Welcome to the Website of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery.
Registered Charity Number 1142815
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Darwen’s New MP Visits the Cemetery
Andy Mac Nae MP visited the cemetery Saturday morning and spent time seeing the work the volunteers were undertaking as part of the Grave Maintenance Scheme. He spent time talking to some of the volunteers and our new chairman Graham Ardis.
he wants to be kept informed of events taking in the cemetery.
He also visited the grave of Sir David Shackleton, who was the third Labour Member of Parliament to be elected.
FODC June 2025
Our Latest Grave Maintenance Working Party
Here are some photographs of of our June Grave Maintenance Working Party.
Before and after photographs
Some after photographs
Thank you to everybody who helped out on Saturday and to those who brought the cakes for afterwards.
FODC June 2025
FODC changes it’s Chairman
At the recent Friends of Darwen Cemetery AGM held on Wednesday 4th June 2025 we elected a new chairman Graham Ardis who has taken over from Tony Foster.
Tony served the FODC for many years and been an inspirational leader both in his knowledge, leadership and action.
Leading many walks and imputing the group with his vast interest in local history and especially the war graves.
We thank him most sincerely as he continues as a trustee of FODC and we welcome Graham who has already made his mark with Find A Grave, upgrading health and safety issues and the QR codes to support the education given visitors to the cemetery with information of the site.
FODC relies on volunteers to help maintain the restoration, provide heritage projects and encourage wildlife. If your interested please contact Graham on contact@darwencemetery.org.uk
FODC website www.darwencemetery.org.uk/
FODC June 2025
Our Next AGM
Our Next AGM is on the 4th June 2025 at 7pm at the Heritage Centre on Railway Road Darwen BB3 2RG
This AGM is open to the public and if you are interested in what FODC plans are for the Cemetery in 2025 or if you you would like to get involved with the group why don’t you come along!
We have a speaker for the night our speaker this year is James Stevenson from Stevenson Memorials and his talk will be on the role of a Monumental Mason.
FODC May 2025
Adopt a War Grave
We are reaching out to organisations and individuals to help maintain and care for our war graves
We currently have several war graves available for adoption.
Your commitment will help preserve the memory of those who served and ensure the resting places are respected.
Click on the link to open in a PDF format
Contact Graham at contact@darwencemetery.org.uk to express your interest in adopting a war grave or for more information scan the QR code on the poster.
Thanks to Melissa for creating the poster.
FODC May 2025
Damage in the Cemetery
Unfortunately the recent spate of antisocial behaviour impacting our local parks & playgrounds has spread to Darwen Western Cemetery.
Some minor damage was caused in the Cemetery yesterday evening.
Please can all responsible visitors to the Cemetery contact the Police on 101 if you see any incidents of antisocial behaviour.
FODC April 2025
Cemetery Entrance Planter Looks as Good as New
On Saturday 12th April 2025 Graham cleaned and painted the planter at the entrance to Cemetery between the to Lodges.
Graham managed to remove all the mould after many years gathering it and re paint it in a nice gloss black finish , the lines were highlighted in a Silver colour and the Bees in Gold.
Well done Graham what a fantastic job.
FODC April 2025
Our next Bat Walk
Will be held on Friday 25th April 2025
Join the Friends of Darwen Cemetery for an evening walk around Darwen Old / Western Cemetery searching for our local bat inhabitants.
Starting our walk at 8.30pm in the Rose Garden in Whitehall Park and walking through to the Cemetery, led by Jill and Pete who will bring along their bat detectors hopefully allowing us to hear the bats as they hunt for their evening meals
Please wear suitable clothing and insect repellent!
The event is very much dependent on the weather and may be changed to Saturday 26th April 2025 at short notice.
(Any changes to the date will be shown on Facebook)
This is a Free event but any donations will be welcome.
Don’t forget your torch!!
As it will be dark by the time we have finished
Please wear suitable footwear as we may cross some uneven surfaces, all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
FODC April 2025
Our 2024 Remembrance Day Services
This year our Remembrance Day Services were held on Friday 8th November and Sunday 10th November 2024
Our Friday Service
Our Friday Service was our School Children Service and we had over 140 School Children attended the service from many of the Schools in Darwen, after the service the School Children went out in to the Cemetery to lay a poppy on all the Commonwealth Graves in the Cemetery.
