Graveyard recognised as a significant cemetery in Europe

Lister Lane Cemetery has been given the award by the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE).

It has been made possible thanks to the hard work and dedication by The Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery and the graveyards links with notable landmarks and people in the area.

Leading Victorian industrialists including members of the Crossley family, who started the worlds largest carpet company, are among the 20,000 people buried there.

David Glover, chairman of the Friends, said: “This status for Lister Lane must surely increase the importance of Calderdale as an area of historic heritage, and the Friends feel the cemetery should be added to the list of local must see attractions.

“While the Friends of Lister Lane are only curators of the site, we care passionately about it, and hope that both Calderdale MBC and members of the public will recognise our hard work, and continue to believe in us.

“We shall continue to maintain and promote the cemetery within our limited resources; however, we should appreciate any further available assistance in this field, as we expect a significant increase of visitors due to the new listing.

Lister Lane Cemetery is the very first of its kind to be recognised in this way in West Yorkshire, and only the second in Yorkshire.

There are only 13 in the whole of the UK, and it is now alongside famous cemeteries such as Highgate in London, Montjuïc in Barcelona, and other first division graveyards.

Significant cemeteries in Europe are selected based on noteworthy people buried at the location and the quality of its monuments.

To find more about ASCE and Lister Lane Cemetery’s listing at www.significantcemeteries.org/search?q=halifax