Cemeteries

Currently operating cemeteries

Linwood Cemetery

Entrance off Butterfield Avenue (next door to Bromley Park on Buckleys Road)

Linwood Cemetery opened in 1884 and was the first Christchurch cemetery located outside the town “on sanitary grounds”. It was at one time called Christchurch Cemetery or Sandilands Cemetery, on account of the sandy soil, very suitable for digging. It has many large and interesting monuments, most of which are to the memory of early residents of the eastern suburbs. It has a Jewish section, including graves resited from the 19th century Jewish cemetery in Hereford Street. There are many notable people buried in the cemetery, along with a number of “colourful” characters.

This cemetery, which has some exquisite examples of early monumental masonry, has fallen into disrepair as a result of vandalism and neglect. The sandy soils on this site do not provide a sound foundation for headstones and surrounds. An extensive restoration programme is currently in progress at Linwood Cemetery. This includes repairs to monumental masonry, path reconstruction, landscape enhancement and entrance redevelopment.

The Linwood Cemetery Working Party was set up as a vehicle for community input into planning and redevelopment and they have been active in work at the cemetery, along with Linwood Intermediate School.

Although virtually full, there are still vacant plots available in the children’s, ashes and Jewish areas.

A map of the Linwood Cemetery can be viewed here [PDF, 110 KB, free PDF reader].

Further information on Linwood Cemetery can be found at:
christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Cemeteries/Linwood/