Craigton Cemetery

Craigton Cemetery is a cemetery in south-west Glasgow dating from the mid-19th century. It stands on Berryknowes Road.

War memorial (Cross of Sacrifice), Craigton Cemetery, Glasgow
Memorial to William Lockhart Martin, Craigton Cemetery
Monument to Rev Sergious, Craigton Cemetery

The cemetery has a Jewish section containing 230 graves.[1] The cemetery also contains 251 commonwealth war graves from the First and Second World Wars.[2]

Partly due to the proximity to Ibrox Stadium, the cemetery has strong links to Rangers Football Club.

The original entrance is to the south-east. A new entrance to the north was created to serve the crematorium. The north half of the cemetery is relatively flat and open. The south half slopes fairly steeply south to north and is more densely filled with monuments.

Vandalism in the cemetery is widespread.

History

The cemetery was established in 1871 by the Craigton Cemetery Company to serve south-west Glasgow, Govan and Partick. The original cemetery extended to 30 acres on lands of Wester Craigton and Merrylands, previously owned by Robert Urquhart. The main shareholder was Thomas Reid (1831-1900) of the Govan Dye Works. Fellow directors included Morris Pollok (1831-1899) and William McOnie (1813-1894) (later Lord Provost of Glasgow).[3]

The first burial took place on 9 June 1873, being that of seven-year-old Isabella Guthrie.

From 1876 to 1877 various reburials took place moving earlier graves from Blackfriars Churchyard which was removed for railway improvements.

From 1881 the cemetery also permitted Jewish burials in their own section known as the "Bet Chaim" (House of Life). This section was closed in 1908.

Craigton Crematorium lies close to the northern boundary and was added in 1957 to a design by James Maitland Steel. It is currently run by the Co-op Funeralcare.[4]

The cemetery contains over 150,000 persons.

Notable Interments

References
  1. http://www.scottishjewishcemeteries.org/craigton/craigton.htm
  2. "Glasgow (Craigton) Cemetery". CWGC. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  3. "Craigton Cemetery Heritage Trail". Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  4. Craigton Crematorium, Glasgow Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  5. Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Honeyman and Keppie

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