Tour of Havant Cemeteries

The original St Faith’s church was built about 1150 on what may be the site of an earlier Saxon church. The adjoining graveyard provided the parish of Havant with its only burial ground for those of any religious denomination. The parish records covering the period from 1653 to 1851 record some 6,000 burials there and from this figure it has been estimated that the graveyard could well contain the remains of over 20,000 people. By the 1850s it was decided that no more burials could be carried out there so a new site would have to be found.

Sir George Staunton generously gave a piece of his land in New Lane for this purpose. One acre was used to provide for those of the Church of England under the control of St Faith’s Church and one quarter of an acre for Dissenters under the control of the Dissenters’ Chapel which later became the Congregational Church and then the United Reformed Church.

Alongside our guided tours run by the Friends of Havant Cemeteries, the trail will be available in a self-guided format throughout the festival and can either be downloaded online or in the box at the cemetery.

Timings & Tours

Friday 06 September:

1000

Friday 13 September:

1000

Location & directions

Havant Cemeteries, New lane/Eastern Road, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 2JF

Directions:

Park in Eastern Road car park and walk to the distinctive and obvious gates. Detailed histories of the cemeteries are available from Booklet 24 The Havant Cemeteries: https://thespring.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/a-no-24-the-havant-cemeteries.pdf Booklet 12 The Dissenter's Cemetery https://thespring.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/a-no-12-the-havant-dissenters-cemetery.pdf

Contact on day:

Neil Spurgeon

Telephone number:

+441329313016

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Care should be taken around the cemetery as there are some obvious trip hazards. Be especially careful when departing the dissenters cemetery as the road is busy and fast and you cannot be seen at the gate

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:

25

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s)

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