St Paul's Cemetery, Canterbury

St Paul's Cemetery

When the church of St Paul's Without the Walls (i.e. outside Canterbury's city walls) was built in the early 13th century it did not have its own burial ground and so used St Augustine's Abbey for burials. After the abbey was dissolved in 1539 the parish needed a new cemetery.

History

A plot of land was purchased in 1591 at the junction of Longport and Lower Chantry Lane (immediately east of the current Longport roundabout) and used as a burial ground until 1953 when it was closed. Rather than build on the old burial ground, the city council moved all the old gravestones to the perimeter of the walled site and used the rest as a public park.

The site is completely contained within high brick walls and fronts onto Longport. You enter through wrought-iron gates that lead into a wide grassy area with several tall trees providing shade.

Old gravestones against the park wall

There are none of the features you associate with a public park. For example, there are no fountains or park benches, just a quiet open space with old gravestones ranged around the south and east walls.

By the entrance is a metal plaque with these words:

'This churchyard established in 1591 ceased to be a burial ground in 1953 and was placed in the care of Canterbury City Council.'

The cemetery is worth visiting to see the gravestones of dating back to at least the 18th century. Many of the gravestones are too badly worn to be legible, but quite a few are readable.

John Hunt, 1741

There are just under a hundred gravestones by our rough count. Of these, the oldest that we could find was to Thomas Bullock, son of the alderman of the same name. The younger Bullock died in 1729 at the age of six. His father died in 1738 after serving two terms as Mayor of Canterbury.

Almost as old is the gravestone to Richard and Elizabeth Toker, who both died in 1733.

One of the most striking gravestones is that of John Hunt of Ashford, who died in 1741 at the age of 72, leaving behind his wife and seven children. The epitaph also records the death of Martha Hunt, his daughter, who died in 1717, making her the earliest death I could find on any of the gravestones.

The dedication plaque

Visiting

St Paul's Cemetery is immediately east of the Longport roundabout, on the south side of the road. Parking is at the Longport car park, as for St Augustine's Abbey, which is only a few minutes' walk away.

It won't take long to explore the cemetery. It is best considered as an added extra if you are already planning to visit St Augustine's Abbey, the Smith Hospital almshouses, further up Longport, and St Paul's Church itself, a short stroll to the west, across Longport roundabout and also on the south side of the road.

The cemetery is usually open to visitors during daylight hours.

Note: I've listed the cemetery as a 'garden' in our gazetter since its primary function to day is as a public green space.