Overview
Designed by famous architect Joseph Paxton, London Road Cemetery is an early example of the 19th century ‘garden cemetery’ movement, developed not only as a burial site but also as place of natural beauty for the people of Coventry to enjoy.
Appointed in 1845, Paxton incorporated the hilly layout of the former quarry the site sits on into his design, and brought in a range of exotic trees from abroad. He also commissioned two chapels: a Nonconformist chapel designed to look like a classical temple and an Anglican Chapel in a Norman style.
Those buried in the cemetery include most of the city’s Victorian pioneers of transport, especially in the emerging bicycle and car industries. There are also many impressive monuments, including one at the main entrance dedicated to Joseph Paxton himself, designed by Joseph Goddard.
Thanks to National Lottery players, Historic Coventry Trust and Coventry City Council have completed a restoration project in the cemetery funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund. The Anglican Chapel, the raised promenade and the old cemetery entrance have all been restored and new interpretation has been installed to tell the stories of site’s residents and natural heritage.
Initial repair works have now begun at the Nonconformist chapel (funded by Historic England), in-advance of works to find a new use for the building.
What's on at London Road Cemetery
Tell it to the Bees
Inspired by the old habit of telling the hive of a death Tell it to the Bees weaves
together wonder and folk tales, true life accounts and encounters with bees both in folklore and the natural world.
Presented as part of the Dead Good Death Festival (3-5 May at the Anglican Chapel) this performance is about travelling forward, hope, and life whilst still remembering those that have gone before. It is lively, funny and thought provoking.
Expect shapeshifting magic, wise women, and bee lore, nature imagery and travelling
companions who are not of this world
London Road Cemetery Tours
Discover the story of Paxton’s Arboretum, stories of women in the cemetery and the symbolism of memorial stones.
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Yoga for grief at Anglican Chapel
A yoga practice to promote healing after loss, providing a safe space to move through grief and find release in the areas of our bodies where we hold pain from loss.
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Dead Good Death Café
Come to a safe space where people talk about anything and everything to do with death. By talking openly about death, it helps to remove some of the fear factor, but also help up to open our eyes about choices, different cultural ways of dealing with death, but then ultimately to enhance life.
Everyone welcome regardless of age, religion, non religion, gender or background.
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Dead Good Death Festival
On Friday night, performance of ‘Tell it to The Bees’ in the Anglican Chapel.
On Saturday there will be stalls , talks and workshops, all free events.
On Sunday, Yoga for Grief and the Dead Good Death Café . These three events are listed separately on the events page and need to be booked in advance.
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Photography walk – Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery
Do you like walking in nature, spotting and taking images of what you see? Join us for a spring walk around Charterhouse and London Road Cemetery. Suitable for any level of experience from total beginner to experienced photographer. Come with friends, family or on your own.
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Digital photography course for beginners
Explore various settings, learn about effective composition and how to use a light to produce professional looking images. The course is also suitable for keen photographers who have been using a camera for a while but not to the full potential and mainly use the preset modes.
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Parking
Visitors arriving by car should park in the Charterhouse car park and enter the cemetery through the carriageway entrance.
Funders
Venue hire
The Anglican Chapel in London Road Cemetery is available for private and corporate hire. The space can be booked for daytime and/or evening events.
Stay with us
Stay in some of the West Midlands’ most important historic buildings nearby. Spend the night in a fairy-tale medieval gatehouse, or one of four gorgeous timber-framed cottages right in the city centre.
Contact us
To contact the team at Historic Coventry Trust please fill in the contact form below.
