Undercliffe is a 26-acre Victorian cemetery set on a hillside to the north of Bradford, with views over the city and Saltaire World Heritage Site. Originally set up as a commercial enterprise, the first burial was in 1854. There have been over 123,000 more interments since then.
William Gay designed the layout on three levels. The wide Promenade sweeps through many magnificent monuments commemorating those who shaped Bradford; the city was reputedly the richest in Europe during the hey-day of the wool trade. In the cemetery’s centre lies the Historic Core which is also spectacular. It contains two listed monuments, including an iconic Egyptian mastaba. Bradford Council compulsorily purchased the site in the 1980s to save it from dereliction, but it is run by volunteers. Plot-purchases and burials continue, alongside many tours and activities that the events team run. These have included: theatrical tours, school visits, a son et lumière, themed tours, creative writing workshops and remembrance events, and a Cemetery Trail.
The site is maintained by the Grounds Work Team of volunteers who do a heroic job in all weathers, keeping the site looking its best. They are also responsible for many new discoveries which our dedicated research team pursue to inform our tours. The volunteers were delighted to be given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2022.