Brandwood End Mortuary Chapels
The Mortuary Chapels, Brandwood End Cemetery
Birmingham Conservation Trust has entered into a new partnership with the Bereavements Department at Birmingham City Council and another charity, the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery.
Together we intend to identify a future for the Mortuary Chapels which form the centre piece of the Victorian designed cemetery at Brandwood End in south Birmingham.
The twin chapels were designed by Mr J. Brewin Holmes, a Birmingham architect, and built in the Gothic style from red brick and terracotta. The eastern most mortuary chapel was for Non-conformists and its partner consecrated for Anglican services.
Both mirror each other, containing a chancel, coffin chamber, vestry and an underground heating chamber. They are linked by a carriage entrance archway, which is surmounted by a tower and spire.
The cemetery itself has a grade 2 listing in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. The chapels are grade 2 listed. One has been badly damaged by fire, making both unsafe to use.
Community Efforts to save the Chapels
The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery first met in July 2005 and since then have managed to raise money to help secure the buildings. This has allowed work to board up and fence the buildings, which was carried out at the end of 2006. The friends have restored other parts of the cemetery and improved the experience for visitors.
The next step is a full conservation survey of the buildings to establish what work needs to be done, its likely cost and options for using the buildings. It is this expertise which Birmingham Conservation Trust will bring to the partnership.Funding has to be raised to carry out this work.
It comes at a time when the role of cemeteries is evolving. Brandwood End has already stopped taking new burials, other than in existing family plots. Increasingly cemeteries are being understood for the part they play as parks and open space in our cities.
You can also keep up with progress and other events at the cemetery here.
Listen to a podcast on the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery
Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery
Bereavment Services – Birmingham City Council
Birmingham Open Spaces Forum
