St James Cemetery, Liverpool, UK. From quarry to cemetery to garden

Situated one kilometre from Liverpool City Centre is St James Mount; where the first park in Liverpool was granted to the public in 1767. Today it is the site of the skyline dominating gothic Anglican Cathedral. In the shadow behind the cathedral is a little known green space where locals walk their dog or picnic. A sunken, secluded place to spend time out from the city above.

Once an 18th century sandstone quarry, when the stone ran out it became an eyesore. Common in the English Victorian era, cemeteries were being built by private companies and shares available on the stock market. Why not use the hole as a cemetery? Plans were made. A mortuary was built on St James Mount reminiscent of a small Greek Temple, and a natural tunnel was chiselled to perfection to become the cemetery north side entrance.

The first burial took place during a severe summer storm on 11 June 1829.

The cemetery is accessible between the Cathedral and The Oratory as the mortuary is now called. The tunnel entrancing walkers down a brick-tiled pathway lined with relocated tombstones and decorated by centuries old graffiti.

Outside the tunnel, high rock walls surround the graveyard. Rows of soot-darkened tombstones stick out of the grass lawn. In the left corner, below the Oratory is “Sailor Town” section. Liverpool being a major world transportation dock was home to many sailors and mariners including Captain John Oliver who died aged 102 at his Liverpool home in 1876. He had travelled the world until his late 80's and served with Lord Nelson on the HMS Victory.

Looking out from Sailor Town to the rest of the cemetery

Ramps built from Hope Street on the East wall hold 101 catacombs for a cost of four pound. The ramps held funeral processions and there once was a hearse tunnel but is now bricked up.

Naturally there are stories of the area being haunted by the dead. Along with the myths surrounding the natural spring water that trickles out of the East wall. Discovered in 1773 by quarry workers, the water is said to relieve fevers, stomach upsets, bad eyes and gout. People would travel long distances to drink this rumoured remedy water.

The spring survives on the Hope Street side of the gardens

There was chatter that the water turned black when boiled, but this has been since proven incorrect. Nowadays no one goes out of their way to drink the water as it has a high iron content. It is the only natural spring in Liverpool.

The building of the Anglican Cathedral above the cemetery began in 1903 and took 74 years to complete. That is a story for another time.

Dominating the centre of St James Cemetery is a circular-domed monument over the grave of William Huskisson who died in 1830. He was a member of parliament for Liverpool and was unfortunately the first person to be killed by a steam train. He was run over when he got off his stationary train to shake the Duke of Wellington's hand.

Liverpool Infant Boys Asylum 1850's many young names and ages listed

In 1936, after almost 58,000 burials, the cemetery was declared full and neglected. Nature took over until the 1960s when Liverpool council decided to rename it St James Garden. Many of the tombstones were taken away and lost.

Family grave plots within walled arches

More info http://www.stjamescemetery.co.uk/

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All photos taken by myself.