Key Hill Cemetery, ( OS grid reference SP059882), originally called Birmingham General Cemetery, is a cemetery in

Hockley Hockley is a large village and civil parish in Essex in the East of England located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea, or, more specifically, between Rayleigh and Rochford. It came to prominence during the coming of the railway in the 189 ...

(the

Jewellery Quarter The Jewellery Quarter is an area of central Birmingham, UK, in the north-western area of Birmingham City Centre, with a population of around 19,000 people in a area. The Jewellery Quarter is Europe's largest concentration of businesses invol ...

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

, England. It opened in 1836 as a nondenominational cemetery (in practice

nonconformist Nonconformity or nonconformism may refer to: Culture and society * Insubordination, the act of willfully disobeying an order of one's superior *Dissent, a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or entity ** ...

), and is the oldest cemetery, not being in a churchyard, in Birmingham. The principal entrance is on Icknield Street to the west, with a secondary entrance on Key Hill to the north. The cemetery contains the graves of many prominent members of Birmingham society in the late 19th century, to the extent that in 1915 E. H. Manning felt able to dub it "the

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the United ...

of the Midlands". It is the older of two cemeteries in Hockley, the other being

Warstone Lane Cemetery Warstone Lane Cemetery, (), also called Brookfields Cemetery, Church of England Cemetery, or Mint Cemetery (from the adjacent Birmingham Mint), is a cemetery dating from 1847 in Birmingham, England. It is one of two cemeteries in the city's J ...

, opened in 1847, which was originally reserved for members of the established

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

. The cemetery is no longer available for new burials.

History and description

The cemetery was originally laid out for the Birmingham General Cemetery Company by local architect Charles Edge (d.1867). It opened on 23 May 1836. Many of its fittings and

memorial A memorial is an object or place which serves as a focus for the memory or the commemoration of something, usually an influential, deceased person or a historical, tragic event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or works of a ...

s are of

architectural Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings o ...

and artistic merit. The railings and entrance gates with imposing

piers Piers may refer to: * Pier, a raised structure over a body of water * Pier (architecture), an architectural support * Piers (name), a given name and surname (including lists of people with the name) * Piers baronets, two titles, in the baronetages ...

(all by Edge) are

Grade II listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

. The Greek Doric chapel, also by Edge, has been demolished. The cemetery is itself listed Grade II* on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. A campaign group, the Friends of Key Hill & Warstone Lane Cemeteries, lobbies to have the cemetery restored. The entrance piers and gates on both Icknield Street and Key Hill have been restored in recent years.

Burials

A comprehensive record of memorial inscriptions of existing memorials (and of some of those removed by

Birmingham City Council Birmingham City Council is the local government body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local council area in the United Kingdom (e ...

) may be consulted through the Jewellery Quarter Research Trust's website. Notable people buried in the cemetery include: * Marie Bethell Beauclerc (1845–1897): first female reporter (i.e.

Pitman shorthand Pitman shorthand is a system of shorthand for the English language developed by Englishman Sir Isaac Pitman (1813–1897), who first presented it in 1837. Like most systems of shorthand, it is a phonetic system; the symbols do not represent lett ...

recorder) in England; pioneer in teaching of shorthand and typing in Birmingham; first female teacher in an English boys'

public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

(

Rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

). Plot 961.I. *

Alfred Bird Alfred Bird (1811 – 15 December 1878) was an English food manufacturer and chemist. He was born in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, England in 1811Baptised 25 August 1811 in Nympsfield, Gloucester, England. Parents John and Mary. International Ge ...

(1811–1878): chemist and inventor of egg-free custard and baking powder. Plot 164.H.Manning 1924. *

John Henry Chamberlain John Henry Chamberlain (21 June 1831 – 22 October 1883), generally known professionally as J. H. Chamberlain, was a British nineteenth-century architect based in Birmingham. Working predominantly in the Victorian Gothic style, he was one of ...

