The Friday Photo: Warstone Lane Cemetery

Warstone Lane Cemetery in the Jewellery Quarter is a fascinating place. Dating from 1847 when the chapel was built (no longer exists), the first burial there was in 1848. John Baskerville, who died in 1775, was eventually buried there (his third burial!!) after Christ Church which was in Victoria Square, was demolished in 1899.

There are some very impressive catacombs at this cemetery but their use was the reason for Birmingham’s Cemeteries Act which made it necessary for coffins not buried underground to be lined with pitch or lead, so terrible was the stench that came from the catacombs.

The cemetery no longer takes new burials but it is definitely worth a visit, the cemetery is now Grade II listed.