Restoration of Historic Wrexham Cemetery Begins This Month

Major works to restore a historic cemetery in Wrexham are due to start this month.

Wrexham Cemetery, Ruabon Road is to undergo the extensive restoration works following a successful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund Grant.

Renovation works on the cemetery were first mooted in 2014 when a bid to restore the historic Victorian facility was submitted.

It was later confirmed that the bid had been successful and a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant of £1.2 million would be invested into restoring the building.

The cemetery, which is on the register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Wales, is one of the finest examples of a Victorian cemetery in Wales – with a well preserved “gardenesque” cemetery landscape typical of the time it was created.

Currently the buildings are on the at risk register of the local authority and is in urgent need of restoration and improvement.

The first section of the works will include the removal of a number of trees, most notably the line of poplar trees between the old cemetery boundary and the newer sections, a line of Cypress trees near the Ruabon Road boundary will also be removed along with some trees immediately adjacent to the chapel. Some replacement planting will be carried out during the winter.

Lead member for Environment and Transport Councillor David Bithell said: “The Poplar trees are a notable landscape feature, but sadly are starting to decline, we have had to remove several trees in recent years due to safety concerns.

“The tree works are part of the project work to restore the original landscape and buildings of the Victorian landscape. The project work and investment we are putting in through the Heritage Lottery funding will make the cemetery a better and safer environment for years to come”.