Rose Hill Cemetery (Oxford)

 I have been here a few times now and have updated the the blog with some new photos

As I was over in Oxford last week I visited a couple of places that I had wanted to go to for a while
"Rose Hill Cemetery" is located in Oxford, It was opened in 1889 and has more than 20,000 burials. It covers over 11 acres (45,000 m²) and has a Victorian chapel. The cemetery is closed to new burials.
Rose Hill is one of four large Victorian cemeteries in Oxford".

 The entrance to the cemetery is just off Church Cowley Road and you pass through these gates

Over to the left you can see the old gate house for the cemetery

The road runs through the cemetery turning and coming back towards the chapel

The chapel is still in use for services

which is a reasonable size with the windows covered for protection
It's locked unless in use

Over to one side is this small building no doubt once used as the Mortuary now the Gardner's  store

Just looking across the cemetery you can see how big it is

with the odd tomb

The graves are well tended

grass kept cut unlike most churchyards

It is crowded with all sorts of monuments

An anchor wrapped around a cross but I loved seeing the different angels

There are quite a few different types there

All watching over their charges

The one above faces some conifers which have grown up to almost hide it

But this one I took my eye, a young girl holding on to the Cross

I noticed quiet a few Commonwealth War Grave headstones in the cemetery

This is designated a war grave the family providing their own memorial, the letters are fading which is a shame

I took photos of all the War Graves I noticed and counted up around 31, their could be more I have missed

This one has a memorial to another family member with them

On the way in you could not help notice this huge array of floral tributes, the ones at the back I recon were around 3 to 4 foot high, nearly a meter. I think it belonged to some one from the travelling community

I have to say it is mind boggling

when you walk through large cemetery like this

The headstones seem to keep going on

You have to wonder how you know where to look for a relative

The cemetery is imminence

Last year I went back again to find this grave of Edward Brooks VC. I found out he was buried in Rose hill so after contacting the people who look after the place they told me where to look

He is buried with his wife Elsie May

 

Collage of graves

 

View of the cemetery with covered cross in the foreground

 

I like coming here to look around

 

Collection of angles on graves

 

Its a cemetery you can spend ages looking around

But I feel it is well maintained

 

The cemetery is closed now for new burials though I did notice a few new ones. There are a few more cemetery's in Oxford I would like to visit Two in particular as they are now closed. Hopefully next year I will get a chance to visit.

Till Next Time do have a wonderful weekend

Osney Cemetery

Osney Cemetery is situated beside the railway near Oxford Station near the old Osney Abby and not far from the footbridge. It was first established in 1848 for use it is now closed but when that happened I could not tell you. It is a pleasant cemetery to look around if you are nearby.

Nice touch with the Lychgate leading to the cemetery.

One of the monument you can see is this which reminds me of a sofa, maybe a bench was supposed to go in it

The cemetery is large though the headstones look sparse

Many seem more clumped together and are of a similar age

Many lean over

Over near the railway you can see these Commonwealth War graves and memorial. There are 25 war graves from the First War and one from the Second in the cemetery

The cemetery is used as a green space now and I read that they may be planing more trees there

There are quite a few parts left to go wild.
You can also see the odd tomb this one has tree growing out of the broken top

I will leave you with this shot of the tomb along with headstones nearby. The cemetery is worth a visit and I will return again to find the War Graves, there are also another two disused cemetery's in Oxford I want to visit and a nearby church.
This is dedicated to Horace who I found out passed away 18 months ago, I used to work with Horace at Oxford Instruments in Osney Mead not far from here.

Till next time Have a wonderful Easter