The Glasgow Necropolis is easily one of the most beautiful cemeteries I’ve ever been lucky enough to visit. I don’t know if it was the weather (chilly and ominous) or if it was the cemetery itself, but it felt calm. Like the cemetery was telling me that I’d be safe here.
It is situated to the East of the Glasgow Cathedral (also incredibly beautiful, with its own fascinating history and a must visit once you’re in the area). The cemetery overlooks the city of Glasgow. There isn’t much the cemetery can’t see, almost as if there are no secrets from it. While we were walking towards the cemetery, on the busy city streets, you could just look up and see the cemetery looming over you. At least it helped me with directions (something I am completely useless with).
The cemetery was opened in April 1833 after The Cemeteries Act was passed. Prior to 1832, churches covered the full cost of burying its members… Which was a problem because attendance was seriously down and churches could no longer cover the cost. Plus, cemeteries were at the height of fashion then. Paris had recently built their cemetery, Père Lachaise (more on that cemetery at a later date), which is more like a city than a cemetery and we all know that whatever the French do is just covered in cool. Other cities started their plans to build their own cemetery.
The Glasgow Necropolis is 37 acres and there are approximately 50,000 individuals buried here. To get to the cemeteries main entrance, you have to cross this very sinister looking bridge. This bridge was completed in 1836 by David Hamilton. It became known as the “Bridge of Sighs” because this was the route for funeral processions.
If I could, I’d hang out in this cemetery at least once a week. I’d bring a little picnic, my book, a camera, and my journal. I’d bring flowers as a thanks for letting me enjoy their final resting place. As I wandered around the cemetery, I noticed how many tombstones were broken. Some were over 100 years old and I wondered how long they’d been sitting there, half broken, waiting for someone to fix it. I enjoyed the beauty of the broken pieces – especially the ones that had nature taking it over. I don’t think this is a cemetery I would ever get tired of. I don’t know if I’ll ever visit Glasgow again, but if I do, this would be my first (and most important) stop.
Quotes about this cemetery:
- “literally a city of the dead” – James Steven Curl
- “Glasgow’s a bit like Nashville, Tennessee: it doesn’t care much for the living, but it really looks after the dead.” – Billy Connolly
All photos in this post were taken by me on film. I use(d) a Canon AE-1 35mm (with a 1:1.8 Lens) and Kodak UltraMax film. Photos were taken in March 2023.
Writes with Wolves 