Sheffield, England

Sheffield General Cemetery

Cemetery established by the Victorians as a solution to the overflowing graveyards.

Walking down “Cemetery Avenue” in Sheffield, down a street of ordinary houses, you find yourself confronted by a massive Egyptian Gate, sculpted with two coiled snakes holding their tails in their mouths - the entrance to the Sheffield Cemetery.

Established by the Victorians as a solution to the overflowing graveyards brought about by the Industrial Revolution, the Sheffield General Cemetery opened in 1836.

The Cemetery contains many notable buildings and structures, and the Egyptianized architecture was popular in the day. In addition to the Egyptian Gate, a Gatehouse is built over a brook in classical architecture with Egyptian features. Some suggest that it might have been built over the brook to symbolize the entrance into the graveyard with the crossing of the river Styx in Greek Mythology.

The cemetery also holds a Nonconformist chapel (Nonconformists were Protestant Christians who refused to follow the rule of the Church of England), similarly built in a classical style with Egyptian features. On a sculpted panel above it is a dove representing the Holy Spirit.

In addition to the Nonconformist chapel, an Anglican chapel was added in 1850. But unlike the other buildings in the cemetery, it is designed in the Neo-Gothic style. A wall entitled “The Dissenters’ Wall” divides the older Noncomformist part of the cemetery from the newer Anglican grounds.

The cemetery also has two rows of catacombs holding ten bodies, built into the hillside.

With over 87,000 burials, Sheffield cemetery closed for burial in 1978, but is listed today on the English Heritage National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and is managed by a local community group.

Visit England with Atlas Obscura Trips

London Science Weekend: Medicine and Science in the Press

September 19—September 21, 2019

Join New York Times Journeys and Atlas Obscura for three days of scientific learning, special access and exploration in London. Accompanied by Times journalists and scientific experts, meet people contributing to the history of medicine and scientific journalism. This two-track program includes panels, exclusive visits and access to some of the best scientific minds available to concentrate on science reporting or medical history.

View This Trip »