Glasgow City Council Land and Environmental Services Parks and Open Spaces
Pictures of Abercromby Street cemetery circa 1900
Business case for Restoration of Abercromby Street Cemetery ‐ also known as the Calton Burial Ground‐ Ward 9 CPP3 This cemetery is more than 250 years old. It is redolent with history and contains several of Glasgow’s most important monuments – most notably the Calton Weavers’ Monument which has considerable significance for Glasgow, and also for the Labour Party and the STUC. A commemorative plaque to the Weavers recalls the events of 1787, though only one name is still legible, that of John Page. The graveyard also holds the remains of and headstone for the Rev. James Smith, who was Abraham Lincoln’s minister, and later US consul in Scotland. The cemetery is currently in very poor condition The initial proposals to reinstate the 1.33 acre cemetery will cost in the region of £100,000 summarised as follows; Phase 1 in 2008/9 – Estimate costs £34,000 of which £14,900 secured at May 2008. Restore 30 fallen headstones – say £15,000 Cleaning 100 headstones – say £2,000 Heritage style signage cabinet at entrance. – say £4,900 Arbor Phase 1 ‐ Replace dead trees as per enclosed Arbor tree planting plan – say £4,000 Heritage leaflet say £4,000 2 new benches say £1,000 Remedial works to soil seed and grade grass areas – say £3,000 4 Planters outside Main gates. ‐ Source from grounds maintenance budget Stump Grind 15 trees ‐ already removed. ‐ Source from grounds maintenance budget Remove two old/ trees which are diseased. ‐ Source from grounds maintenance budget Phase 2 in 2009/10 ‐ Estimate costs £58,000 – no funds secured to date New Path and coping for 90 metres x 3metre wide passage – Say £28,000. 2 sets of New Heritage Gates – say £25,000 Arbor Phase 2 ‐ Replace dead trees – say £5,000 Existing Funding‐ There is a £5,000 PDP contribution to phase 1 of which has been matched by £5,000 from DRS Heritage and Design and £4,900 from the LES signage budget. This seed corn money will be used to source other funds. The project has the support of local councilors notably Cllr.Redmond and Cllr. Thewlis. There is the potential of AMC funding. LES are also intending to approach the TUC and Glasgow City Heritage for additional funding. This ancient cemetery is in poor condition but has great historical significance. There is a thriving Friends of Group – The Friends of the Weavers. This ties in with emerging proposals from the DRS Gateway initiative and LES works in nearby Tullis Street – which may offer additional funds. Glasgow City Council
Land and Environmental Services
Heritage Proposals May 2008
It is intended that the fallen stones are restored by sculpture conservation experts and a heritage leaflet drawn up in conjunction with the Friends of Group. Approaches have been made to GUARD and WOSAS for historical information – a review of historic lairs and headstones is being carried out by an external cemeteries expert in conjunction with the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society. LES has also written to a sculpture conservation firm for a quote for restoring the Weavers’ Monument and has started discussions with Historic Scotland to gain appropriate permissions for having the stone restored to its former grandeur.