EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Design and planning of cemeteries could be improved

Design and planning of cemeteries could be improved

Introduction

Urban burial grounds in the 19th century were originally envisaged as public open spaces, and were professionally designed to be attractive places to visit in their own right. Today, many cemeteries are neglected, with little to attract anyone apart from those visiting specific burial plots. This lack of design, planning and ambition means that the potential health and environmental benefits of cemeteries are not being realised.

Description

This briefing of CABE (the UK Commission for Architecture and the Built Environmentis) is based on a 2005 report by writer, environmentalist and CABE Space enabler Ken Worpole. It looks at current concerns about cemeteries and whether they are facing a crisis. It considers their legal status, heritage value and their contemporary benefits. It addresses the problems arising from the way that cemeteries are currently maintained by local authorities. It includes a useful bibliography and contact list.

The briefing mainly looks at the situation concerning cemeteries in the United Kingdom. There are thousands of churchyards, cemeteries and burial grounds in the UK of which many have considerable historic heritage interest. The cemeteries could moreover be interesting green/public spaces.

Contact info

CABE
Phone: +44-20-7070 6700
enquiries@cabe.org.uk

Publication date

05/11/2007

Article info
Author: Ken Worpole
Organisation: CABE

Links

Visit the CABE website for more information

Read the 'Cemeteries, churchyards and burial grounds' briefing (PDF, Eng, 342 KB)

Document type

policy

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Land use