My camera club had an outing to Lawnswood Cemetery, on the outskirts of Leeds. I was unable to attend, so one day I decided I'd make my own visit. It's a huge site and proved to be very fascinating. When the churchyard of St. Michael's in Headingley was nearing capacity, woodland was purchased and a new cemetery was commissioned from the architect George Corson, aided by the landscape gardener William Gay, who designed Bradford's famous Undercliffe Cemetery. It was originally opened in 1875, and has since been expanded. It is still used.
There's a large chapel, in the Gothic Revival style popular at the time, originally with two parts: Church of England and Non-Conformist, connected by an open cloister. In 1905 a crematorium was added, its chimney disguised as a clock tower.
The Victorian/Edwardian part of the cemetery in particular has some notable memorials, some of them listed. The huge edifice below is the grave of Sam Wilson (1851-1918), made of black marble with bronze figures of Faith, Hope and Benevolence. Mr Wilson made his fortune from his family's worsted cloth making business and became an expert in and collector of contemporary British art and furniture; his collection was bequeathed to Leeds Art Gallery.
I love exploring cemeteries and there were some fine carvings and interesting inscriptions, though some of the graves are inevitably a little worn and damaged.
Beautiful art and architecture.
ReplyDeleteImpressive!
ReplyDeleteI love old cemeteries. Sam Wilson did himself proud!
ReplyDeleteCemeteries are wonderful places not only because of the unusual forms of architecture and monuments like Sam Wilson’s but they are peaceful and uncrowded places to explore.
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