Church Rock Cemetery

You don’t need a morbid curiosity to explore Church Cemetery—just a desire to uncover stories that few people know. Hidden tales lie beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered. The lives of those now silent can still be heard through their epitaphs—some echoing the joys of days gone by, others revealing the hardships they endured.

Also known as Rock Cemetery, this historic burial ground takes its name from the rugged sandstone caves that mark its landscape. Once a barren hillside and former execution site, it later became a striking example of Victorian-era cemetery design. Today, it is recognized as a Grade II heritage site, celebrated for its historical significance. 

Just off the corner of The Forest Recreation Ground, this historic site is just a stones throw away from City Centre making it a perfect place for reflection and rememberance.

Established in 1856 by Edwin Patchitt, Church Cemetery was designed to embrace the natural landscape on which it was built. This unique terrain led to its division into four sections. The north-eastern area, with its natural caves, cliffs, and rocky outcrops, and the western side, home to an impressive range of catacombs, make the cemetery a striking and evocative place.

But beyond its visual appeal, the true essence of this cemetery lies in the lives of those buried here. It is not merely a place of rest but a stark reflection of social inequality. Among its notable interments are Edwin Patchitt, the cemetery’s founder, as well as Sir Frank Bowden, the pioneer behind the Raleigh Bicycle Company. Others include MP Anthony John Mundella, esteemed architect Watson Fothergill, and Marriott Ogle Tarbotton, the engineer behind Trent Bridge and Nottingham’s modern development.

Yet, towering crosses and solemn stone angels also watch over those less fortunate. At the heart of the cemetery lie the paupers’ graves, where hundreds of impoverished individuals share a final resting place. Too poor to afford a burial of their own, they were laid to rest together—twenty or more beneath a single slab, their misfortune following them even in death.

Among them: Joseph Fenwick—five minutes old. George Sheppard—an hour old. Patricia Dormer—ten hours old. Laura Hewitt—six days old. Nellie Beatrice—three years and five months old, who passed away just one day after her mother, Helen, leaving behind a grieving father and husband.

These names, slowly fading with time, are what make Rock Cemetery special—a true testament to remembrance. Though their inscriptions may wear away, the stories beneath these tombs and vaults endure, echoing across generations.

Not unexpectedly, Church Cemetery is not bereft of legends. Some say that the legendary heroic outlaw himself, Robin Hood, used the caves as stables for his tried and trusted horses, thus leading to the caves on the north-east edge aptly named the “Robin Hood’s Caves”. Some believe that reverend George Oliver was right when he hypothesized that an ancient druid temple used to exist on site. Indeed, it has been discovered that, prior to the construction of the cemetery, in the 18^th century, miners used to yield sand out of the sandstones. Truth is, reality tends to be a little less of a fantasy, but flights of imagination are sometimes what sparks off our curiosity, so why not dare to imagine?

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This blog was written by Andra Elekes, Marketing Intern at Visit Nottinghamshire. Edited and refreshed by Georgina Richardson in 2025.