Ancient_and_modern_York_a_guide

146 ANCIENT AND
having for some years back been considered both perni
cious to health and distressing to the feelings, an effort was
made in York, in the year 1833, to establish a Cemetery
without the city, for the burial of the dead of all religious
denominations of Christians. Nothing, however, was
effected till the year 1836, when, the corporation having
declined to take the subject in hand, a capital of £6000
was raised by a company, in 600 shares of £10 each. A
piece of ground, about eight acres and a quarter in extent,
not far from Fishergate and Walmgate Bars, was pur
chased, and laid out in a suitable manner. The lodge
and entrance gates are very chaste and beautiful Grecian
structures ; and the pillars at each end of the palisading
are crowned, one with an Egyptian Sarcophagus, and the
other with a Sphinx. In April, 1837, the first stone of
the new chapel was laid, by the Lord Mayor, James
Meek, Esq. ; and, in the September following, the part
of the chapel devoted to the burial of episcopal protestants
was consecrated by his grace the archbishop of York.
One half of the Cemetery is devoted to members of the
established church, and the other half to non-conformists ;
and the ministers of each denomination conduct their own
funeral services. The chapel is so situated, that the line
separating the two divisions of the Cemetery runs through
the centre of the building ; consequently, one half of the
chapel is used for performing the burial service of the
established church, and the other for the burial service of
those not in connection with that body.
Cholera Surial ©routrtl.
This burial ground was, in 1832, set apart for the in
terment of those who died of the terrible epidemic that then
broke out in this city. It is situated in Thief-lane, with
out the walls, between North-street Postern and Micklegate
Bai ; not far from the depot of the Great North of
England Railway. The cholera morbus made its appear
ance in York, on Sunday, the 3rd day of June, 1832, in