Kibworth Cemetery & Lychgate
I recently attended the funeral and burial of a former neighbour. The service was held at Great Glen crematorium. The interment was in the natural burial area at Kibworth Cemetery on the A6, Harborough Road.
My daughter, who now lives in Bedford but had lived in the Kibworths for over 25 years, drove me. On the way back from Great Glen to the Cemetery it became clear she had no idea where Kibworth Cemetery was! I guess this was because she had had no reasons to visit. It made me realise that may be the case for many residents of our two Kibworth villages who are entitled to be buried here. So here is a potted history of Kibworth Cemetery.
Churchyards in large towns were becoming full or over-crowded by the eighteenth century. That, coupled with the demand from non-conformists and other dissenters who did not want to be interred in Anglican graveyards, contributed to the national need for public cemeteries. The first was at Norwich in 1819.
After the possibility of extending the graveyard at St. Wilfrids Church was rejected in 1891, a vestry meeting of ratepayers was held and seven were elected to serve as members of a Burial Board. The Board looked at several sites with the intention of buying the most suitable for use as a joint burial ground for the Kibworth parish. In July 1892 they entered negotiations with Merton College and 4 acres, 3 roods and 28 perches of the current Harborough Road site was purchased on 10 May 1893 for £750. The Joint Board was initially chaired by the Rector, Revd. Cruttwell; and both the Congregational and Methodist Ministers were members.
1893
The first phase of the cemetery was consecrated in June 1893. The first burial took place in August 1893 of Florence May Kimbell aged 4 years.
Civil parish councils were first formed in England under the Local Government Act 1894 to take over local oversight of civic duties in rural towns and villages from the local vestry committees.
The Kibworth Burial Board has consisted of parish councillors from both Kibworth parishes since 1895. For a period, it had its own bank account and clerk. The accounts are now included within Kibworth Harcourt Parish Council’s, and the cemetery is managed by the parish manager. Full details of costs and policies can be found at: https://www.kh-pc.gov.uk/beta-kibworth-harcourt/kibworth-cemetery2.
Lychgate
The marvellous lychgate building on the A6 was completed by Edward Mason in 1894. In February 1895 a wooden bier was presented to the Burial Board by Mr Haymes. This beautifully crafted ‘trolley’, pulled by the village sexton, carried the coffin from the deceased’s house to the cemetery passing through the lychgate. The bier is currently housed in the lychgate. The building and iron gate were reviewed by Historic England in 2022 and are now Grade II listed (No. 1480910).
A memorial white ‘Letters to Heaven’ post box has been installed in the front of the cemetery. Accessible as you enter through the main gates. It is available for residents and visitors who wish to message their loved ones who are no longer with us.
The Kibworth Cemetery is a great place to visit and walk your dog (on a lead please). There are plenty of benches that have been donated, and a couple are covered if it’s raining. Enjoy the tranquillity!
Kevin Feltham
(Chairman, Kibworth Joint Burial Board)
You can also read about the Cemetery & Lychgate on the following webpages:
Macmillan Coffee Morning – Nov ’25
