BIRMINGHAM
NEWSLETTER NO 19 Spring 2006
Friends of Keyhill Cemetery
Funding has been obtained from the Brandwood Ward Community Chest to make the chapels safe and to perform surveys. There is much support drom the Birmingham Conservation Trust for a feasibility study. Work has now started on the Civilian Garden of Remembrance, with new limestone slabs and the planting of a perimeter beech hedge. The results of a bird survey in the cemetery has been announced with 29 summer species reported and a survey of the cemetery's trees is now planned.
NEWSLETTER NO 17 APRIL 2006
Friends of Keyhill Cemetery
Pauline Roberts reports:
We have been established for just over two years now but we are finding the going a little bit of an uphill struggle. We are suffering from vandalism, we find scores of hypodermic syringes hidden near or under gravestones, and until something like £200,000 can be found to restore the listed gateposts, we cannot have new gates. English Heritage are looking into this, but the cost is quite large and we may have to make up any shortfall. Birmingham City Council say that they are sympathetic to our cause, and are being as helpful as they can be, but they simply do not have sufficient funds to use on closed cemeteries. They are however dealing with the knotweed problem.
Key Hill was once called 'the Westminster abbey of the Midlands' such is our collection of important and interesting personalities, some are not exactly household names but most people will have heard as to what they had done. Alfred Bird, for instance, without his efforts England would not have had baking powder and of course, the custard that followed.
We have discussed applying for HLF funding which was met with derision from the HLF. BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL have a lot of claims being considered and because we do not own the cemetery 'do not qualify'.
The 'laying flat' of unsafe memorials has been something of a joke. Demolishing is now how we would describe it. Memorials almost 200 years old are now just heaps of dust, with the odd rock in sight, due, we believe to an over zealous 'job's worth'. It is interesting to note that the cemeteries which come under Ecclesiastican jurisdiction have not been touched as no permission has been granted. Ours, the oldest and non-conformist and therefore unconsecrated was the 'test case' and so a huge part of history has been sadly lost.
We have however have had some successes. We managed to, via Groundwork Birmingham, to gain new paths, although these have had their problems. Horton Estates have paid £3000 to have their founder's tomb refurbished, this really is the jewel in our crown. The Central Library in Birmingham offered us space for an exhibition which has, according to library staff, attracted quite a lot of interest. Our Open Day last year, despite torrential rain, it did not deter people from coming to see us. We hope this year to make even more a success of our day - 9 September for those or are interested- and would be pleased to hear from other Friends groups as to how they got over their largest hurdles.
