Glasgow Necropolis

Overview

The Glasgow Necropolis is a fascinating Victorian cemetery on a prominent hill east of Glasgow Cathedral. More than 50,000 people have been buried here, although only a few monuments have names, and not every grave has a stone. Roughly 3,500 monuments exist here, making it a truly unique destination for anyone interested in history or architecture. The creation of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris sparked a wave of pressure on cemeteries in Britain, leading to a change in the law to allow burial for profit. Glasgow was among the first to join this campaign, and cemetery planning began in 1831 by the Merchants’ House of Glasgow in anticipation of a change in the law. Glasgow Necropolis officially opened in April 1833, a year after the Cemeteries Act passed. It’s fascinating to see how this cemetery played a role in the changing social and legal landscape of the time.

Quick Facts

Status
Existing
Locality or neighborhood
Glasgow G4 0UZ
State or province
United Kingdom
Address
Castle St, Glasgow G4 0UZ, United Kingdom
About Sightseers’ Delight 994 Articles
Sightseers’ Delight started publishing in June 2016. The site, published by The DeFeo Groupe, collects and curates content about places where historical events large and small happened. The site builds off the legacy of The Travel Trolley, which launched in June 2009. The site aimed to be a virtual version of the trolley tours offered in so many cities.