Monument record 11102 - Overleigh Cemetery

Overleigh Cemetery was laid out between 1848 and 1850 to a design prepared by Mr Lister that made use of the existing terrain to create a series of serpentine walks, picturesque views and incorporated a number of monuments designed by T.M. Penson. The original structures in the cemetery included an Anglican chapel (demolished in the 1980s), a non-conformist chapel (demolished 1907), two lodges (demolished c1967) and a chaplain’s house (demolished late 19th century). The only surviving structures designed by Penson are the original entrance to the cemetery from the Grosvenor Road consisted of a gate and gate piers with railings between, and a bridge consisting of a semicircular arch approximately 3m wide and its retaining walls. (2)

There is also a Church of England Cemetery Chapel, now Orthodox church. Added in the early 20th century it is of stone dressed hard red brick with a grey green slate roof designed in a style similar to John Douglas. It is rectangular in plan including a north aisle abutting north-west tower containing porch; small south outshut under lean-to roof. (1)

There are also a number of monuments and tombstones within the cemetery that are included on the English Heritage listed buildings register including the following:

A cenotaph of white stone dedicated to the soldiers of World War I. It is inscribed "THIS CROSS OF SACRIFICE IS ONE IN DESIGN AND INTENTION WITH THOSE WHICH HAVE BEEN SET UP IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM AND OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WHERE OUR DEAD OF THE GREAT WAR ARE LAID TO REST: THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE". (1)
A monument to Bishop John Graham, who was a strong supporter of education for poor and disadvantaged children. Added in around 1866 it is of sandstone with base of 2 square steps; freestone plinth; octagonal column with stiff-leaf capital. It is inscribed "JOHN GRAHAM D.D. BISHOP OF CHESTER. BORN 25 FEBURARY 1794 : DIED 15 JUNE 1865. CHARLOTTE GRAHAM HIS WIFE BORN 12 MAY 1802 : DIED 29 JANUARY 1881 (?)". (1)

A monument to Rev Richard Knill and his wife Sarah. Added in around 1857 it consisted of a plinth with inscribed arched panels, an octagonal column and spire finial. The plinth front is inscribed "IN MEMORY OF THE REVD RICHARD KNILL BORN 14TH APRIL 1787 AT BRAUNTON DEVON, LABOURED THREE YEARS AS A MISSIONARY IN INDIA AND FIFTEEN IN RUSSIA, PLEADED THE CAUSE OF MISSIONS THROUGHOUT GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, SUSTAINED THE PASTORAL OFFICE SIX YEARS AT WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, WAS NINE YEARS PASTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH QUEEN STREET IN THIS CITY AND DIED 2ND JANUARY 1857". On the left face "BRETHREN THE HEATHEN ARE PERISHING." "SHALL WE LET THEM PERISH?" "GOD FORBID !" - RICHARD KNILL. On the right face "AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING TRACTS ETC.: DYING THIEF AND DYING SAVIOUR; THE FALSE HOPE; THE RUSSIAN NURSE; THE FARMER AND HIS FAMILY; INFLUENCE OF PIOUS WOMEN; WHOLE FAMILY IN HEAVEN...." and others. On the back face "SARAH HIS WIFE 1796 - MAY 1870". (1)

A monument to Samuel Venables, master of Chester Bluecoat School. Added in c.1850 it consists of an obelisk on a stone plinth. It is inscribed "TO THE MEMORY OF MR SAMUEL VENABLES WHO DURING THE SPACE OF MORE THAN FORTY YEARS FILLED THE IMPORTANT SITUATION OF MASTER TO THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL IN THE CITY. HAVING FAITHFULLY SERVED HIS HEAVENLY FATHER DURING THE LONG PERIOD OF SEVENTY SEVEN YEARS HE DIED IN THE HOPE OF ETERNAL REST WITH HIM ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER 1848. IN GRATEFUL RECOLLECTION OF THE FIRM BUT CONSIDERATE SPIRIT WITH WHICH HE DISCHARGED HIS OFFICE, AND WITH THE HONEST DESIRE TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY OF A DILIGENT, CONSCIENTIOUS AND PARENTAL INSTRUCTOR, THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THE LESSONS WHICH THEY LEARNT IN SCHOOL HAVE UNDER GOD'S BLESSING BEEN THE SOURCE OF THEIR HAPPINESS IN LIFE". On the right side is inscribed "M : CH : L. RESTORED NOVEMBER 6TH 1885 BY HIS GRANDSON CHARLES SAMUEL VENABLES : LONDON". (1)

