Havant has a wealth of interesting Cemeteries and this guided walk will introduce you to a number of former citizens each with an interesting story to tell.
The original St Faith’s church was built about 1150 on what may be the site of an earlier Saxon church. The adjoining graveyard provided the parish of Havant with its only burial ground for those of any religious denomination. The parish records covering the period from 1653 to 1851 record some 6,000 burials there and from this figure it has been estimated that the graveyard could well contain the remains of over 20,000 people. By the 1850s it was decided that no more burials could be carried out there so a new site would have to be found.
Sir George Staunton generously gave a piece of his land in New Lane for this purpose. One acre was used to provide for those of the Church of England under the control of St Faith’s Church and one quarter of an acre for Dissenters under the control of the Dissenters’ Chapel which later became the Congregational Church and then the United Reformed Church.
Alongside our guided tours run by the Friends of Havant Cemeteries, the trail will be available in a self-guided format throughout the festival and can either be downloaded online or be found in a box at the cemetery.
Event Times
Friday 6 September: 10:00am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, 3:00pm
Friday 13 September: 10:00am, 11:00am, 2:00pm, 4:00pm
Booking Information
Pre-booking: Not-required.
Address & Directions
Havant Cemeteries, New lane/Eastern Road, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 2JF.
Park in Eastern Road car park and walk to the distinctive and obvious gates. Detailed histories of the cemeteries are available from Booklet 24 The Havant Cemeteries and Booklet 12 The Dissenter's Cemetery.
Additional Information
Max 25 people per session/tour. 1 hour.
Care should be taken around the cemetery as there are some obvious trip hazards. Be especially careful when departing the dissenters cemetery as the road is busy and fast and you cannot be seen at the gate
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Havant Cemeteries
Header Image: Eastern Road at Dawn_credit Chris Jones