Visitors to Denne Road Cemetery can now find out the fascinating history of some of the notable individuals laid to rest at the site, as well as discovering the flora and fauna the area has to offer.
Two new interpretation boards have been created in a collaboration between Horsham District Council, The Horsham Society and Denne Neighbourhood Council. One board has been kindly funded by The Horsham Society, and highlights some of the figures included in their popular ‘Stories from the Stones’ guided walk. QR codes, which link to Horsham Museum & Art Gallery’s website, enable visitors to reveal the stories of six of the town’s prominent individuals and families.
There were over 3000 burials at the Cemetery between July 1852 when it opened, and the 1900s when the site was becoming full. Using the new boards, visitors can discover philanthropic educators, ‘the forgotten artist of Horsham’, the founding member of a family firm of brewers, a nature printing pioneer, Horsham’s ‘Grand Old Man’ and the tale of a young resident who went down with RMS Titanic whilst on his first job at sea.
As well as exploring the history in the atmospheric graveyard, there is also abundant wildlife to discover. Designated a Local Wildlife Site in 1992, today the Cemetery is a considered of county-wide significance for its biodiversity. A new board dedicated to this showcases how nature thrives in balance with the special history.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture Cllr David Skipp said:
It is so important to treasure the spaces that hold the history of a place. I hope the visitors to Denne Road Cemetery enjoy connecting with the stories of some of those laid to rest here.
I encourage anyone with an interest in local history, or those who enjoy the peace of a secluded natural sanctuary to take some time to visit this very special place in the centre of Horsham and learn about some of the people who have shaped our town.