A plinth over the tomb of U Larsing, a Bengal missionary. It was added in 1863. It is inscribed "TO U LARSING ONE OF THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE WELSH MISSIONARY SOCIETY ON THE KHASSIA HILLS, BENGAL WHERE HE LABOURED SEVERAL YEARS AS AN EVANGELIST. IN 1861 HE VISITED THIS COUNTRY AND ENDEARED HIMSELF TO THOUSANDS IN ENGLAND AND WALES : WHEN ABOUT TO RETURN TO HIS NATIVE LAND HIS SAVIOUR CALLED HIM TO HIMSELF AND HE ENTERED TO THE JOY OF HIS LORD AT CAERGWRLE AUGUST 24 1863". (1)

A monument to William Brown, owner of pioneering drapery, then department store, Browns of Chester. It was added in c.1852 and consisted of a polished red granite obelisk. It is inscribed "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM BROWN ESQUIRE A MAGISTRATE OF THIS CITY WHO AT THE AGE OF SIXTY THREE DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE THIRTEENTH DAY OF JUNE ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO DEEPLY LAMENTED BY HIS FELLOW CITIZENS WHO TO RECORD THEIR HIGH SENSE OF HIS UNWEARIED EXERTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CHARITIES OF HIS NATIVE CITY AND HIS GREAT PUBLIC USEFULNESS HAVE RAISED THIS MONUMENT IN HIS MEMORY". (1)

A tomb, effigy and monument to Henry Raikes, Chancellor of the Chester Diocese. Added in 1857, it was designed by T.M. Penson. It is simply inscribed "HENRY RAIKES CHANCELLOR OF DIOCESE WHO DIED 28TH NOVEMBER 1854 AGED 72 YEARS". (1)

A cenotaph and two adjoining tombs. The cenotaph is of William Makepeace Thackerey. Added in 1852 it is of yellow sandstone. The plinth is inscribed "TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY M.D. CANTAB. BORN AT CAMBRIDGE APRIL 15TH 1769, DECEASED AT CHESTER JULY 29TH 1849 AND BURIED IN THE CATHEDRAL. THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY HIS FELLOW CITIZENS IN WHOSE HEARTS ARE MORE VIVIDLY RECORDED HIS ATTENTION TO THEIR CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS, HIS CONSIDERATION FOR THE SICK AND NEEDY, HIS KINDNESS TO THE SCHOOLBOY AND THE ORPHAN AND HIS UNIFORM READINESS TO REJOICE WITH THEM THAT DID REJOICE AND WEEP WITH THEM THAT WEPT". On the base of the plinth "RESTORED IN 1905 BY HIS GRANDDAUGHTER EMMA LOWE : HASWELL, MASON". On the right side is inscribed "THE CHESTER GENERAL INFIRMARY"; and on the left side "THE CHESTER BLUECOAT HOSPITAL"; on the rear "ERECTED IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1852". Adjoining the monument 2 tombs, weathered slabs with raised crosses, to Sarah Jane Thackeray, d.1872 and Johanna Jones, d.1884. Inscribed: "SARAH JANE THACKERAY, DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE, DIED DECEMBER 21ST 1872 and JOHANNA DAUGHTER OF WILSON JONES OF HARTSHEATH : DIED MARCH 19TH 1884 AGED 49". (1)

A memorial to Frederick Coplestone. Added in 1934 and designed by Eric Gill it consists of a headstone of Portland stone. It is inscribed “this memorial commemorates Frederick Coplestone CBE, JP (d.1932), a newspaper proprietor, and his son, the submariner Lieutenant-Commander Frederick Lewis Coplestone RN (d. 1914), and his son-in-law Commander A.F. Coplestone-Boughey RN (d.1916 at Jutland)” (1)

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 469865; 469866; 469867; 469868; 469869; 469870; 469871; 469872; 469873; 469874; 490134; 469817 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

<2> Lewis C.P & Thacker A.T. (eds), 2005, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume Vii, The City of Chester - The City of Chester, Culture, Buildings, Institutions, p48 (Book). SCH6522.