Gazing at these simple headstones, one might wonder about the stories held within the Friends Burial Ground. This tranquil place, also known as Temple Hill Burial Ground, is a Quaker cemetery. It is located in Blackrock, Dublin.
The Friends Burial Ground opened in 1860. Before that, Dublin Quakers had two other burial locations. One was on Cork Street. The other was off St. Stephen’s Green on York Street. The York Street ground was sold in 1805. It made way for the Royal College of Surgeons. Today nothing remains of that old burial ground. The Cork Street burial ground dates from the 1690s. It sits beside the James Weir Home for Nurses.
The Friends Burial Ground at Temple Hill spans 5.8 acres. The first burial occurred on March 6, 1860. Hannah Chapman was the first to be interred here. All gravestones here share a uniform size. They are inscribed simply with names and dates. This reflects Quaker customs.
Some notable Quaker families rest here. These include Allens, Grubbs, Fairbrothers, Goodbodys, Haughtons, Pims, Todhunters, Sparrow Walpoles and Warings. The Dublin Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland cares for this ground.
Among those buried here are notable figures. Sir John Barrington rests here. He was an MP and Lord Mayor of Dublin. Jonathan Pim is also here. He was a founding member of the Dublin Statistical Society. Lydia Shackleton, an Irish botanical artist, is interred in the Friends Burial Ground. Alfred Webb, a politician and biographer, lies here. Horace Walpole, a damask manufacturer, found his final resting place here. John Richardson Wigham, a lighthouse engineer, rests here. Anna Haslam, a women’s rights activist, is buried in the Friends Burial Ground.
Dublin Monthly Meeting bought the land in 1859. They paid 1,000 pounds to Robert Gray. In 1923, the register was full. There had been 959 interments at the Friends Burial Ground.
Finding suitable land was a challenge. A committee searched for years. They even agreed to buy a plot near Donnybrook. This fell through. It took five more years to find the plot between Blackrock and Monkstown.
Plans for the cemetery enclosure began in 1858. A cottage for a caretaker was planned. A small meeting house was also considered. The place was named Temple Hill Burial Ground in June 1859. By 1861, the caretaker lived in the cottage. The meeting house cost approximately 175 pounds.
The Friends Burial Ground faced some challenges over time. Opening graves sometimes revealed large rocks. Before the war, blasting removed these rocks. Later, boring and splitting became necessary. This took more time. One funeral had to be postponed.
The caretaker’s cottage deteriorated over the years. It was rebuilt in the 1930s. The meeting house was enlarged in the 1920s. Caretakers and committee members have kept Temple Hill beautiful. Their devotion has ensured its tranquility.
Walking through this space, consider the peace that Friends sought. The Friends Burial Ground stands as a testament to their values. It remains a place of quiet reflection.