Column: 'Colchester's burial place has story worth telling'

THROUGHOUT 2020 and the Covid pandemic, my husband and I enjoyed several peaceful walks in our beautiful cemetery.

Colchester cemetery is a wonderful 67-acre spot on the Mersea road, worthy of any award for historic significance or special interest, and the history that lies behind it is a story worth telling.

So how much do you know about the carefully chosen spot in which our loved ones rest for all eternity?

In the 1850s, a series of burial acts changed the way towns and cities buried their loved ones.

Churchyard burial grounds were ordered to be closed, and in the summer of 1854, Colchester formed a burial board with representatives from 11 of the town's parishes.

Almost immediately, the hunt was on to find a suitable site for the new cemetery.

The land was to be 12 to 20 acres, next to a public road and within two miles of the ancient obelisk that stood in the high street at that time.

The final three contenders were - The Mortar Field, offering 12 acres (today we know this as the recreation ground).

Philbrick's field, offering 15 acres (the area we know as Scarletts, where the residential home once stood).

Columnist Sharon Mooney

And finally, Tettrell's farm, offering 18 acres.

George Tettrell lived at Plum Hall and his land was voted for as the most eligible spot, with soil most suitable for burying.

In October 1854, soon after the decision was made, the contracts were signed.

Adverts were placed asking for landscape gardeners to submit designs and estimates for the laying out, embellishing and planting of the new burial ground.

Benjamin Cant of the well known Colchester Rose growing family won the tender at a cost of £400. 

At the end of 1854, architects were sought to submit designs, plans and drawings for the building of two cemetery chapels, a receptacle house, a lodge and an entrance gate with fencing.

The architects chosen were Messrs Edward and Law of Stoke Newington and the building of the two chapels was offered to Messrs Colls and Co.

With no time to waste, the work began almost immediately.

With the closing of the churchyard burial grounds looming (May 1, 1855), the start of 1855 sees building work begin, but problems and delays arise and the board request an extension to the closing date and they are given until the end of December 1855 to complete their new cemetery.

During 1855 the architects are dismissed after much arguing.

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New architects are brought in and a gardeners cottage added to the plans.

Towards the end of 1855, another extension to the opening of the cemetery is requested and a new opening date of May 1, 1856 is announced.

Things progress swiftly on, the builds are completed, the planting and laying out is finalised, and in April 1856 Mr James Cobb, the new superintendent, takes possession of the keys to the lodge and moves in with his family.

The gardener's cottage becomes the new family home of his assistant - James Nason.

On Friday, April 25, 1856 the Bishop of Rochester arrived to consecrate the grounds of the new cemetery.

It was a very beautiful, sunny day, with many of the town's great and good along with members of the burial board and general ticket holders in attendance.

Colchester now had a very beautiful place for her residents to rest in eternal peace.

Opening day was May 1, 1856.

Thomas Bolton, a cordwainer, died on April 27 and was interred on May 2, 1856.

He will be forever remembered as the first burial in our wonderful Victorian garden of rest.

If you are interested in a tour of our wonderful cemetery please contact colchestercemeterytour@gmail.com to register interest.