Considering the stones beneath your feet. Those stones mark the outline of what was once the Mill Road Cemetery Chapel. This chapel stood as a centerpiece of Mill Road Cemetery. The cemetery opened in 1848 to provide burial space for city parishes.
Mill Road Cemetery is now a Grade II listed site. The cemetery is filled with monuments and war graves. You can find art installations here too. Gordon Young created bird sculptures for this space.
But let’s focus on the chapel. The Mill Road Cemetery Chapel’s story is one of ambition and architectural vision. The original design included two buildings. One was a custodian’s lodge and the other a central chapel. The lodge was built before the cemetery was consecrated in 1848. For ten years, it served as a mortuary chapel.
As burials increased, a proper chapel became necessary. In the 1850s, the committee decided to appoint an architect. They wanted someone of high standing. George Gilbert Scott was chosen. He was known for his Gothic Revival churches.
Scott presented his initial plans in 1851. Those plans were deemed too expensive. He then submitted a less ambitious design. This design omitted the tall spire. But Reverend Professor William Whewell stepped in. He wanted the chapel to resemble a parish church. Whewell donated money to add a tower and spire. The chapel’s design was modified further.
Contracts were signed in 1856. The chapel finally opened on May 28, 1858. Over the years, the chapel required constant repair. By 1904, some parish areas were full. The chapel was used less frequently. In 1938, closing the chapel was suggested. It was still used until 1949. That was when the remaining parish areas closed.
Sadly, the chapel’s condition worsened. A fire caused substantial damage. In 1954, it was demolished. In 2009, an archaeological investigation examined the foundations.
Today, you see a stone outline. This outline marks where the chapel once stood. It was completed in 2017. The outline serves as a memorial. Thirteen stones bear the names of parishes with burial land. Sir George Gilbert Scott’s name and the chapel’s dates are inscribed. A verse from Psalm 90 is also inscribed. It reads “Lord thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another.”
The text uses a font called Cordelia Gothic. Siobhan Brown designed it. She named it after Cordelia Whewell. Cordelia was the wife of William Whewell. He supported the chapel generously.
The Mill Road Cemetery Chapel may be gone but its story is not forgotten. The outline reminds us of its history.