Kent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery

The Kent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery is a crematorium and cemetery located in Royal Tunbridge Wells in the county of Kent, England.

Kent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery
Older graves and monuments. April 2008
Details
Established1873
Location
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
CountryEngland, UK
Coordinates51.115953°N 0.272429°E / 51.115953; 0.272429
Owned byTunbridge Wells Borough Council
Size28 acres (11 ha)
No. of graves44,000+[1]
WebsiteOfficial website
Find a GraveKent and Sussex Crematorium and Cemetery
The Chapel, located in the centre of the cemetery. April 2008
A section of newer graves near the centre of the cemetery. April 2008

Background

As a quickly developing and popular Victorian era spa town, the town of Tunbridge Wells did not gain its first church until 1829, when the Decimus Burton designed Holy Trinity Church opened. The town gained its first cemetery, Woodbury Park Cemetery in 1849, laid out over 3 acres (1.2 ha) and consecrated as Trinity Cemetery.[2]

However, as the town's expansion quickened, and with no additional land into which to expand the grounds, Woodbury Park proved too small. Although burials were continued to be allowed in family plots post 1873, the last burial took place there in 1934. It is now Grade II listed.[2]

History

After Tunbridge Wells town corporation had procured lands on the northern edge of Frant forest/southern edge of the town, the initially named Frant Forest Cemetery opened in 1873.[3] It was laid out over an initial 23 acres (9.3 ha) site by the town surveyor William Brentnall, who had originally been recruited to rebuild the drainage system around the town. Bretnall was later buried in the same grounds.[1] The co-located crematorium was opened in 1959.[4]

Enlarged twice and now covering over 28 acres (11 ha), today the grounds house over 44,000 burials.[1] In June 2014, a new Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery association were formed.[5]

The cemetery contains the war graves of 72 Commonwealth service personnel of World War I and 63 of World War II.[6]

Notable burials
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References
  1. Laura Plane (23 June 2014). "Newly formed Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery". SO Magazines. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  2. "Woodbury Park Cemetery". English Heritage. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. Kevin Wilkinson (July 1946). "ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS - Past and Present". Tunbridge Wells Citizen. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. "Cemeteries & Crematoria". Kent Online Parish Clerks. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  5. "Tunbridge Wells Cemetery group formed to help with restoration". BBC Kent. 8 June 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  6. CWGC Cemetery Report.
  7. "Memorial Plaque Honours V.C. Hero From Tunbridge Wells". Kentish Towns. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
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