(1831–1883): architect. Plot 701.K. *Joseph Chamberlain, senior (1796–1874): shoe manufacturer and Master of the Cordwainer's Company of London; father of the statesman Joseph Chamberlain. Plot 622.K at ///prop.track.bleak. *

Joseph Chamberlain Joseph Chamberlain (8 July 1836 – 2 July 1914) was a British statesman who was first a radical Liberal, then a Liberal Unionist after opposing home rule for Ireland, and eventually served as a leading imperialist in coalition with the Cons ...

(1836–1914): politician and statesman, Mayor of Birmingham 1873–76,

Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...

1876–1914; with his first two wives, Harriet (d. 1863) and Florence (d. 1875). Plot 610.K at ///dishes.upset.flood. *

Richard Chamberlain George Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934) is an American actor and singer, who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show ''Dr. Kildare'' (1961–1966). He subsequently appeared in several TV mini-series, such as ''Shōg ...

(1840–1899): Mayor of Birmingham 1879–80;

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

and

Liberal Unionist The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington (later the Duke of Devonshire) and Joseph Chamberlain, the party established a political ...

MP for Islington West 1885–92; younger brother of Joseph Chamberlain. Plot 620.K. *

Robert Lucas Chance Robert Lucas Chance (8 October 1782 – 7 March 1865), known as Lucas Chance, was an English glass merchant and manufacturer in Birmingham. He founded the company which became Chance Brothers. Family background Lucas Chance was the fifth child ...

(d. 1897): director of

Chance Brothers Chance Brothers and Company was a glassworks originally based in Spon Lane, Smethwick, West Midlands (formerly in Staffordshire), in England. It was a leading glass manufacturer and a pioneer of British glassmaking technology. The Chance fami ...

, glass makers of

Smethwick Smethwick () is an industrial town in Sandwell, West Midlands, England. It lies west of Birmingham city centre. Historically it was in Staffordshire. In 2019, the ward of Smethwick had an estimated population of 15,246, while the wider bu ...

. Plot 902.K. *Dr

Robert William Dale Robert William Dale (1 December 1829 – 13 March 1895) was an English Congregational church leader based in Birmingham. Life Dale was born in London and educated at Spring Hill College, Birmingham, for the Congregational ministry. In 1853 ...

(1829–1895): Congregationalist preacher and reformer. Plot 637.K. * George Dawson (1821–1876):

preacher and reformer. Plot 507.O. * George Edmonds (1788–1868): teacher, lawyer, scholar, radical and journalist. Plot 161.P. *

Joseph Gillott Joseph Gillott (11 October 1799 – 5 January 1872) was an English pen-manufacturer and patron of the arts based in Birmingham. Pen manufacturing After a brief period of schooling, Gillott began working in the cutlery trade in his home t ...

(1799–1872): pen manufacturer. Plot 374-375.E. *

William Harris William or Will or Willie Harris may refer to: Politicians and political activists *William Harris (born 1504) (1504–?), MP for Newport, Cornwall *William Harris (died 1556), MP for Maldon (UK Parliament constituency), Maldon *William Harris (MP ...

(1826–1911):

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician and strategist, architect, and writer. Plot 1.C. *

James Hinks James Hinks (7 January 1829 – 10 October 1878) was a dog breeder who bred and named the English Bull Terrier in the 1860s, as well as the English White Terrier. He lived most of his life in Birmingham and died there in 1878. Biography Hink ...

(c.1816–1905): developer and manufacturer of oil lamps. Plot 389.P. *

John Alfred Langford John Alfred Langford (12 September 1823 – 24 January 1903) was an English journalist, poet and antiquary in Birmingham. Early life Born in Crawley's Court, Bradford Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Langford was the second surviving son of Joh ...

(1823–1903): journalist, poet, political activist and antiquary. Plot 169.R. *

Harriet Martineau Harriet Martineau (; 12 June 1802 – 27 June 1876) was an English social theorist often seen as the first female sociologist, focusing on racism, race relations within much of her published material.Michael R. Hill (2002''Harriet Martineau: Th ...

