Celtic Cross Memorial to Burial Ground, Coodham Estate

A gothic style lych gate and private burial ground dating from 1880, which contains a carved stone Celtic cross memorial and various grave markers all surrounded by a low red sandstone ashlar coped and rock-faced boundary wall. The burial ground is a truncated T-plan and is located within the policies of Coodham Estate, to the north of the ornamental lake.

The entrance (to the southwest elevation) is through a gothic oak lych gate, which is decorated with carved timber detailing and is supported on a base of ashlar red sandstone. The outer corner posts (one of which has collapsed, 2018) have timber buttresses on matching sandstone footings. The steeply pitched roof is covered with timber shingles and has decorative carvings to the eaves and ridge-board. The bargeboards are cusped with trefoil openings inset. The side elevations have four openings with carved timber Gothic tracery (collapsed to southeast elevation, 2018). The inner elevations incorporate bench seats into the stone bases. There are matching timber gates to the entrance with decorative wrought iron work.

The pointed-arch roof trusses to the gabled elevations are inscribed 'THROUGH THE GRAVE / AND GATE OF DEATH / WE PASS TO OUR / JOYFUL RESURRECTION' (one has collapsed, 2019). The inner northwest elevation has a mounted plaque that is inscribed 'THIS CEMETERY WAS / CONSECRATED BY THE BISHOP / OF GLASGOW AND GALLOWAY / JULY 1ST 1880'.

The burial ground contains a number of grave makers which date from 1880 to the early 21st century. A carved Celtic cross memorial of red sandstone ashlar, dated '1880', and on stepped plinth is located to the centre.

Historical development

Following the death of his second son Walter through a drowning accident in June 1880, Sir William Henry Houldsworth (Lancashire cotton mill owner and MP for Manchester) laid out the family burial ground. First shown on the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1895), the burial ground was consecrated by the Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway on 1st July 1880. The oak lych gate and the Celtic cross were also constructed in 1880. The burial ground remains in the ownership of the Trustees of the Houldsworth family and remained in use throughout the 20th century, with the most recent gravemarker dating to 2011.