Wigginton Road Cemetery, Tamworth

This attractive cemetery was originally called Tamworth Cemetery. It was opened because the Aldergate Cemetery in Tamworth was full. (The Aldergate Cemetery was a short-term solution to the closure of the parish churchyard at St Editha's, open from 1851 to 1876). The first burial took place at Wigginton Road on 17th December 1876. John Lynch was an Irish labourer who died suddenly, on 14th December, at his lodgings at 18 Peel Street, Tamworth, from the bursting of a blood vessel. His burial was reported by the Tamworth Herald. The service was Roman Catholic, and was conducted by Rev H Norris.

The capacity of the original part of Wigginton Road Cemetery was 421 graves. In 1894 and 1895 there were over 100 burials, and they were considering purchasing adjoining land to extend the cemetery.

By the end of 1904 there had been 2853 burials in the cemetery, taking up 2027 grave spaces. Another extension was proposed in 1905, when only 600 spaces remained. In March 1906 the Burial Board agreed to buy a field belonging to Mr Knight, to the North of the existing cemetery, adjoining Wigginton Road.

The cemetery was eventually extended and was renamed Wigginton Road Cemetery in about 1914.

The former lodge at 87 Wigginton Road, was put on the market in 1983.

The Lodge is now fenced off as a separate residence.

I made this video at the Cemetery in July 2025.

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