Beneath our feet lie stories. Cathcart Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a garden cemetery with almost 15,000 graves that whisper tales of Glasgow’s past.
Cathcart Cemetery opened in 1878. It emerged during the “garden cemetery” movement. This movement was a response to overcrowded city cemeteries. People also grew concerned about sanitation and disease outbreaks. The location was chosen for its leafy character. It was also easily accessible from the city.
Imagine this cemetery in the country. It’s easy to access from the city. It’s far enough away to be clear of its vapours. Woods surround it. Murmuring streams echo through it. It is laid out with artistic taste. Flowers and blossoms yield for nine months of the year. That was Cathcart Cemetery.
William Ross McKelvie laid out Cathcart Cemetery. He was one of Scotland’s finest garden cemetery designers. McKelvie had experience. He was the Superintendent of Cemeteries and Parks at Greenock.
Cathcart Cemetery is divided into two sections. The older Victorian section borders Netherlee Road. The newer Linn extension lies on the other side.
For Victorians death was not hidden. It was celebrated with carved gravestones. They chose a prime location. Cathcart Cemetery reflects this attitude.
Look around at the magnificent gravestones and memorials. Notice the William and Mary Hood mausoleum. It is based upon the Philae Temple of Hathor. It is a full-scale Egyptian temple. Once it included a statue of Anubis.
Cathcart Cemetery is the final resting place of notable people. Joseph Taylor, the first Captain of Scotland, is buried here. So are Willie Maley and William Wilton. They were the first managers of Celtic and Rangers. Margaret Metcalfe Jefferson is also here. She was Stan Laurel’s mother. Musical-hall comedian Mark Sheridan rests here. Gaelic opera singer Jessie MacLachlan is here too. Great artists also found their final resting place here. Hannah Frank and George Henry are buried here.
Cathcart Cemetery is a multi-faith burial ground. It houses Hebrew and Muslim sections in the Linn Extension. It is a place of peace. It is a place for all.
Cathcart Cemetery even had a scandal. A squabble broke out over who owned the land. Some members of the Parish Board resold the land to the Cemetery Company. They made a considerable profit.
The cemetery gatehouse was derelict for ten years. It was restored as a family home. It won a Glasgow Institute of Architects Design Award in 2011.
Friends of Cathcart Cemetery is a community group. They celebrate the cemetery’s heritage. They improve it for all to enjoy. The Friends of Cathcart Cemetery were granted charity status on 24 June 2021.
Today Cathcart Cemetery is a valued space. It is a deep library of local knowledge. Every grave tells a story. As we leave remember the lives and stories buried here. They are a part of Glasgow’s history. They are a part of us.