“332,000 souls rest here.” That staggering number whispers the history of Weaste Cemetery. Established in 1857, Weaste Cemetery emerged from necessity. Salford’s churchyards were bursting. This 39-acre site became the solution.
Weaste Cemetery is the oldest of Salford’s four cemeteries. It officially opened on September 1st, 1857. But Joseph Brotherton was the first interment on January 14th, 1857. He was a popular member of parliament. He campaigned for this cemetery. Sadly, he died just before it was completed.
When Weaste Cemetery opened, it boasted four chapels. A glazed summer house also stood here. Today, they are all gone. The cemetery was extended by 16 acres in 1887. By then, there had been 124,500 burials.
Listen closely. Even in this tranquil setting, echoes of war linger. During the 1940 Manchester Blitz, a German bomb struck Weaste Cemetery. It targeted nearby docks. Look closely at some headstones. Shrapnel marks and holes remain.
Weaste Cemetery is a Grade II listed Victorian cemetery. It has a heritage trail. Guided tours reveal its secrets. Several monuments within the cemetery are also Grade II listed.
Many notable people call Weaste Cemetery their final home. Joseph Brotherton rests here. He was the first MP for Salford. Martha Brotherton, his wife, also lies here. She was the author of the first vegetarian cookbook. Elkanah Armitage, a Lord Mayor of Manchester, is interred here too. Charles Hallé, founder of the Hallé Orchestra, is buried here. Mark Addy, a local hero, also rests here. He saved over 50 people from drowning in the River Irwell. William Norman, awarded the Victoria Cross, is here. Eddie Colman, a Manchester United player killed in the Munich air disaster, is also buried in Weaste Cemetery.
Weaste Cemetery holds the graves of 373 Commonwealth service personnel. They died in World War I and World War II. Special memorials honor those buried abroad. Some are for those in unmarked graves.
In 2004, a heritage trail was created. Salford City Council, the Friends of the Cemeteries, and the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit collaborated.
Take a moment to appreciate Weaste Cemetery. It is more than just a burial ground. Weaste Cemetery is a historical record. It is a green space. It is a peaceful sanctuary. It is a testament to Salford’s past. It is a place of remembrance.