A Blitz memorial in the heart of the historic cemetery is now being revamped
There is one site in Liverpool that links T.J. Hughes, Joe Fagan and Michael Whitty, the founder of the Liverpool Daily Post - they are all buried at Anfield Cemetery. The Grade II listed cemetery on Priory Road is roughly 110 acres with a French design by Edward Kemp.
Opened in 1863, the cemetery has three chapels and entrances, designed by the Liverpool architects Lucy and Littler. Back when it was known as the Liverpool Corporation, the city council built a Blitz memorial at a cost of £4,400 in 1951.
It was proposed by Alderman Alfred Ernest Shennan who also designed the Abbey Cinema in Wavertree. After more than 70 years in situ, deterioration meant the popular viewing point was cordoned off from the public.
Stone tiles that were put in place have now been displaced with signs telling visitors they are unable to go near. When it was first built, the memorial read: “Erected by the citizens of Liverpool to the memory of all those who gave their lives during the attacks from the air upon the city whom five hundred and fifty four are buried in this communal grave 1939-1945.”
In 1949, city architect Dr Ronald Bradbury was instructed to invite tenders for the work which the Liverpool Daily Post said presented a problem.
It said: “Existing conditions in the cemetery surrounding the communal grave, which is extremely long and narrow, limit the form the memorial can take.” The communal grave is 170 feet long and three feet wide.
Now, a Friends group working alongside the city council wants to restore the memorial to its former glory. Tom Bradburn is a trustee of the Friends of Anfield Cemetery group that has worked to preserve the history around the site and the stories of those laid to rest within.
He told the ECHO how the 74-year-old monument had gradually fallen into disrepair. Tom said: “It’s been slowly falling apart, it’s been deteriorating for 20 years.
“It’s not fit for purpose anymore but we’re going to try and recover as much as we can in the rebuild. The Blitz is one of the most significant incidents in Liverpool’s history and there were young men going through the experience of thinking ‘will I be next?’ You can’t forget it.”
Alan Sheldon is the Liverpool Council head of bereavement services and has worked closely with the Friends group to preserve the legacy of the memorial. He said around £50,000 would be spent to reimagine the site over the coming months.
He said: “This is so important to people we couldn’t ignore it. It’ll be prepared for Armistice Day and to help people gain wheelchair access.”
Mr Sheldon said there were also plans to line the memorial with poppies, a symbol of remembrance. It is understood around 370 of the bodies in the communal grave have been identified over time with more than 100 unaccounted for.
Legendary Liverpool broadcaster Linda McDermott has supported the work at the cemetery alongside the trustees to restore the memorial. She said: “It’s a cemetery that is full of life and inspiration.
“We hope when it’s all fixed up, families will come together and be here on the day we unveil it all. The Friends of Anfield getting behind it managed to get a meeting of councillors together and move things forward.”
Linda also highlighted the diversity of the site and the luminaries that had made Anfield Cemetery their final resting place. She said: “There are people of all faiths here. Being a seaport, it’s not at all surprising.”
A spokesperson for Liverpool Council said: “Unfortunately, due to damage to the memorial at Anfield Cemetery, we have set up barriers to keep visitors safe from any potential hazards. Because of the nature of the damage, the memorial will also need to be replaced.
“We know that this memorial is an important part of the cemetery for many visitors and we want to ensure that any replacement is done in a meaningful way to commemorate those who lost their lives during the blitz. We are working closely with the Friends of Anfield Cemetery to find a fitting replacement.
“We‘ve received designs for the replacement which we will share with the group, with works due to be completed in the coming months.”