Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
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wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
@wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
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A long term project to engage the community and sensitively conserve the previously neglected Victorian Wardsend Cemetery, on the banks of the River Don.
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wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
The Barracks Obelisk stands on the site where the mortuary chapel once stood. It contains 33 names of soldiers from 8 different regiments who died at nearby Hillsborough Barracks from 1866 to 1869.

This excellent piece by Dan Eaton dates back to 2006

wardsendcemetery.wordpress.com/2018/06/20/t...
The barracks obelisk on the chapel site is the largest monument in Wardsend Cemetery.
November 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
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A big thank you to Charlotte and Sally of Don Catchment Rivers Trust and all the lovely volunteers who spent several hours clearing the riverbank below the cemetery. They will be returning to do some more
Now we have the steps we want to keep this area tidier to improve access and visibility.
Volunteers clearing the thick vegetation on the riverbank below the cemetery. View from the bridge with the River Don on the right of the photo. The recently installed steps and volunteers clearing the thick vegetation on the riverbank are on the left.
November 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
1/5
A big thank you to Charlotte and Sally of Don Catchment Rivers Trust and all the lovely volunteers who spent several hours clearing the riverbank below the cemetery. They will be returning to do some more
Now we have the steps we want to keep this area tidier to improve access and visibility.
Volunteers clearing the thick vegetation on the riverbank below the cemetery. View from the bridge with the River Don on the right of the photo. The recently installed steps and volunteers clearing the thick vegetation on the riverbank are on the left.
November 29, 2025 at 8:22 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
In a Sheffield garden. Mum and dad with one of this year's youngsters keeping a safe distance. I think I need to throw some of the complete dry dog food biscuits further down the garden. I only give them a small amount so they don't rely on it.
November 29, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Death of a Sheffield Veteran Sportsman.

'Mr. James Bingham, formerly proprietor of The Queens Ground, Sheffield, and a foremost figure in the palmy days of professional pedestrianism.'

December 1907
Memorial on the grave of James Bingham. The death took place yesterday morning at his residence in Harrison Road, Hillsborough of Mr. James Bingham, formerly proprietor of The Queens Ground, Sheffield, and a foremost figure in the palmy days of professional pedestrianism. Mr. Bingham, in fact was one of the principal promoters of Sheffield £100 handicaps, for which men were backed to win thousands of pounds. Mr. Bingham was in his 72nd year. The funeral is to take place at the Wardsend Cemetery tomorrow. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 06 December 1907 The grave of James Bingham in the older, wooded part of the cemetery. The Queens Ground pub on Langsett Road, Hillsborough.
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Death of a Sheffield Veteran Sportsman.

'Mr. James Bingham, formerly proprietor of The Queens Ground, Sheffield, and a foremost figure in the palmy days of professional pedestrianism.'

