Mid 19th century cemetery, London Road Cemetery (EHER 47420)

A mid 19th century cemetery with a caretaker's house designed by P.C. Beaumont, a Maldon architect (see EHER 81978), and two chapels (EHER 81975 and EHER 81976), of which only one is extant. There is a 20th century extension with woodland burial plots.

A mid 19th century cemetery with some original planting, and a caretaker’s house designed by P. C. Beaumont, a Maldon architect (see EHER 81978). The 20th century extensions clearly reflect the change in funeral practices which occurred during that century, from formal grave plots to woodland burial. The cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of Rochester on 27 September 1855. By March 1856, most of the work on the new cemetery was complete. LOCATION, BOUNDARIES, AREA, LANDFORM & SETTING The cemetery is bounded to the east by the cutting of the Maldon bypass (formerly the branch railway from Wickford) and open farmland, to the south and west by open farmland, and to the north by the old London Road. The old cemetery is relatively flat, but the new extension rises to the west and falls to the south. The site is distinguishable in the landscape from some distance by its mature 19th century coniferous planting. The total cemetery area is about 6 hectares. ENTRANCES & APPROACHES The entrance to the old cemetery is just beyond the bridge over the Maldon bypass. Wrought iron gates on substantial panelled brick piers with stone cappings are set back from the road by segmental wing walls. The main avenue runs south from this gate and now ends in a modern turning circle beyond the mortuary chapel. The avenue originally continued the rear of the site where it was terminated by a specimen Cupressus. Further west along the London Road is a newer second entrance accessing the cemetery extension, built in the same style as the original, though with less ornate piers and gates. The London Road side of the cemetery has a brick wall along its full length; just east of the old cemetery entrance, this wall has been heightened to accommodate the lean-to cottage inside the cemetery. There are traces of a brick wall (in very poor repair) along part of the very overgrown east boundary, but no trace of the original wail on the south or west boundaries of the original plot. CEMETERY GROUNDS The east end of the cemetery (formerly the non-conformist part) contains graves, but it has reverted to dense secondary woodland with no surviving evidence of its original layout. A number of hish and English yews can be seen in the undergrowth (probably marking the line of the original path), as well as some coniferous planting. A partially collapsed brick wall marks the east boundary. Apart from a few visible gravestones in the undergrowth, this area now resembles a nature reserve. The small number of gravestones might be the result of collapse or vandalism, from the Victorian burial board’s refusal to allow permanent memorials on any plot not bought in perpetuity or from non-conformist tradition. The avenue leading to the remaining mortuary chapel is lined with Vibernum and continues in a straight line past the chapel to the rear of the site. Planting in this area includes a fine Wellingtonia, a variety of hollies and many fish yews, as well as a variety of conifers. There is a turning circle half way along the avenue, beyond which it is very overgrown. It terminates in a substantial Cupressus. specimen tree at the southern boundary and then turns west where its line can still be discerned in the undergrowth. To the west of the surviving chapel is a modem garden of remembrance, a brick paved semi-circular pergola on brick piers, with an extension to the south leading to a square garden enclosed with a yew hedge and containing a central circular rose garden. The pergola is covered in wisteria and an ornamental vine. Part of this area was formerly occupied by the Church of England chapel, Further west, near the original boundary of the cemetery, there is another north south path, bordered with numbered cast iron plot markers (the manufacturer’s name is illegible). Part of the original boundary is marked by a hedge containing hawthorn, blackthorn and field maple. West of this is the large 20th century cemetery extension, reflecting contemporary aspirations. It is much more open; the older part has similar cast iron plot markers, and the newer section further west area is densely packed with gravestones and the sparse planting is mainly broadleaf. There are several separate zones in the cemetery extension, such as the open parkland memorial garden. There is a further extension dating from 1996, which is entered between the memorial walls, two segmental brick walls with piers and ball cappings facing a small obelisk set in a circular bed of low-growing conifers. West of this is an area set aside for woodland burials. <1>