The Wisbech General Cemetery is an oasis of calm and beauty in a very busy part of town and gives enjoyment to a lot of people. Originally a three acre Victorian cemetery, it is now a designated Pocket Park maintained as a heritage and wildlife site.
The cemetery is located on North End (formally Leverington Road) next to the Asda Supermarket. It can be accessed from North End or Chapel Road Car Park using the recreational field footpath.
The site is owned by Fenland District Council and managed by the Friends of Wisbech General Cemetery, a small group of volunteers. The Friends objectives are to preserve the cemetery so that monuments can be seen, family plots identified and the woodland wildlife habitat enhanced and conserved.
Established in 1836 the cemetery followed the mid-19th century style of building public cemeteries laid out along the lines of a formal garden. The chapel was erected in 1848 built in classical Doric style and people could choose funeral rites and ministers of any denomination or none.
Website – This site is being rebuilt and we therefore apologise for the limited content.
Cemetery Chapel – In 2016 the Wisbech Society submitted an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to refurbish the derelict chapel. This was successful and work was completed during 2018. The Society continues to support the development of the cemetery, arranges a calendar of events and has prepared a dedicated website – www.wisbechgeneralcemetery.org
War Graves – As a result of research by a member of the Cemetery Friends, in 2018 the Commonwealth War Graves Commission placed headstones on the previously unmarked graves of:-
WW1 Corporal J T Canham, Private W E Cawthron, Private G Cook, Private C W Hill, Private S J Johnson, Private P Kitchen, Private S Knowles, Driver G E Plitsch, Pioneer H Wilkinson, Private E R Worlding.
WW2 Flight Sergeant J Smith
Walks – Due to the current need for social distancing, the format for guided walks has been revised to timed groups of five. Walks usually take place during springtime, Wisbech Arts Festival, Heritage Weekend and Remembrance Weekend. As we are self-financing a small charge is made which is spent on new planting or equipment. We are also happy to provide guided walks for groups on request or to give talks. School groups are particularly welcome.
Burials Database – Burials can be researched using the Wisbech Society’s website database. Census and burial records contain misspelt surnames and the Wisbech General Cemetery registers are no exception. These errors can result in unsuccessful searches but we can still help.
Can We Help – If you think you have a relation buried in the cemetery and would like details and grave location or if a search you undertook was inconclusive, please email info@wisbechgeneralcemetery.co.uk
Anglia in Bloom Awards – 2019 Gold, 2018 Silver Gilt, 2017 Silver Gilt, 2016 Best Cemetery, 2015 Best Cemetery, 2014 Best Conservation Project.
Contact us – Please contact us on any matters relating to cemetery burials, grave locations, history or volunteering. Please email us at info@wisbechgeneralcemetery.co.uk