Tramline restoration idea for upgrading of cemetery

ABOVE AND BELOW: Linwood Cemetery . . . the first burial was in 1884. Explorer Arthur Dudley Dobson and several former mayors are buried in Linwood Cemetery.

Restoring old tramlines in Linwood Cemetery is one idea for the improvement of the old, historic cemetery.

The cemetery had its first burial in 1884 and many famous Christchurch identities are buried there.

The 9.5-hectare cemetery, bounded by Bromley Park, Butterfield Avenue and McGregors Road, is now untidy and plagued by vandalism.

Last November the first meeting was held to discuss improvements and recently a public meeting endorsed a working party report to give the cemetery a facelift.

One of the suggested improvements is to expose the historic tram track lines that are still under an asphalt drive inside the cemetery main gates.

A tramline, the "Corporation Line" or "cemetery tramway", ran from City Council yards on the riverbank, which is now the Clarendon Towers building.

By 1885 the Council had built a tramway hearse but found that "the poor, who might be expected to appreciate the idea of cheap funerals, would not accept the vehicle, however neatly it might accommodate four corpses on the trip to the cemetery."

Notable people buried there include explorer Arthur Dudley Dobson, Christchurch mayors,William and James Wilson,Thomas Gapes and Henry Thomson. The founder of Coker’s Hotel, John Coker, is there too.

Also there is an edifice that is unusual in Christchurch graveyards: the Peacock vault which houses the family of shipowner and merchant, the Hon J T Peacock, who donated the Peacock fountain.

The cemetery was first called The Sandhills, then the Corporation Cemetery, and later Linwood.

As well as local concern about the untidy appearance and the occurrence of vandalism, residents also wanted views from nearby houses improved with better planting.

A concept landscaping plan has been prepared that includes improvements in planting, remedial work to headstones, paving and kerbs, and security to reduce vandalism.

In addition, the plan provides for a lift in colour, uses grass on some pathways, and restores the tramlines at the cemetery’s entrance.

Areas for meditation and contemplation are being considered along with the highlighting of the more historical headstones and the vaults, particularly on information panels.

The plans will now go to the Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board and then to the City Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee for adoption within a time frame and a budget.