Sheffield General Cemetery Sept 2014

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Sheffield General Cemetery (Sept 2014)

On Saturday I fancied a change and thought “OK instead of scrabbling under fences, climbing over walls and teetering on the edge of some dangerous abyss – none of which are overburdened with dignity. I thought I would have a stroll around Sheffield General Cemetery. Now I’m not sure whether this is actually classed as a legit urbex location – given that the place is open to the public who are invited nay encouraged to wander around (if gazing at the graves of the dead is where you get your jollies). I had also purchased a new fisheye lens that I was dying (poor choice of word!) to try out.

Well an OK visit as it turned out – place was much smaller than I thought (this is a city cemetery after all) but more to do with the fact that I got some much needed exercise and saw lots of photo opportunities (not all related to the grim reaper). A couple of buildings such as the church and a mausoleum were quite interesting but couldn’t really see any way to gain access (but then on the ladder of bravery I am barely clinging to the bottom rung). I also found lots of dark and mysterious paths, areas deep in shadow and rich in foliage, artefacts from bygone times and cracked and broken graves worn by the ravages of time cloaked in decay and shrouded in mystery and a great big rock mounted on a bouncy pile of tarmac – but no idea what this was for except to act as a canvas for more graffiti artists. There was also a pile of Hindu books left on a bench for some reason.

From a safety point of view it was a change not to have to navigate my way through fallen masonry, broken glass, machinery that had been chucked from a forth story window and gaggles of scrap metal hunters.

I noticed that – given that this was a dull and rainy day of the week - that the place did seem incredibly popular – teeming with life in fact! Little old ladies, couples strolling along hand in hand, people ambling their way to heaven (there I go again) knows where. But on a more worrying note I also encountered quite a few people of the disagreeable persuasion (not that I stopped to question them or anything) wandering around with cans of beer, shouting obscenities and leering in that “wot yer lookin at?” kind of way. So ironically I felt more fearful for my personal safety and my photographic equipment in this public place than I have ever done stood on my own in the middle of a deserted building.

A decent couple of hours but won’t be returning in a hurry.






















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Thanks for looking!

Great report and your shots turned out superb..

Think it was great report though I do share you worries comming across undesireables like that. There is a cemetery I want to visit not far from me and my wife says it's not a place to go. Might be worth going with a friend next time. Loveing the photos

Nice shots genn8. Have a set of this place in my report backlogue and have been mulling over whether to put it up or not but will make an effort do it now. It's a stunning cemetery and it is ironic that the city's grandest cemetery finds itself in such a state of abandonment. There's some fascinating people buried here including Steel magnet Mark Firth (see your picture 4.) and Ellen Bulmer, who, at 101, was Sheffield's longest living woman. Things are slowly changing now though. The chapel (your second photo above) is starting to be restored. More info here:

http://gencem.org/ncc/

and the church that greets you at the cemetery's top entrence (your sixth picture) is also being restored starting with its re-roofing.

You,ve caught it well great set of shots and I see .miso. has paid a visit also!!

Great pics. Never ventured in the direction of fisheye myself, but you've used it to good effect. Hmmm, not sure about the choice of red for grave railings!

Undesirables are discovering cemeteries more and more. Quite recently I heard a group of 2 or 3 hidden in some bushes in a lovely little cemetery, and they were clearly passing a joint around, as far as I could hear. At least they weren't knocking bits off stone angels.

I recently attempted my first explore and like the above, it was a cemetery. Like you encountered, there were a number of undesirables there. As I am disabled, I can't exactly run for it, and I really doubted I would get out of there with my camera equipment intact. I was followed, jeered at and had the odd can lobbed at me. To my shame I was saved by a couple of elderly ladies! My little group of ne'er do wells were home grown Brit bottom feeders of the Jeremy Kyle show variety. I have to admit, it was bloody scary, and I now know what is meant by "no go" areas.