Chapels lie at the heart of cemeteries – and Ford Park has two of them!

Facing them, the one on the right and in current use was rebuilt on the exact footprint of the original Nonconformist Chapel, destroyed by enemy air action in October 1940.

The replacement chapel is simple and light – hosting to date special services, such as Mother’s Day and carols, a wedding blessing and funerals.

The blitzed chapel was virtually a replica of the left hand Church of England chapel, now a Grade II Listed Building. It is built from limestone with softer Caen stone used for the carvings. It is built in the Decorated Gothic Revival Style and was completed in early 1849.

Both the original chapels were designed by architects JR Hamilton and James Medland. The foundation stone was laid on 5 August 1847, the occasion being marked by the gift of a quarter pound of tea to each employee.

The original £1,888 and 16 shilling cost to build both chapels and the cemetery lodge is a far cry from the £653,000 cost of an ambitious project the Trust want to achieve to secure Ford Park as a place relevant and inspiring to the local community and visitors today and in the future.

Plans are significantly progressed to restore the original chapel back to its former glory with acoustics best suited to choral and small scale musical events and convert the existing chapel into a heritage and local studies centre with improved office and visitor facilities.

A major public appeal is being launched to raise thousands of pounds to match the Heritage Lottery grant offer this year – failure to do so will mean a golden opportunity is lost to share this heritage gem with future generations.

The main processional drive acts as a dividing line between consecrated or Church ground on the right and unconsecrated or general ground on the left in the south western quarter of the cemetery.

The monuments, particularly in the oldest quarter of the cemetery, reflect the sombre shades of Victorian mourning with symbolism which is very a popular theme in our programme of guided tours.

 

Did you know?

The limestone content of the two striking circular vaults and poor soil quality on top plays host to an unusual and wide variety of grasses.

 

 

To contact us call 01752 665442, Fax 01752 601177 or
e-mail at info@ford-park-cemetery.org