The below link is a short video taken on the Friday service taken by Mellissa Dabrowski
https://www.facebook.com/reel/8872712019418092
Our Sunday Service
We had around 60 attend our Sunday Service which was open to all members of the public and was attended by a number of our local Scout Groups.
The below link is a short video taken on the Sunday service taken by Mellissa Dabrowski
Thanks to Rev. Terry Young and the service was opened by the FODC Chairman Tony Foster.
everybody at FODC who help organise these two services
FODC November 2024
A Big Thank You
Another huge Thank You to our friends from Capita. Yesterday morning we were joined by Kelly, Diane, Afsana, Emma & Ian volunteering their time. We finished clearing the Nature Garden and laid bark chippings to the beds either side of the stone bench. We also cleared a large section of road/path edges of grass & weeds. A big transformation. 
We look forward to welcoming more friends from Capita next Thursday.
FODC November 2024
The Mystery of Private Thomas Heap
This gravestone is Section C is to the memory of the Holden family and at the foot of the memorial it records the death of Private Thomas HEAP who died in France of wounds received in action July 17, 1916, aged 34 years. His name appears on the Loos Memorial, which commemorates over 20,000 officers and men with no known grave. The CWGC records show – Thomas Heap No 17513 7th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, date of death July 17, 1916. However, the Darwen News records that a Private Thomas Heap, of 1 Henry Street, died at Netley Hospital on Tuesday from wounds received in action. He was wounded in both legs and arms. He was formerly a carter for Messrs J and W Tomlinson and enlisted in September 1914. The interment is to take place at Darwen.
Are there two Thomas Heaps who both died on the same day? No! The Register of Deceased Passengers arriving at Southampton records that Thomas Heap, 7th East Lancashire Regiment No 17513 died at Southampton Waters. His body was returned to Darwen and his interment took place on 22 July 1916. The CWGC have been informed of Thomas’ final resting, and we now wait for the records to be corrected.
Researched by Tony Foster
For other stories have a look on our story page, click on the below link.
FODC November 2024
Our Last Walk of the Year
We held our final walk of the year on the 26th October, the walk was one of our most popular walks that we held previously back in 2011 and 2017.
This walk was called Torment and Tragedy and describes some of the more gruesome deaths that took part in Darwen.
We had around 45 visitors turn up for the walk around the Cemetery.
A big than you to Tony for his remarkable memory and fascinating talk and the Trustees and Volunteers who helped organise the event making for an enjoyable autumn 
walk.
Thank you to everybody who bought one of our walk booklets or donated on the day we raised £107.00 which will go towards other projects we have coming up in the Cemetery.
Below is a short video that Mellissa Dabrowski filmed during the walk.
Thanks to everybody who took part.
If you missed the walk and would like to purchase this booklet you can buy it for £2.50 you can buy it through this website.
Click on the below link that takes you through to our Booklet Page where you can buy this or any of the other walk booklets that we have held over the years
Tony Foster has researched and collated this booklet.
FODC October 2024
A big Thank You!
A massive Thank You to Roy, Paul, Lou, Jackie & Kath from Capita for volunteering with us this morning. We moved a huge amount of bark chippings to help keep the Ashes & Memorial Garden looking it’s best. Looking forward to meeting more Capita volunteers next week.
FODC October 2024
Hundreds of unmarked graves revealed across Darwen
Read this article from the Lancashire Telegraph and other articles regarding the Friends of Darwen Cemetery that have appeared in the Lancashire Telegraph over the years, click below and this will take you directly to the page.
FODC October 2024
Our 2024 Remembrance Day Services
This year our Remembrance Day Services will be held on Friday 8th November and Sunday 10th November 2024
Our Friday Service is our School Children Service and is attended by Children from many of the Schools in Darwen, after the service the School Children will go out in to the Cemetery and lay a poppy on all the Commonwealth Graves in the Cemetery.
Or Sunday Service is open to all members of the public and is attended by a number of our local Scout Groups.
