History tour of Derry City Cemetery to take place next month.
AS part of European Open Days 2016, Derry City and Strabane District Council’s genealogist Brian Mitchell will be conducting a guided tour of the City Cemetery next month.
The tour will take place on Saturday 10 and Sunday September 11 and it will explord the community burial plot and identifying some interesting facts about those buried there.
European Heritage Open Days (EHOD), organised by the Department for Communities will take place on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September 2016.
EHOD 2016 will see over 300 properties open their doors for free with many exciting events across Northern Ireland.
The tour is arranged as one of a number of activities that will be taking place throughout the council district.
It will include information on up to forty burial places including that of those killed during:
- a German Air Raid on Derry on Easter Tuesday in 1941;
- a lone German bomber who dropped several parachute mines in the vicinity of Messines Park completely demolishing two houses;
- the Bloody Sunday victims;
- the Commonwealth War Dead;
- the ‘Father of American music’ Stephen Collins Foster,
- Cecil Frances Alexander, writer of the hymn ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ and many more.
Brian Mitchell, Council’s Genealogist commented: ”The City Cemetery contains so much historical information.
“Central to the quest of most people attempting to trace their roots is the search for a burial plot marked with or without a headstone.
“The cemetery was opened to the public in 1853 as a main burial place for everyone including wealthy and poor Protestants and Catholics, industrialists, merchants, mayors of the city, architects, surgeons, artists, tradesmen, labourers and paupers.
“Since then it has survived through three historical periods, the Victorian, Edwardian and late-20th century which I will discuss during the tour and can be found reflected in the cemeteries architectural designs.
“The tour is designed to accommodate everyone and will proceed at a gentle pace to ensure participants can enjoy the spectacular views of the city.
“This is an opportunity to learn more about our citizens and visitors to the city who are buried there while learning of the often troubled but fascinating stories from the city.”
The City Cemetery tour will last approximately two hours.
It will depart from the Lone Moor Road entrance of the cemetery on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11, September at 2.00 pm, led by Genealogist Brian Mitchell.
For further details, special requirements or to a place on the tour contact [email protected]
Further information on Council’s Archive and Genealogy Service visit www.derrystrabane.com.
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