Chapel Street Cemetery is located where the 1823 Salem Independent Chapel once stood in Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire. It covers an area of 0.85 of an acre, and contains in the region of 900 graves with around 1300 bodies interred. There are two Commonwealth War Graves, and many other headstones which mention loved ones lost at war but buried overseas. Each and every grave is of historical importance and is a piece of local social history, particularly those of prominent mill owners and businessmen of the 19th and 20th centuries when Eccleshill was a prosperous village.
The cemetery had been neglected for many years but during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, two local residents started clearing the brambles and weeds and exposing the graves. They soon asked for more volunteers to assist and the Friends group was formed.
When the owner (United Reformed Church) decided to sell the cemetery the following year, the Friends applied to become a charity in order to purchase the cemetery themselves and prevent it from falling into the hands of land developers. Charity status was granted on 3rd February 2023, and the purchase completed 15th March 2024.
The aim of our charity is to restore and maintain the cemetery so that it becomes a beautiful and welcoming open space that can be enjoyed by the community and visitors alike and also for it to attract wildlife and provide natural habitats to promote biodiversity.
Our volunteers are on site Tuesday and Saturday mornings (weather permitting) and visitors are welcome to wander around or can ask to be shown around.