as the focal point. As part of the overall design therefore, Evesham Road was planted with an avenue of lime trees to add dignity. In laying our the Cemetery our Municipal forefathers intended that burial services would continue to be held at Holy Trinity Church and then the cortege would proceed along Sanctus Street and Evesham Road to the cemetery (Evesham Road and Sanctus Street were then the main access road into Stratford from the west). The first and only municipal cemetery in Stratford was laid out in 1881 as part of the Victorian concern to improve the urban environment in all its many aspects, particularly as the parish churchyard at Holy Trinity was almost full.

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