(1802–1876): author; buried beside her mother, Elizabeth Martineau, ''née'' Rankin (1771–1848). Plot 790.I. *

Robert Martineau Robert Arnold Schürhoff Martineau (22 August 1913 – 28 June 1999) was a British bishop who was the first Bishop of Huntingdon and who was later translated to Blackburn. Born in Birmingham and educated at King Edward's School ''Who Was Who ...

(1798–1870): Mayor of Birmingham 1846, JP, Bailiff of Lench's Trust. Plot 790.I. * Robert Francis Martineau (1831–1909): JP, Secretary of the

Birmingham and Midland Institute , mottoeng = Endless Learning , established = 1854 by Act of Parliament , city = Birmingham , province = West Midlands , country = United Kingdom , president = Sir David Cannadine , vice_president = Dr Serena Trowbridge, Sami ...

, council member of Mason's College and then

University of Birmingham , mottoeng = Through efforts to heights , established = 1825 – Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery1836 – Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery1843 – Queen's College1875 – Mason Science College1898 – Mason Univers ...

. Plot 790.I. *Sir Thomas Martineau (1828–1893): Mayor of Birmingham 1884–87. Plot 134.K. *

Constance Naden Constance Caroline Woodhill Naden (24 January 185823 December 1889) was an English writer, poet and philosopher. She studied, wrote and lectured on philosophy and science, alongside publishing two volumes of poetry. Several collected works wer ...

(1858–1889): poet, philosopher, and science student. Plot 460.P. * A. Follett Osler (1808–1903): glass manufacturer, developer of time-pieces. Plot 611.K. * Charles Reece Pemberton (1790–1840): actor, dramatist and lecturer. Plot 380.O. *

Joseph Powell Williams Joseph Powell Williams (18 November 1840 – 7 February 1904) was an English Liberal and Liberal Unionist politician who was active in local government in Birmingham and sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1904. He was a close political a ...

(1840–1904):

and

MP for Birmingham South 1885–1904. Plot 917.K. *

John Wellington Starr John Wellington Starr (1822? – November 21, 1846) was an American inventor and pioneer in development of the incandescent light bulb. Life Starr was born in Cincinnati. In 1844, in association with John Milton Sanders (1821?–1877?), he f ...

(c.1822–1846): American inventor and pioneer in the development of the

incandescent light bulb An incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe is an electric light with a wire filament heated until it glows. The filament is enclosed in a glass bulb with a vacuum or inert gas to protect the filament from oxida ...

. Plot 403.P. *

Samuel Timmins Samuel Timmins (27 February 1826 – 12 November 1902) was a British Shakespearean scholar and antiquarian. He was invariably known as Sam Timmins, and signed himself "Sam: Timmins", using a colon for abbreviation in early modern style. He ...

(1826–1902): Shakespearean scholar and antiquarian. Plot 712.K. * Charles Vince (1823–1874): Baptist minister and reformer. Plot 784.K. *

John Skirrow Wright John Skirrow Wright (2 February 1822 – ) was one of the distinguished pioneers and social improvers of the 19th century in Birmingham, England; and inventor of the postal order. He was involved in many aspects of Birmingham's mid-Victorian li ...

(1822–1880): reformer and MP. Plot 218.E. *Edwin Yates (c.1820–1874): Mayor of Birmingham 1865. Plot 426.K.

War graves

There are 46 Commonwealth service war graves in the cemetery, commemorated by the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

, 38 from the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

(mostly in section L, none marked by headstones) whose names are listed on a Screen Wall memorial; and eight from the

Second The second (symbol: s) is the unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), historically defined as of a day – this factor derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes and finally to 60 seconds ...

References

External links

Friends of Key Hill Cemetery & Warstone Lane Cemetery

The Jewellery Quarter Research Trust
- includes plan of graves at Key Hill
The ''Hockley Flyer'': the "voice" of the Jewellery Quarter
{{Cemeteries in England Cemeteries in Birmingham, West Midlands Grade II listed buildings in Birmingham 1836 establishments in England Nonconformism

History and description

Burials

War graves

References

Further reading

External links