December 1907
Memorial on the grave of James Bingham. The death took place yesterday morning at his residence in Harrison Road, Hillsborough of Mr. James Bingham, formerly proprietor of The Queens Ground, Sheffield, and a foremost figure in the palmy days of professional pedestrianism. Mr. Bingham, in fact was one of the principal promoters of Sheffield £100 handicaps, for which men were backed to win thousands of pounds. Mr. Bingham was in his 72nd year. The funeral is to take place at the Wardsend Cemetery tomorrow. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 06 December 1907 The grave of James Bingham in the older, wooded part of the cemetery. The Queens Ground pub on Langsett Road, Hillsborough.
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Michael Mylan 1st Battalion of 14th Foot, Crimea.
Michael died on November 4th 1882 aged 48 years. He is one of five Crimean War veterans that we know of who are buried in the cemetery.
JOHN, SON OF MICHAEL MYLAN, DIED JULY 22nd 1876, AGED 2 YEARS. MICHAEL MYLAN, IST BATT. 14TH FOOT, CRIMEA, DIED NOVEMBER 4th 1882, AGED 48 YEARS. JOHN HENRY HIS GRANDSON, DIED MARCH 10TH 1887 AGED 1 YEAR. HARRIET HIS RELICT DIED DECEMBER 23rd 1902, AGED 65 YEARS.
November 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
To celebrate Doctor Who Day here's a photo of the 'Swiss army sonic – made with added Sheffield steel' and an earlier less portable version made by cutler William Bamforth who is buried at Wardsend.
#DoctorWhoDay
November 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
The River Don at Wardsend earlier this month. It's hard to believe that this beautiful area with all its history and abundance of nature has been overlooked by Sheffield City Council for so many years.
Wardsend is on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List local-heritage-list.org.uk/south-yorksh...
November 23, 2025 at 8:28 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Michael Mylan 1st Battalion of 14th Foot, Crimea.
Michael died on November 4th 1882 aged 48 years. He is one of five Crimean War veterans that we know of who are buried in the cemetery.
JOHN, SON OF MICHAEL MYLAN, DIED JULY 22nd 1876, AGED 2 YEARS. MICHAEL MYLAN, IST BATT. 14TH FOOT, CRIMEA, DIED NOVEMBER 4th 1882, AGED 48 YEARS. JOHN HENRY HIS GRANDSON, DIED MARCH 10TH 1887 AGED 1 YEAR. HARRIET HIS RELICT DIED DECEMBER 23rd 1902, AGED 65 YEARS.
November 23, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
winterroom.bsky.social
#poem #gargoyles @wardsendcemetery.bsky.social #Sheffield
Gargoyles On the top of a pylon where the humming converges to a square of grey struts cormorants look out over streets and factories. They are the gargoyles on this tapering tower gathering the descending gaze of the blue sky and casting it outwards to fall on me on the fast-moving water on the graves of the dead. Under their watch wrens sing in the river banks dippers curtsey on rocks and a kingfisher with the speed to baffle any lofty eye flows like a tipped up waterfall of summer light towards the next green turn in the River Don
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
The view from the hill adjacent to Wardsend, formerly the site of Neepsend Power Station, affords views up and down the Don Valley, across Hillsborough towards the Loxley and Rivelin Valleys. Many of the stories of the people and history of this area can be found in our cemetery.
View across Owlerton/Hillsborough up the Rivelin Valley towards Redmires. Hillsborough Barracks. Many of the soldiers and their families who died here are buried at Wardsend including George Lambert VC. St. John the Baptist Church in the centre of the photo has links with the cemetery. Three of the men on the roll of honour are buried on our hillside. The view in the previous photos are from the hill on the left of this painting. The 1863 Edward Price painting, Sheffield and the Valley of the Don, shows the cemetery in its once beautiful location. It belongs to Sheffield Museums and is usually on display at Weston Park Museum. Wardsend Cemetery opened on the 21st June 1857.
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
The view from the hill adjacent to Wardsend, formerly the site of Neepsend Power Station, affords views up and down the Don Valley, across Hillsborough towards the Loxley and Rivelin Valleys. Many of the stories of the people and history of this area can be found in our cemetery.
View across Owlerton/Hillsborough up the Rivelin Valley towards Redmires. Hillsborough Barracks. Many of the soldiers and their families who died here are buried at Wardsend including George Lambert VC. St. John the Baptist Church in the centre of the photo has links with the cemetery. Three of the men on the roll of honour are buried on our hillside. The view in the previous photos are from the hill on the left of this painting. The 1863 Edward Price painting, Sheffield and the Valley of the Don, shows the cemetery in its once beautiful location. It belongs to Sheffield Museums and is usually on display at Weston Park Museum. Wardsend Cemetery opened on the 21st June 1857.
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Good morning from Sheffield. A cold but beautiful start to the day.
November 21, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
longbarrowpress.bsky.social
'What a book! Walking-writing as a collective act, as it should be.' - Robert Macfarlane

'The Footing' comprises poems and sequences on the theme of walking, with contributions from Angelina Ayers, James Caruth, Mark Goodwin, Rob Hindle, Andrew Hirst, Chris Jones, and Fay Musselwhite
longbarrowpress.bsky.social Longbarrow Press @longbarrowpress.bsky.social · 9d
'It is the best anthology of new work that I’ve read in years; anyone with an interest in contemporary British poetry should read it.' - Billy Mills

Last few copies of 'The Footing': our first (and, to date, only) anthology (unlikely to be reprinted)
thefooting.wordpress.com
Greyscale image of 'The Footing', a walking-themed anthology published by Longbarrow Press
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Situated on a hillside above the River Don, neglected by people and left in Nature's care for decades, Wardsend has become Sheffield's most beautiful cemetery.
We are of course a little bit biased and understand that other Sheffield cemetery Friends groups may not share our view 🙂
November 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
With the Sheffield derby fast approaching here's a cartoon from December 1906.

'THE BLADE AND THE OWL

The Bramall Lane Blade: "Had a good Christmas, Owley !"

The Owlerton Owl: "Hardly know what to say. Might have been a lot better, anyway!"

