COVENTRY’S historic London Road Cemetery is to be given a new lease of life following the appointment of a landscape design specialist.
Created by designer Joseph Paxton in 1845, the cemetery will benefit from a £1million refurbishment following a grant award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The Grade I listed cemetery – which is recognised as one of the top five historic cemeteries in the UK – will be worked on by IDP Landscape, who has been awarded the contract to oversee the latest stage of the site’s transformation.
The scheme aims to restore Paxton’s original design intent – undertaking horticultural and tree works as well as repairing major features such as the Promenade, the Anglican Chapel and key monuments.
Notable Coventrians buried in the cemetery include George Singer who founded the Singer Cycle Company and is credited with the design of the first curved fork – still used in modern bicycles.
Mr Singer’s works’ football team, Singer FC, went on to become Coventry City FC.
William Wheeler, IDP Landscape’s design director, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to refurbish an important and historic place which the people of Coventry will once again be able to fully enjoy and appreciate.
“We hope the refurbishment of the park encourages people to get involved and learn new skills.
“This really is one of Coventry’s most delightful spaces with a rich historical significance and it is very appropriate that this work is being carried out as the city prepares its bid to become City of Culture in 2021.”
The cemetery was designed as an arboretum, with many new species of trees including exotics, and combines a cemetery and an arboretum park over a seven hectare site.
It also includes three chapels and the ageing cemetery and its buildings are now badly in need of repair.
Councillor Jayne Innes, cabinet member for city services, said the grant money from HLF will mean the Council can lavish proper care on the site.
She added: “We will use the money to encourage more people to enjoy the cemetery while learning about it – this will help to ensure it is protected for many years to come.
“Over the next few weeks we will asking local people to help us plan for the future by completing a quick survey.
“I hope lots of people will take five minutes to have their say.”
