Barrow Cemetery has gained listed status, recognising its special historic interest.
Historic England has added it to the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens at Grade II status.
The organisation said: “The cemetery’s creative layout makes use of its sloping hillside location overlooking Walney Island and the Duddon Estuary.
“It is home to several high-quality Grade II-listed buildings by the architectural firm Paley and Austin, such as a Roman Catholic chapel and entrance lodges and gates.”
The cemetery also contains monuments reflecting Barrow’s history, including Commonwealth war graves and memorials to local dignitaries.
The cemetery is the final resting place of several notable residents and individuals who played significant roles in Barrow’s history, including:
- Luigi Brucciani, who established popular ice cream cafes in Barrow and across the North-West and Midlands.
- Elizabeth Longstaff, an evangelist who helped establish the Salvation Army’s work in the USA.
- James Gall, a survivor of the SS Forfarshire wreck, commemorated with a Grade II-listed monument.
- Sir James Ramsden, a key figure in Barrow’s growth and development, whose grave is also Grade II-listed.
Sarah Charlesworth, listing team leader North at Historic England, said: “Barrow Cemetery is an excellent example of a Victorian municipal cemetery and it is deserving of its place on the National Heritage Register.
“Its creative design, high-quality buildings, and the way its monuments reflect the town’s rich military, social and economic history make it a site of clear national significance.”
