Overleigh Cemetery

Overleigh Cemetery is a Victorian burial ground on the south side of the River Dee in Chester, designed by Thomas Mainwaring Penson and covering approximately 11.5 acres. The site holds thousands of headstones and monuments arranged within a landscaped garden layout with pathways throughout.

The burial ground was founded in 1850 by the Chester General Cemetery Company to address overcrowding at older burial sites in the city. It subsequently received graves of service members from the First and Second World Wars, marking important moments in the region's modern history.

The cemetery reflects Victorian ideals of commemoration and serves as a public space where visitors observe how burials from different eras are marked and remembered. The landscape reveals values around remembrance that shaped Chester's community life since the 1850s.

The grounds are walkable with maintained pathways allowing visitors to move between burial sections comfortably. The original Victorian gates and stone bridge in the northern area remain in place and mark the main entry points to explore the site.

A Japanese stage actor named Ishiao Ishimura died in 1915 following a stage accident and was buried here with an unusual memorial. His gravestone carries inscriptions in both English and Japanese, reflecting a rare cross-cultural connection in the cemetery's burials.

Location: Cheshire West and Chester

Inception: 1850

Architects: Thomas Mainwaring Penson

GPS coordinates: 53.18184,-2.89493

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:09