© British Newspaper Archive
'THE BLADE AND THE OWL The Bramall Lane Blade: "Had a good Christmas, Owley !" The Owlerton Owl: "Hardly know what to say. Might have been a lot better, anyway!" (Whilst United have added points to their (?) this week, Wednesday have had to be satisfied with one)'.
November 19, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Sergeant Thomas Wheatley, 5th Battery Royal Field Artillery.
The funeral procession 'was witnessed by several thousands of people'

Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 09 June 1903
British Newspaper Archive

I can't find a similar report of the funeral of Sergeant Joseph Sear, also named on this memorial.
'MILITARY FUNERAL IN SHEFFIELD. The funeral of Sergeant Thomas Wheatley, of the 5th Battery Royal Field Artillery, stationed at Hillsborough Barracks, took place yesterday. with full military honours. The sergeant, who died on Thursday, had been in the artillery some 15 years, having enlisted at Peterborough, where he belonged. He was quartered in India nine or 10 years, and, after spending a little time in Ireland, went out to South Africa. He was all through the war, and gained both the South African medal and the King's medal. The body was borne from the Barracks to St Philip's burial ground on a gun carriage, drawn by six horses, and the men of the deceased's battery and the other two batteries at the Barracks, marched in procession. The spectacle was witnessed by several thousands of people. The relatives present were Sergeant Wheatley's mother. two brothers, and three sisters. There were a great many wreaths, several being sent by the sergeant's officers and comrades. At the burial ground, three rounds of blank were fired over the grave.'
November 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
OLD TEETH BOUGHT

Sheffield Independent - Tuesday 02 May 1916
Image © Johnston Press plc. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
1916 advertisement in Sheffield newspaper including a drawing of false teeth. The text reads: OLD TEETH BOUGHT BEST PRICE GIVEN. GET OUR OFFER BEFORE SELLING. MYERS, Ltd., 17, MOORHEAD.
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
It was our bird survey yesterday and although we saw a few it was surprisingly quiet given what a beautiful morning it was.
What wasn't surprising was just how wonderful the cemetery looks in the November sunshine.
These photos were taken in the older part of the cemetery below the railway line.
The original (1857) now wooded part of the cemetery, looking up the main path towards the old Sheffield to Manchester railway line. Sunlight filters through the trees and leaves cover the path. Looking up the slope from the bottom path. Gravestones among the trees all the way up to the old railway line. Some of our bird surveyors yesterday, surrounded by trees and old headstones. Autumn is a beautiful time of year at Wardsend. Looking down the main path which leads down to the entrance and the bridge over our beautiful stretch of the River Don. Dappled light on the headstones and leaves cover the path.
November 18, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
sommecourt.bsky.social
The Old Front Line #YouTube Channel is only a small one but I was pleased to see it pass 8K subscribers last night. Looking for some #WW1 content then do have a look: youtube.com/@oldfrontlin...
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Sergeant Thomas Wheatley, 5th Battery Royal Field Artillery.
The funeral procession 'was witnessed by several thousands of people'

Sheffield Daily Telegraph - 09 June 1903
British Newspaper Archive

I can't find a similar report of the funeral of Sergeant Joseph Sear, also named on this memorial.
'MILITARY FUNERAL IN SHEFFIELD. The funeral of Sergeant Thomas Wheatley, of the 5th Battery Royal Field Artillery, stationed at Hillsborough Barracks, took place yesterday. with full military honours. The sergeant, who died on Thursday, had been in the artillery some 15 years, having enlisted at Peterborough, where he belonged. He was quartered in India nine or 10 years, and, after spending a little time in Ireland, went out to South Africa. He was all through the war, and gained both the South African medal and the King's medal. The body was borne from the Barracks to St Philip's burial ground on a gun carriage, drawn by six horses, and the men of the deceased's battery and the other two batteries at the Barracks, marched in procession. The spectacle was witnessed by several thousands of people. The relatives present were Sergeant Wheatley's mother. two brothers, and three sisters. There were a great many wreaths, several being sent by the sergeant's officers and comrades. At the burial ground, three rounds of blank were fired over the grave.'
November 18, 2025 at 7:38 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Opening of the Owlerton War Memorial Hall. The names can also be found on the memorial in St John's not far from Wardsend where 3 of them, Corporal David Woodhouse,
Private Thomas Middleton and Private John Spye are buried.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph 16 April 1926
© British Newspaper Archive
November 16, 2025 at 10:06 AM
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
I'm not suggesting we're at that stage yet but in December 2014 the UK prepared for the forthcoming 'weather bomb' by donning protective head gear.
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Reposted by Wardsend Cemetery Heritage Park
wardsendcemetery.bsky.social
Wardsend was the cemetery for St. Philip's Church from the 21st June 1857. St Philip's used to stand at the junction of Infirmary Rd and Penistone Rd near the Globe Works. The church and the Globe Works (bottom right in the second photo) can be seen in this 1939 aerial photo from Britain from Above.
November 13, 2025 at 8:29 PM