Abbey Cemetery, Bath, England

Abbey Cemetery was one of the main cemeteries laid out during the early 19^th century movement for burial reform. In the 1830s and 1840s the great urban cemeteries were set up by churches and municipalities in England as private enterprises. J. C. Loudon was a pioneer in this movement. In 1843 he laid out Abbey Cemetery. Roman burials have been found on the site (SMR 1804). William Beckford was originally buried here but was removed when Lansdown cemetery was built.

In his ‘Rambles about Bath and its Neighbourhood', James Tunstall described the views from the cemetery:

‘From the Cemetery we obtain varied and extensive views of the most beautiful description. The back of Beechen Cliff forms a noble prospect, towering 360 feet above the city, which, with its churches, the Abbey rising in the midst, stretches up the height of Lansdown. Below to the westward, is Bagatelle, formerly a public tea garden, and Perrymead, with the road leading through the romantically-situated archway to Popes favourite walk; eastward the picturesque ivy-covered tower of Widcombe old church, with its manor house and hanging plantation rising above its rural graveyard; to the south, the grounds of Prior Park; while Lyncombe Hill, with its diversified scenery, contributes to the calm enjoyment of those who walk in sadness among the graves of the beloved dead.....'

The following is from the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT

During the 1830s, with a lack of further burial space at Bath Abbey, a new cemetery was proposed to be laid out at the edge of the city. The land was purchased from the Prior Park estate by the Rector of Bath Abbey, Rev Brodrick. The architect, social reformer, and landscape gardener, John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843) was probably responsible for the initial scheme for the layout and planting of the cemetery. That scheme was altered in the execution by the Bath City Architect, George Phillips Manners, who was also responsible for the cemetery chapel. In 1843, the year Loudon completed Abbey Cemetery, he published his book, On the Laying out, Planting and Managing of Cemeteries. The design for Abbey Cemetery, which he had just completed, is included in it as an example for a 'proposal for a cemetery on hilly ground'. Besides Abbey Cemetery, Loudon designed two other cemeteries in England: Southampton Cemetery (qv) in Hampshire and Histon Road Cemetery, Cambridge (qv), and he gave advice on the design of various other cemeteries throughout England. Loudon died just a few weeks before Abbey Cemetery was consecrated on 30 January 1844.

Abbey Cemetery remains (2001) in private ownership and burials are only permitted in existing family plots. The mortuary chapel is currently closed, awaiting repairs.