Bid to Restore Victorian Cemetery

Wrexham Council is preparing a Heritage Lottery Bid to support the restoration of their cemetery on Ruabon Road.

Although in its very early stages it is hoped the bid will be granted and will cover works to restore the grounds and chapel to their former glory.

Currently the chapel and archway have been closed to the public due to public safety concerns with the masonry deteoriating quickly recently.

Lead member for the Environment, Cllr Bob Dutton, said “The cemetery is one of the finest examples of a Victorian Cemetery in Wales and to restore it to its original condition would be excellent for heritage in Wrexham. We are unsure at the moment how much funding we would need but estimate it to be in the £1 million plus region.”

The Chapel, a grade II listed building, was designed by borough surveyor William Turner. The grounds were landscaped by local horticulturalist and politician Yeoman Strachan.

The first burial took place in April 1876 of an eleven year old girl, Ethel Irene Pritchard of Ruabon Grove. The official opening took place in July of the same year.