Tag: restoration

Work starts on Chapels

‘Heritage Stone Access’ began work this week to clear shrubbery and re-fix loose and fallen masonry on the chapels, in an effort to slow deterioration pending funding being available to undertake renovation work.

20150825_102629As we all know, money is tight in Birmingham City Council and therefore renovation of the chapels remains some way off.  (The majority of grant applications would demand match funding as a minimum from the site/building owners- BCC)

Bereavements Department are keen, along with the Friends, to try and keep the Chapels from deteriorating further during this lean period so have engaged a reputable company, with a good history of work on heritage buildings, to carry out various works. This includes making the building ‘pigeon proof’. (Large amounts of pigeon poo have already been professionally removed!) Shrubbery has also been sprayed with weed killers and partially removed.

20150825_102629 - CopyThose eagled eyed visitors to the cemetery will have noticed that since the pigeons have been denied access to the buildings they have taken to roosting on the tower and creating quite a mess! Whilst on site the contractors will also be re-fixing masonry that has fallen (as seen across). We all watch with interest.

Vistas opening up!

As mentioned in the article below, the clearance of ‘self set’ trees growing on, or close to graves has now started. If you are familiar with the cemetery you can see, from the photographs below, what a difference it will make.  Many graves that have been hidden for years have been exposed and the view across the section has now been opened up. This work will also mean that the tree lined avenues will now appear more defined.

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If you look carefully in the photograph you will see the size of some of the felled trees that have obscured (piled to the right) both graves and views. None of the felled trees were part of the original planting.

 

 

 

This open view across the cemetery hasn’t been seen for many years.

Hopefully this will also mean that family members may be able to trace graves they thought were lost forever, and consider their restoration.

Seasons Greetings to all our supporters from Friends of Brandwood End Cemetery

2013 has been a year when Friends of Brandwood End have had to take a step back and think again about the way they want to move forward in 2014. We were all very disappointed when Birmingham City Council had to withdraw their financial support for a lottery bid relating to the twin terracotta mortuary chapels at the centre of the cemetery. Along with many local organisations we saw the time when Birmingham would be in a position to support any bid we proposed move further and further away. We are now working with Bereavements Department to investigate alternative fund raising options but in the meantime we will continue with our other achievable projects within the cemetery, whilst keeping the chapels at the front of our campaign.

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Brandwood End Cemetery gates get a facelift

Gates at Brandwood End Cemetery get a facelift

Many of us with an interest in Brandwood End Cemetery have been waiting for some time for improvements to be carried out to the gates at both entrances.  We are pleased to report that both gates have now been repainted and look fresh and cared for. These gates are large and intricate and the preparation and repainting must have represented a major task. Our thanks go to Bereavements Department who have facilitated this.

‘Save our Chapels’ Petition presented to Birmingham City Council

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.

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.