Celtic Cross Memorial to Burial Ground, Coodham Estate

This is a gothic style lych gate and associated private burial ground, dating from 1880, situated within the grounds of the Coodham Estate, north of the ornamental lake. The burial ground has a truncated T-plan and is enclosed by a low boundary wall constructed of red sandstone ashlar with a coped and rock-faced finish.

The entrance is via a gothic style lych gate, made of oak and supported on a base of red sandstone ashlar. The corner posts, one of which has collapsed (in 2018), are buttressed with timber on sandstone footings. The steeply pitched roof is covered with timber shingles and features decorative carvings to the eaves and ridge-board, with cusped bargeboards incorporating trefoil openings. The side elevations originally contained four openings with carved timber gothic tracery, but this has collapsed on the southeast elevation (in 2018). Built-in bench seats are incorporated into the stone bases of the inner elevations, and matching timber gates with decorative wrought ironwork provide access. The pointed-arch roof trusses of the gabled elevations are inscribed with the words "THROUGH THE GRAVE / AND GATE OF DEATH / WE PASS TO OUR / JOYFUL RESURRECTION," although one has collapsed (in 2019). A plaque mounted on the inner northwest elevation is inscribed 'THIS CEMETERY WAS / CONSECRATED BY THE BISHOP / OF GLASGOW AND GALLOWAY / JULY 1ST 1880'.

The burial ground contains numerous grave markers dating from 1880 to the early 21st century. A carved Celtic cross memorial of red sandstone ashlar, dated '1880', is centrally located on a stepped plinth.

The burial ground was created in 1880 by Sir William Henry Houldsworth (a Lancashire cotton mill owner and MP for Manchester) following the death of his son, Walter, in a drowning accident. It was first mapped in 1895 and consecrated by the Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway on 1st July 1880, at the same time as the construction of the lych gate and Celtic cross. The burial ground remains in the ownership of the Trustees of the Houldsworth family and was in use throughout the 20th century, with the most recent gravemarker dating to 2011.