Both services are held at the World War One Memorial Wall in the Western Cemetery and is a 10.30 am meet for a 10.45 am start.
For Details click on the below image.
FODC October 2024
Getting Ready for the 2024 Remembrance Day Services
On our last working party on Saturday 28th September 2024 we started preparing the area around the WW1 Memorial Wall in the Western Cemetery for this years Remembrance Day services which are on Friday 8th and Sunday 10th November.
Well done everybody!
FODC September 2024
Our second walk in September : Darwen Men at Gallipoli
On Sunday 15th September 2024 we held our 2nd walk on a very wet Sunday afternoon.
The walk explained how some of the men from Darwen and who are buried in the Cemetery who fought in Gallipoli during WW1 and managed to survive the campaign but unfortunately died in other battles or died on their return to the UK.
Thank you to the 15 visitors who braved the wind and rain to make the walk.
If you missed the walk the book can be bought for £2.50 through this website.
We dedicated the book to the 100+ Darwen men who died during the Gallipoli campaign.
Thanks to Tony Foster for leading the walk and members of FODC to help organise the event, and thanks Alan for the photographs.
Photographs by Alan Walton
FODC September 2024
Some of the Graves Completed During September 2024 Grave Maintenance Scheme Working Party
Thanks to everybody who attended the Working Parties on Thursday 12th September and Saturday 14th September 2024 for working so hard on the graves.
Photographs by Jill, Graham, Hanneke & Stephen
FODC September 2024
What a good day for our latest Find A Grave Day
We held our latest Find a Grave Day on Saturday June 2024, we found over 25 graves for 8 groups looking for graves in the Cemetery, luckily the weather was fine after days of rain on the lead up to the day.
Thank you to everybody involved in making the day a great success.
FODC June 2024
Some of the Graves Completed During June 2024 Grave Maintenance Scheme Working Party
Thank you to everybody who helped on Saturday and thanks to Jill & Peter for the Cakes,
Photographs by Paul and Jenny
FODC June 2024
Our Latest Bat Walk
Thank you to Jill, Peter and Liz for all their help organising the event.
FODC May 2024
Footage of our Working Party on the 30th March 2024
Click on the link below to see the video
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mrihmMWeusLMOJU6TjSYAf8-V124yEcZ/view?usp=drive_web
Thank you to Mellisa Dabrowski for the filming of the video.
For other videos or you tube clips click on the link below
https://www.darwencemetery.org.uk/you-tube-and-videos/
FODC April 2024
Planned Events for 2024
To open up the 2024 FODC events click on the link below.
We need you!!
To open up the we need you click on the link below.
Brief History of the Cemetery
The Local Board of Health formed a Burial Board in 1858 to provide a public burial ground. Up to then the only burial grounds were the graveyards of the various places of worship. The long use of these graveyards, their limited area, and the growth of the town made it difficult to find space for new graves.
The Burial Board acquired land at Whitehall on the west of the Bolton road. The area was drained, fenced, and laid out into sections for Church of England, Nonconformist and Roman Catholic burials.
Mortuary Chapels were erected and the cemetery opened in June 1861. In 1876 further land was obtained, the combined area being about 20 acres. The western cemetery is really two cemeteries – the Old to the south and the New to the north.
Towards the end of the Second World War it was becoming obvious that a further burial ground was necessary and land was acquired on the opposite side of the main road. This became known, rather confusingly, as the New Cemetery and then as the Eastern Cemetery. Work was under way by 1945 and the land was consecrated within a year or so. The area was extended in the late 1970s.
Photograph of the two lodges at the entrance to the Western Cemetery.
Note the large Iron Gates which stood between the two Lodges, in between the two Lodges you can see the Church of England Chapel
A closer photograph of the Church of England Chapel that once stood in the Cemetery
This photograph shows the Roman Catholic Chapel that once stood in the Cemetery.
The above photograph is one that has taken years to find, this is the Non Conformist Chapel which once stood on the large mound in the centre of the old Cemetery, a big thank you to Alan Walton and the Commonwealth War Commission for the photograph
If you would like to see more history on the Cemetery click on the Research tab.
If you would like to see history of the Friends of Darwen Cemetery click on the FODC Timeline tab.