Timeline

1980 - Part of the cemetery is demolished

The council gained permission with an Act of Parliament to move the bulldozers in. In 1980 they cleared 800 gravestones to make a recreation area.

Part of the cemetery before being cleared

Some of the gravestones were left in place but most were destroyed and some were used to repair the paths in the cemetery.

David Cathells talks about issues relating to re-development of the General Cemetery.

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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.

The cleared area