the glasgow necropolis
Beneath the shade of a spreading tree,
amid the fragrance of the balmy flower,
surrounded on every hand with the noblest words of art,
the imagination is robbed of it's gloomly horrors,
the wildest fancy is freed from it's debasing fears.
(extract from Necropolis Glasguensis by John Strang)
information
The Glasgow Necroplis was created on a hill opposite the cathedral of St Mungo. Routes curve through the landscape uphill to the tall statue of John Knox (62 metres high) at the summit. The design creates a dramatic skyline of obelisks, pinnacles and statues in memory of Glasgow's wealthier inhabitants. It was described by James Stevens Curl as 'literally a city of the dead'.
Built in the Classical Revival Architectural fashion the Necropolis was e stablished by the Merchants' House of Glasgow in 1831. A pamphlet by John Strang of the Merchants' House 'Necropolis Glasguensis' was published the same year which publicised the idea of a kind of 'Scottish Pere La Chaise' for Glasgow.
The main entrance is approached by a bridge over what was Molendinar Glen towards an impressive set of classical mausolea. The bridge, designed by James Hamilton, is known as the Bridge of Sighs because it became the route of the funeral processions.
The landscaping is picturesque drawing from the eighteenth century pleasure garden style. The original planting included trees associated with burial grounds including elm, plane, poplar, sycamore and oak. The cemetery quickly became a prominent tourist attraction in the city and remains popular today.
Tombs are placed deliberately at important points in the cemetery and on terraces around the hillside. Architecture in the grounds was created by John Bryce and David Hamilton and several well known designers, including the local Alexander 'Greek' Thomson, were involved in the design of memorials.
Southern Necropolis Research
(The Southern Necropolis Research Project's in-depth website with history and interment index)
Historic Scotland
(Information on listed buildings and ancient monuments and education resources)
The Mitchell Library and City Archives
(Information about the city library and archive collections)
Virtual Mitchell Library
(Selection of online digitised photographs and other images of Glasgow)
Glasgow; West of Scotland Family History Society
(Family history information for Glasgow and the west of Scotland)
Find A Grave - Glasgow
UK Cemetery and Friends Group Links
more cemetery links...
(The Southern Necropolis Research Project's in-depth website with history and interment index)
Historic Scotland
(Information on listed buildings and ancient monuments and education resources)
The Mitchell Library and City Archives
(Information about the city library and archive collections)
Virtual Mitchell Library
(Selection of online digitised photographs and other images of Glasgow)
Glasgow; West of Scotland Family History Society
(Family history information for Glasgow and the west of Scotland)
Find A Grave - Glasgow
UK Cemetery and Friends Group Links
more cemetery links...
