The Friends of Key Hill & Warstone Lane Cemeteries

Key Hill Cemetery

Key Hill Cemetery, Hockley, formerly known as the General Cemetery was the first public cemetery in Birmingham and was designed by Charles Edge, a prominent Birmingham architect of his day, in 1835 and opened for burials in 1836. A massive wall, with cast iron gates and railings and heavy gate piers clad in Weoley Castle sandstone were created, along with a chapel, designed in the severe Greek revival style so favoured by non-conformists. The chapel was demolished in 1966, but the cemetery with its surviving wall, railings and piers are Grade II* Listed.


The Friends of Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries are dedicated to raising money for their restoration and future upkeep of the cemetery.


Although non-conformist, Key Hill was open to all denominations. There are catacombs and a fine collection of monuments to be seen. Some of the most important 19C figures are buried at Key Hill, including the Rt. Hon Joseph Chamberlain, Rev George Dawson, Alfred Bird, Joseph Gillott, Thomas Avery, Robert Lucas Chance, John Henderson and another famous architect, J H Chamberlain, creator of Highbury Hall.

 

 


Warstone Lane Cemetery soon followed, Birmingham’s second cemetery, being opened in 1848 as a Church of England cemetery, allowing several overcrowded churchyards to close for burials. Designed by Hamilton & Medland, Architects of Gloucester, the cemetery had a gothic style chapel dedicated to St Michael, which was demolished in 1958, although the Lodge buildings survive in Warstone Lane, having been sold as office accommodation.

 

warstone lane cemetery


Warstone Lane is the last resting place of John Baskerville, Birmingham’s famous printer, Major Harry Gem, co-founder of Lawn tennis and Pvte James Cooper V.C.


Contact:

Contact: Brian Southwell

Tel: 0121 382 1634

Website:Friends of Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries


Detailed Information

Opening hours: Services:
  • Both cemeteries are owned and maintained by Birmingham City Bereavement Services, administered from Handsworth cemetery, 0121 554 0096, email handsworthcem@birmingham.gov.uk.

  • Guided tours around the cemeteries take place on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Warstone Lane 12-1, Key Hill 2-4. £3 per person, £5 per couple, accompanied children and all members free.
    Tours can be arranged at other times for a small fee.
How to get there: Parking:

  • Both Cemeteries are on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, on Icknield St. B18. This is just a short step from Soho House, a few minutes from both the Pen Room and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, St Paul's Church, and the soon-to-be-opened Newman Brothers Coffin Furniture Works.


  • Key hill also has an entrance on Key Hill Drive. And Warstone Lane has entrances on Pitsford St, Vyse St, & Warstone Lane.


    The Jewellery Quarter rail station and the Metro are very close to hand.


    Buses 74 and 79 from Birmingham City Centre pass the end of Key Hill.


    Find Key Hill Cemetery on multimap.com

  • Car parking is available free of charge within both cemeteries during normal visiting hours 0830-1700.

Other heritage attractions nearby:

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