Inspired by Willam Mark who was the British Consul in Málaga between 1824 and 1836, it now holds more than 1,000 graves.
The English Cemetery in Málaga has been declared to be the first constructed in Spain for the British colony.
The Governing Council has agreed inscribing the cemetery in the General Catalogue of Andalucía Historical Heritage, under the category of Monument.
The cemetery was the inspiration and concern of William Mark who was British Consul in Málaga between 1824 and 1836. In the eight years he had lived in Málaga before accepting the post of British Council he saw ‘with great disgust’ how Protestants were buried upright on the local beach.
One of the first occupants of the cemetery was a young Briton, Robert Boyd, who was shot on the beach in Málaga in 1831 after accompanying the liberal General Torrijos in his pretentions to install a constitutional regime.
Due to Marks efforts a Royal Decree issued by Fernando VI, issued on April 11 1830, handing over the land for the cemetery to the British Government to solve the problems which the numerous British colony attracted by trade and industry to the city had.
William Marks persistency brought the site, given permission to create walled cemetery on the Velez road which was, at the time, outside the city walls.
It now covers 8,000m and contains more than 1,000 graves. Many consider it to be a botanical garden where unusual specimens of trees and plants can be found.
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| An oasis of calm in the centre of Malaga. |
During the years 1839-40 what was called at the time was ‘lodge temple’. It was classical style small chapel where the cemetery guard lived. With fine Doric columns it was extended in 1890 to become the present day St George’s Anglican Church.
In 1856 a Gatehouse in a Gothic style was constructed at the entrance of the cemetery. For many years it was the home of the gardener and in 2005 it was renovated and it now houses a small Visitors’ Centre.
Typically Spanish.com
We will save British cemetery in Spain, say expats.......
EXPATS have launched a campaign to restore a British cemetery in Spain to its former glory.
The burial ground, in Valencia, was established over 150 years ago as a final resting place for non-Catholic foreigners, including traders and sailors.
But the site, which is owned by the British Embassy, is in need of restoration after suffering from theft and vandalism in recent years.
Now the International Women’s Club of Valencia (IWC) has decided to act after British expat Bonnie Hinzpeter, who came up with the idea, died earlier this year.
The work will involve gardening, cleaning graves and plans to restore the chapel to allow services to be held there.
“Bonnie was a lovely person, who was very popular and very involved in community conservation work,” said IWC member Diana Clifton-Sewell.
“Regrettably, she died of cancer before she could work on the cemetery, so we decided doing it ourselves would be a fitting memorial.”
The British Embassy confirmed it had so far approved repairs to the cemetery’s fence and gate, while a Garden of Remembrance is also being considered.
British expat Trevor Nicholas, who tends the cemetery as a volunteer, added: “I hope the project raises people’s awareness of it as an historic site.”
The Olive Press - November 25
