Undercliffe Cemetery Trail highlights Bradford people past and present

For more than nine months a small dedicated group of volunteers - Jacqui Ambler, Sue Crossley, Tim Hardy and Irene Lofthouse - have been researching, writing and creating the 20 boards that comprise the new Undercliffe Cemetery Trail.

“It’s been an incredibly interesting journey,” says trustee Jacqui Ambler. “There are approximately 123,000 people buried here, of all ages, from all walks of life and from across the world. The creative team had to really think about how to cover such a range of stories of past and present in a meaningful way. We chose topics that would link people, places, achievements and Bradford’s history in the local, national and global context. After all, Bradford scores highly in the league table of firsts across education, health, sports, nursery provision, photography and transport, amongst others.”

The Trail is a fascinating journey of discovery (Image: Tim Hardy)

The trail highlights not only those instrumental in Worstedopolis, but also Quakers who settled here in the mid-1600s; women and Sikhs in the First World War; the 2023 Young Poet Laureate winner; pauper burials and sporting champions who’ve achieved against the odds, as well as musicians, artists, writers - and natural visitors to the cemetery, including red kites, foxes and cats.

“Visitors, I’m sure will find the boards fascinating,” says Irene Lofthouse. ‘We’re not expecting people to come and see all 20 boards at once - which of course they can - but rather to browse and take time to reflect on what they’ve read and seen. There’ll be family links to many boards, and visitors’ own memories of information on others - like where they were when Richard Dunn fought Mohammed Ali for example. “The trail is family-friendly, with boards that children can enjoy too; we worked with Peel Park Primary School on a ‘discovery challenge’ to encourage youngsters to really observe what’s in and around the grounds.”

The Trail celebrates the achievements of women in Bradford (Image: Tim Hardy)

Adds Jacqui: “Not all the people referenced on the boards are dead. We were keen to show how the past influences both present and future and how creativity in science, technology, arts, culture, craft etc continued through the 19th and 20th centuries and flourishes today. Undercliffe Cemetery reflects the migration patterns through those times, and Bradford has been influenced by the skills and entrepreneurship that people brought with them.”

The Trail is family friendly, with boards that children can follow too (Image: Tim Hardy)

Journalist, broadcaster and Bradford lass Christa Ackroyd will cut the ribbon to launch the trail on Saturday, June 22 at 11am.

Christa is involved in developing the Bronte Birthplace in Thornton into an educational and literary resource. Nancy de Garrs, the Brontes’ nanny who lived with the family in Thornton, is buried in Undercliffe Cemetery.

“We’re incredibly grateful to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council who have funded the trails board project,” says Jacqui. “A big thank you too to all our collaborators, researchers and volunteers. The trail boards could not have been created without the indefatigable design work of Tim Hardy and organisation of Susan Crossley.”

* Visitors will be given a map to follow the trail. The cemetery cafe is open 11.15am-2pm and there i’s information on the cemetery’s history and how to search for and purchase a plot.

Visit undercliffecemetery.co.uk