Christmas Trees for Sale
November 18, 2025
Arnos Vale Visitor Survey 2026
January 12, 2026
Forged nearly two centuries ago, the Bath Road gates of Arnos Vale Cemetery have stood through revolutions in industry, the passing generations of Bristolians, and the rise and fall of the Victorian burial movement.
But today these gates, once a proud symbol of the city’s ambitions, are in urgent need of repair.
Arnos Vale Cemetery was conceived in the 1830s as Bristol’s answer to the great landscaped cemeteries of Europe: a serene Greek necropolis, enclosed by carefully designed walls, flanked by neo-classical lodges, and set within gardens planted with trees and shrubs drawn from ancient myth.
Visitors could ascend terraces cut into the hillside like an amphitheatre - an intentional, almost theatrical experience of reflection and remembrance.
At the heart of this grand vision stood the entrance gates.
Victorian Ironwork in Bristol: The Making of the Bath Road Entrance & Gates
These were no ordinary gates. Commissioned by architect Charles Underwood, the creator of the cemetery’s iconic lodges, the gates were intended to signal the dignity, ambition, and tranquillity of the site. Although we have no surviving drawings to confirm whether Underwood designed the detailed ironwork, his influence shaped the entire entrance to the cemetery.
Thanks to surviving ledgers of the Bristol General Cemetery Company now held in the Bristol Archives, we know that the gates were brought to life not by a single workshop, but by a network of Bristol tradespeople between 1839 and 1845. Each played a part in crafting an entrance worthy of the new cemetery:
- Messrs. Room, Grazebrook & Co., iron manufacturers & retailers with premises in Clare Street, Quay Street and Marsh Street
- Sperrings & Bennett, who supplied the posts
- Sweat & Bryant, carried out construction works under Mr Underwood’s supervision
- Daniel Farmer, carpenter, provided new gate timberwork
- Godwin, mason, responsible for stonework at the entrance
- Richard Edward Aston, a local painter who lived in Brislington, who painted the iron gates and surrounding railings
Their craft still shapes every visitor’s first impression of Arnos Vale Cemetery.
In 1966 the gates and the adjacent lodges were granted Grade II* listing, recognising their national significance. Historic England describes their sliding mechanism, spear-headed railings, ashlar piers, and cobbled tracks - details that reflect the ingenuity of early Victorian engineering.
But the gates are not just of architectural value. They also became a symbol of Arnos Vale’s most turbulent chapter.
The Gates That Bristol Fought to Keep Open
By the late 20th century, the cemetery was full, its crematorium licence revoked, and in 1998 a private owner announced the closure of the gates. The prospect of locked gates, and rumours of redevelopment, ignited public outrage. Local people took it upon themselves to open and close the gates every day, protecting public access when no one else would.
Their dedication helped spark the campaign that ultimately saved Arnos Vale, leading to the Council’s compulsory purchase of the site and the creation of the charitable trust that cares for the cemetery today.
Protecting a Piece of Bristol’s Past for Future Generations
Today the gates still fulfil the same dual purpose envisaged 180 years ago:
- They welcome. Set between the stately lodges, they create a dramatic entrance that invites visitors into a landscape rich with heritage, art, and memory.
- They protect. As the first line of defence against unauthorised vehicle access, they help guard the cemetery’s monuments, many fragile, many irreplaceable, from theft and damage.
The gates mark the threshold not only to a physical place, but to Bristol’s collective past.
Join Us in Safeguarding Arnos Vale’s Historic Entrance
The years have taken their toll. The ironwork requires specialist restoration; the stone piers need repair; the sliding mechanism must be renewed to ensure the gates remain safe and secure.
Restoring them is not simply maintenance. It is preserving a story: the story of Victorian ambition, local craftsmanship, community rescue, and the enduring power of place.
By supporting our fundraising appeal, you can help return the gates to their former grandeur and ensure they continue to welcome visitors and protect the site for generations to come.
And who knows? Perhaps descendants of Room, Grazebrook, Farmer, or Aston might even step forward with family memories or forgotten materials from the workshops that created the gates in the first place. Their stories are part of our story, and we hope to uncover them as we restore this remarkable entrance.
References
Bristol Cemetery General Company Ledgers held at Bristol Archives, Collection: Records of the Bristol General Cemetery Company [Arnos Vale Cemetery], 1830s-1990s, Collection Reference: 41455, Research by: Ruth Preece on 16th October 2025
Historic England – Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1203895?section=official-list-entry (Accessed: 19th November 2025)
Grace’s Guide – Available at: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Room,_Grazebrook_and_Co (Accessed: 18th November 2025)
