Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries in the Jewellery Quarter
Did you know that there is two cemeteries within the boundaries of the Middle Ring Road? At the north east corner of the Jewellery Quarter (Hockley) is Key Hill Cemetery (Non-Conformist) and Warstone Lane Cemetery (Church of England). If you walk along Icknield Street (part of the Middle Ring Road) you can walk in and out of both.
The cemetery opened in 1836 and is the oldest of the two cemeteries. It's a nondenominational cemetery (nonconformist). The main entrance is on Icknield Street, while a side entrance is on Key Hill. The cemetery was laid out by the Birmingham General Cemetery Company by the architect Charles Edge. It is no longer used for burials. There is also Commonwealth war graves in the cemetery. A lot of famous names of Birmingham's past are buried here such as Joseph Chamberlain and George Dawson to name two.
Key Hill Cemetery seen in January 2018. Icknield Street entrance.
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Key Hill entrance.
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Key Hill Cemetery seen in November 2018. Starting again at the Icknield Street entrance towards the first WW1 war memorial.
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Path past the gravestone and momuments.
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Getting a little tricky to see the paths with all the leaves on the ground. This way towards the Key Hill exit / entrance.
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Leaves everywhere, gravestones and monuments all over. Is some catacombs nearby too.
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War memorials at Key Hill Cemetery.
This memorial is in memory of those who fell in the Great Wart 1914 - 1918 and who are buried in this cemetery. Poppy wreath from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, the Council and the people of Birmingham.
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The original war memorial in the cemetery to those who fell in the Great War 1914 - 1918. It is inscribed with the fallen names.
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More recently a war memorial bench to those who fell in WW1 has been placed in the cemetery.
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This cemetery dates to about 1847. There is an Entrance Lodge on Warstone Lane. It's a Church of England cemetery. In here can be found a set of catacombs. This cemetery also has Commonwealth war graves. Famous names of Birmingham's past here include John Baskerville and Harry Gem to name two. Other names for this cemetery include Brookfields Cemetery, Mint Cemetery or Church of England Cemetery. As well as Warstone Lane, other entrance's include Pitsford Street, Vyse Street and Icknield Street.
Views from November 2009.
Cemetery Lodge. Grade II listed building. Built in 1848 by J R Hamilton of Gloucester (Hamilton & Medland). It's at 161 Warstone Lane.
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The War Stone. It landed here in the last Ice Age by a glacier. It was called the Hoar Stone. It is a felsite boulder.
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Gravestones in Warstone Lane Cemetery seen close to the lodge and war memorial area.
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December 2012 view of Warstone Lane Cemetery from Pitsford Street.
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A November 2018 walk into Warstone Lane Cemetery towards the catacombs. Various gravestones on the way along the footpaths.
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A look at the catacombs at Warstone Lane Cemetery. It is double layered, and has a path that goes around it to the top. This is probably the most well known part of this cemetery.
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War memorial in Warstone Lane Cemetery close to the Cemetery Lodge.
November 2009 view of the war memorial cross with a few poppy wreaths below.
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The names on the memorial, as seen in November 2009. Bit similar to the design at Key Hill Cemetery. They make it look nice sometimes with the flowers planted in front of the memorial.
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The same war memorial seen in November 2018. This time just one poppy wreath. Was just after the Armistice 100 weekend commemorations. Cemetery lodge seen to the left. You can also see The War Stone from this vantage point.
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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.