Radnor Street Cemetery

LNR type: Urban landscape

County: Wiltshire

EN Local Team: Wiltshire Team

Year of Declaration: 2005

Declaring Authority: Swindon Borough Council

Area: 10.5 acres

Cemeteries, being peaceful by nature, often provide a wonderful haven to our wildlife and Radnor Street is no exception where heritage and wildlife co exist. The cemetery, now also a designated Local Nature Reserve, provides a much-needed space for wildlife in what is essentially an urban landscape.

History of the Site.

In the 1860’s Swindon was expanding and by the latter part of this century St Mark’s Churchyard was rapidly filling up so it was decided that the area created by the building of Albion Street, William Street, Clifton Street, Exmouth Street and Redcross Street (now Radnor Street) would be designated as the town’s new graveyard.

The first burial was held in 1881 and by the time it was closed to any new graves in the 1970’s the site has over 33,000 internments. A large number of the graves within the cemetery are what are known as pauper or un-purchased sites. This a term used to describe a grave where the person may not have had the family or means to purchase a gravesite and headstone for themselves.

There are also many important dignitaries buried here including ex majors and Great Western Railway bosses and members of the polish community who set up their home in Swindon after the World Wars.

The Buildings

The chapel situated in the middle of the site is a Gothic style building complete with gargoyles. This was the place services were held before burials although offered no creature comforts to mourners as there was no heating or lighting in the entire building. Horse drawn carriages would enter the site at Radnor Street up to the front of the chapel and then exit via the Dixon Street gate.

The lovely sandstone monument with a bronze cross, standing at the front of the chapel, is a War Memorial dedicated to the lost souls of both World Wars.

The other Gothic building on the site was the mortuary, which also served as a temporary store for coffins.

Looking Closely

At first glance the cemetery may look void of any wildlife but on closer inspection you will be surprised at how diverse the area actually is. The more obvious areas that provide food and shelter for a wide variety of insects, birds and mammals are the hedgerows, mature trees and long grasses but there are many nooks and crannies within the walls and buildings for creatures to set up home. Even the gravestones are utilised with Lichens and mosses providing a colourful mosaic on the natural stone.

Management

Through considerate and sensitive management of the site it is hoped that more wildlife can be encouraged into the area. A number of actions are being taken to help this process along.

• Grasses: By leaving some areas of grass to grow long provides an essential habitat for insects like butterflies to feed and take refuge in.

• Hedgerows: The hedgerows when maintained will not only act as important areas for small mammals and birds to feed, breed and shelter in but provide a natural corridor for wildlife to move around the site in relative safety.

• Bird and Bat Boxes: Erecting these in appropriate places will further encourage these creatures to nest and roost here.

• Memorial Wildlife Garden: The garden will not only provide an extra area for wildlife to use but it is hoped that people will take the opportunity to use the quiet place for refection and take time to enjoy the natural world around them

If you would like to become involved in helping to preserve this site and other habitats within Swindon please click onto the following link.