The cemetery was opened in 1846 as a non-denominational extension to one of Kings Lynn's churches and then came under the control of King's Lynn Burial Board in 1855, being one of the first municipal burial grounds in the country.
The site is bisected by Hardwick Road and covers some 20 acres. It retains much of its arboretum layout. The chapels (still marked on OS maps) were demolished in the 1970s. The northern sections contain burials belonging to the parish of All Saints whereas the burials in the southern sections belong to the parish of St Margaret. Some of the sections are on un-consecrated ground, and one section has been given over to Roman Catholic burials.
The locally famous engineer Frederick Savage (d 1897) was buried here. He began his career at sixteen, working for Thomas Cooper who was a Whitesmith and Machine Maker, and later for John and James Gill who were Millwrights and Machine Makers, where he gained a considerable amount of experience and knowledge about the manfucture of farm implements with the firm. After his marriage he took employment with Charles Willett, a "Brazier, Whitesmith, Iron Monger, Wholesale and Retail Dealer, Tinplate worker, and Bell Hanger". After Mr Willett's retirement, Frederick Savage set himself up in business as a smithy. The business grew and by now Savage referred to himself as "Engineer and Agricultural Machinist". Frederick Savage was appointed as "Justice of the Peace" (JP) and was Mayor of King's Lynn in 1889-90.
This Victorian tombchest has a decoration of colourful tiles.
The boat-shaped monument marks the grave of eight Scottish fishermen who in 1875 drowned in a November gale, on their boat "The Beautiful Star", on the Norfolk Coast. “St Monance KY1298” is written on the north side of the boat, the text on the south side reads “Beautiful Star KY1298”.
This tall stele beside the path marks the grave of John Thew (d 1856) who in 1841 established the Lynn Advertiser & West Norfolk Herald.
Elaborate wrought iron railing, the sides fashioned into harps and its posts topped by crowns and crosses.
A tall Arts & Crafts marble headstone with the large relief of a wherry in full sail carved into it. It is signed Nett-Reed, Cambridge, and marks the grave of Thomas Gunton Bunn (d 1929).
This huge Portland stone headstone resting on a raised double-width ledger, surrounded with integral low railings is the largest monument in the northern section of the cemetery. It marks the grave of Robert Cole (d 1866).
The tombchest marking the grave of Curtis, Commander Thomas RN (d 1855) is capped by a large iron anchor. The inscription reads “Native of King’s Lynn. He served his Country from the years 1793 to 1845 without intermission.”
The headstone marking the grave of Thomas William Forster (d 1911) is decorated with the relief of schooner in full sail.
A Bath stone cross on top of a squat dome on a squat square plinth marks the grave of Walter Moyse, JP (d Aug 1870). The inscription reads: “Alderman and Mayor of King’s Lynn. Universally respected by his fellow townsmen for his kind and charitable disposition and his untiring efforts for the welfare of this town.”
Moyse was a wool merchant who at one time owned St George’s Guildhall which he'd used as a warehouse.
The site is bisected by Hardwick Road and covers some 20 acres. It retains much of its arboretum layout. The chapels (still marked on OS maps) were demolished in the 1970s. The northern sections contain burials belonging to the parish of All Saints whereas the burials in the southern sections belong to the parish of St Margaret. Some of the sections are on un-consecrated ground, and one section has been given over to Roman Catholic burials.
The locally famous engineer Frederick Savage (d 1897) was buried here. He began his career at sixteen, working for Thomas Cooper who was a Whitesmith and Machine Maker, and later for John and James Gill who were Millwrights and Machine Makers, where he gained a considerable amount of experience and knowledge about the manfucture of farm implements with the firm. After his marriage he took employment with Charles Willett, a "Brazier, Whitesmith, Iron Monger, Wholesale and Retail Dealer, Tinplate worker, and Bell Hanger". After Mr Willett's retirement, Frederick Savage set himself up in business as a smithy. The business grew and by now Savage referred to himself as "Engineer and Agricultural Machinist". Frederick Savage was appointed as "Justice of the Peace" (JP) and was Mayor of King's Lynn in 1889-90.
This Victorian tombchest has a decoration of colourful tiles.
The boat-shaped monument marks the grave of eight Scottish fishermen who in 1875 drowned in a November gale, on their boat "The Beautiful Star", on the Norfolk Coast. “St Monance KY1298” is written on the north side of the boat, the text on the south side reads “Beautiful Star KY1298”.
This tall stele beside the path marks the grave of John Thew (d 1856) who in 1841 established the Lynn Advertiser & West Norfolk Herald.
Elaborate wrought iron railing, the sides fashioned into harps and its posts topped by crowns and crosses.
A tall Arts & Crafts marble headstone with the large relief of a wherry in full sail carved into it. It is signed Nett-Reed, Cambridge, and marks the grave of Thomas Gunton Bunn (d 1929).
This huge Portland stone headstone resting on a raised double-width ledger, surrounded with integral low railings is the largest monument in the northern section of the cemetery. It marks the grave of Robert Cole (d 1866).
The tombchest marking the grave of Curtis, Commander Thomas RN (d 1855) is capped by a large iron anchor. The inscription reads “Native of King’s Lynn. He served his Country from the years 1793 to 1845 without intermission.”
The headstone marking the grave of Thomas William Forster (d 1911) is decorated with the relief of schooner in full sail.
A Bath stone cross on top of a squat dome on a squat square plinth marks the grave of Walter Moyse, JP (d Aug 1870). The inscription reads: “Alderman and Mayor of King’s Lynn. Universally respected by his fellow townsmen for his kind and charitable disposition and his untiring efforts for the welfare of this town.”
Moyse was a wool merchant who at one time owned St George’s Guildhall which he'd used as a warehouse.
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