Friends of Northwood Cemetery

Posted by Admin on 22 August 2014, 3:30 pm

The Friends of Northwood Cemetery, in partnership with the IW Council, have been successful in their application for funding to restore the two chapels (which are in danger of eventual collapse and urgently need underpinning) as well as creating a heritage centre and a heritage trail – and creating the Island’s first municipal Woodland Burial site in the Cemetery.

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Initially the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has committed £75,300 for the surveying and documentation of all the work required – and creating a landscape assessment plan for the Cemetery.
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The Friends of Northwood Cemetery has set itself a target for the completion of this work of February 2015. If the HLF is satisfied with this work it will then release £1,064,000 it has assigned to this project.
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The HLF’s ‘green light’ is expected in July 2015 whereupon contractors can be commissioned – with on-site work commencing in the autumn of 2015. Completion is expected in early 2017.
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The Friends of Northwood Cemetery, now a Registered Charity, was set up in 2008 with this very objective – so the announcement of this funding is the culmination of over 6 years of effort by the Trustees.
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During those 6 years the Trustees and volunteers have supported the IW Council, the landowners, by tending to the Cemetery grounds and undertaking piecemeal repairs to the East Chapel – which has once again been used for funeral services after a lapse of over 15 years.
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An Open Day is being held on Saturday 4th October, 11.00am to 4.00pm, to which everyone is invited. Trustees, Architects and Consultants will be available to answer any questions that arise.