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1950 - Decline of the cemetery begins
 High mortality rates in the 19th century soon filled most
of the available burial plots, and new plots were needed as
early as 1916. The Cemetery Company was forced to think of
ways that they could use all the available space.
But the shortage of plots available in the cemetery and changing
attitudes towards funerals meant that the Cemetery Company
struggled to make a profit during the 1930s. In 1936 (the
cemetery's centenary) the company built a set of new vaults
over the catacombs to create more burial space.
During the 1950s and 60s an average of 12 burials per year
were taking place, and most of these were in existing family
plots. This was simply not enough to ensure that the Cemetery
Company continued to operate. The cemetery would soon be unable
to accept any more burials.
 The last burial took place on 21 December 1978. Margaret
Norah Wells, aged 76, was interred in one of the vaults beneath
the retaining wall, although her name was never added to the
stone.
By this time the council had taken over the ownership of
the General Cemetery from the Cemetery Company. The council
immediately began to think of alternative uses for the cemetery,
especially as there was a need for green space for the local
community.
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