Longden Road Cemetery
Longden Road Cemetery covers an area of around 30 acres and is comprised of two distinct sections: the old section, in which the chapel buildings are situated, characterised by sweeping curved pathways, and the new section, characterised by its straight roads and rectangular layout.
The original cemetery was consecrated in November 1856, and the first burial took place in December of that year. As a municipal, general cemetery, it is the oldest of its type in Shropshire. Burials into existing graves continue to take place in both the old and new sections of the cemetery, however all new graves are now in the new section.
Areas within the new section of the cemetery have recently had landscaping altered to create additional new burial space and this will provide space for new graves for the foreseeable future.
There are also smaller rural cemeteries at five village locations around Shrewsbury (Alberbury, Church Pulverbatch, Great Ness, Minsterley and Westbury). These provide new burial space and cremated remains plots to serve those communities.
The Crematorium and Memorial Group, a division of Dignity Funerals Ltd, provide all funeral booking and cemetery administration on the council’s behalf and can be contacted on 01743 237900 for further assistance.
If you wish to find a particular grave, layouts of the cemetery can be found within the cemetery and on this webpage. As a general rule, if you have a grave reference comprising of two parts, eg ext 5 - 45, that would be in the new part of the cemetery. If you have a grave reference comprising of three parts eg 106 – 10 – B, that would be found in the old part of the cemetery.
The cemetery is open all year round and you're welcome to visit the cemetery during the hours it's open, whether to visit a grave, carry out family history/historical research, or just enjoy the peaceful setting. The cemetery is open to the public every day of the year during the following times:
- 8am - 5pm during November to end of February
- 8am - 8pm during April to end of September
- 8am - 7pm during October
Use the following documents to find out more information relating to the cemetery:
- A plan of the whole cemetery
- A plan of the old section of the cemetery
- Our Lawn Graves Regulations 2008(these regulations apply in the lawn grave areas of the new section)
- The policy for tributes on shared graves and further information
If you'd like to become involved with the cemetery, its grounds or buildings, a Friends of Longden Road Cemetery group has been established. You can find out further information on their Facebook site.