Category: The Chapels

Brandwood End Cemetery has two beautiful twin Grade II mortuary chapels in serious disrepair and FBEC have undertaken a determined campaign to save them. All news and information about this campaign will be kept in this category

PRESS RELEASE: SAVE OUR CHAPELS PETITION

A “Save our Chapels” petition was presented to Birmingham City Council on Tuesday, 7th September by Councillor Neville Summerfield (Brandwood Ward) on behalf of the Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery. The Friends are endeavouring to prevent the further deterioration of the unique Grade II listed twin terracotta mortuary chapels which form the Cemetery’s centrepiece.

The Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery was constituted in 2005 and the elected Committee has worked assiduously to improve and maintain this very beautiful Victorian cemetery. The main aim has always been to restore and repair the chapels to their former glory and to involve a wider community use.

Work was undertaken to make the chapels “safe” in 2007 and Architects and Structural Engineers were commissioned to undertake an Options Appraisal in 2009: the Friends are seeking to further the Appraisal recommendations with Birmingham City Council, the owners of the cemetery.

The Friends have taken their role within the cemetery very seriously and have been responsible for, amongst other aspects:

  • restoring the Civilian Garden of Remembrance
  • new section markers
  • boulders to mark public grave sites
  • remembrance of the war dead by placing a poppy cross on over 300 war graves every November, and the organisation of a Service of Remembrance
  • bi-monthly litter picks, which assist the limited ground staff with maintenance.

Covering over 50 acres of land, Brandwood End Cemetery was created by the Victorians as a place of peace and tranquillity. Now, over 110 years later, the cemetery welcomes approximately 52,000 visitors annually. The visitors tend graves, take exercise, appreciate the trees (through tree walks), listen to the birds, marvel at the flora and fauna and are testament to the value of this beautiful open space.

The Chapels – Latest News

An Options Appraisal has now been undertaken by architectural consultants to review the structure and environment of the twin terracotta Chapels and potential ways of raising funds for their restoration, future maintenance and improvements to the cemetery in general.

Their proposals were received by the Friends’ Committee and then offered for consideration to Councillor Len Gregory, the Cabinet member for Transportation.

Councillor Gregory rejected all the suggested proposals.  Consequently the Public Consultation arranged for Wednesday 8th April 2009, was cancelled, there being no practical reason for holding that consultation in view of his rejection of the proposals made by the architects in their review.

We now have to return to the drawing board and consider alternative options.  However, we do now have valuable additional and expert information on many matters in respect of the chapels and the cemetery environment as a result of that Options Appraisal.

The support of the membership is enormously appreciated and the Committee will continue its efforts in respect of the Chapels and will always keep you informed.