Wiltshire and Swindon Sites and Monument Record Information

SMR Number

ST85NE532

Site Name

Trowbridge Cemetery, The Down (Registered)

Grid Ref

ST86215900

Parish

Trowbridge

Photographs

Images for Trowbridge (if available)

District

West Wiltshire

Site Type

Historic parkland

Period

Recent

X Y Grid Ref

386210, 159000

Altitude

91.44 metres

Geology

Oxford Clay

Description

A mid 19th century cemetery

Details

A mid 19th century burial cemetery laid out to the design of C E Davis of Bath. The site was laid out with a broad central avenue dividing the consecrated and unconsecrated sections, two chapels , a lodge and serpentine outer walks. In March 1855 C E Davis was requested to obtain tenders for planting 1,500 trees. William Smith of Trowbridge was awarded the contract for constructing the chapels and other buildings in March 1855 and the main carriage drive was constructed the following month. In the late 20th century the cemetery was extended to the south-east.. The mid 19th century cemetery remains substantially unchanged, retaining the lodge, chapel and structural planting together with several significant monuments and mausolea which reflect the prosperity of Trowbridge in the 19th and early 20th century. The cost of laying out the cemetery in 1854-5 exceeded £5,000. Of this nearly £2,000 was spent on the construction of the buildings. The two storey gothic-style lodge is constructed in stone under gabled tiled roofs. Beyond the entrance a broad, straight tarmac drive flanked by an avenue of mature Irish yews extends c270m south-east towards the eastern boundary, where the visual axis is terminated by a mature weeping silver lime. The tow cemetery chapels are placed asymmetrically to the north and south of the main drive. The northern or Nonconformist chapel comprises a low cruciform structure with a tower surmounted by a spire and weather vane at its south-west corner. The stone building is constructed in Early English style. The south or Anglican chapel comprises a four-bay chapel with a polygonal apse to the east and a tower at the north-east corner. The stone structure is built in a modified Early English style with short lancet windows The cemetery contains three substantial mausolea and several monuments of significance. The Rodway mausoleum abuts the southern boundary and comprises a low barrel-vaulted structure with stone gargoyles at each corner and an ornamental façade of a triple gabled arcade to the north-east. The Kingston - Hastings mausoleum is situated c 95m south-east of the entrance against the backdrop of the boundary planting. The Romanesque-style segmental-shaped stone structure has a monumental round-arched central portal with timber doors ornamented with wrought-iron strap-work. Some 50m north-east of the entrance a third mausoleum is constructed in pink granite with a central dome set on a square base flanked by four further smaller domes. It was built by Sir Roger Brown to commorate his wife in about 1900. In addition to the three mausolea, the century contains a good collection of 19th century and early 20th century monuments, particularly in the western sections of the site and around the chapels.

Registered Garden

Yes

Sources

Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England - Trowbridge General Cemetery, Trowbridge 2002 English Heritage

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