Cemetery
Newport General Cemetery
was opened for burials on 2 March 1859 with its first interment
taking place on 5 March 1859 when it is noted that some 1000 people
witnessed the burial. The Cemetery contains a Chapel built at the same
time and is bounded at the public road side by fine wrought iron
railings and gates.
The Cemetery was originally laid out with four oval lawns around a cross shaped set of roads with the Chapel centrally placed. More land was purchased in the 1970's and the central lawns were closed, being full. The older monuments were removed and placed around the cemetery but many beyond repair were lost. The current council is examining ways of improving the display of early monuments and has, for example in 1996 employed a mason to restore the monument to Annabelle, Lady Boughey a local benefactress, at a cost of £1,300.00, pictured below.
Newport General Cemetery is an oasis of calm between a residential and industrial estate in Newport. Wildlife abounds amongst the many mature trees within the boundaries, and the new concept of woodland burials is designed to encourage the long term future of this "Green Lung" in the town.
For more information on the General Cemetery please contact the Guildhall.