MEDIA RELEASE Wednesday 19 October 2005

Public comment invited on Linwood Cemetery Conservation Plan

The graves of Thomas Edmonds of Edmonds Factory fame, Bishop Julius, the second Anglican bishop of Christchurch and Annie Townend, the fabled daughter of Glenmark sheep-king G H Moore are among those featured in a draft conservation plan for Linwood Cemetery that is now available for public comment.

Christchurch City Council is seeking feedback on the plan to help it restore and maintain this historically important cemetery for the future.

Funding for the plan has come from the Hagley/Ferrymead Community Board. The Press has also donated $1000 for the restoration of former editor John Steele Guthrie’s grave. Other sponsors are being sought to help restore the cemetery.

Linwood Cemetery is the second of Christchurch’s cemeteries to have a draft conservation plan. After public feedback on it has been received, it will be presented to the Council for approval early next year.

The Draft Linwood Cemetery Conservation Plan can be viewed on the web at www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay or at Linwood Service Centre, Linwood Library, Central Library, or Civic Offices ground floor reception. There will also be a display, including the plan and background information, at Our City O Tautahi, cnr Oxford Tce and Worcester Boulevard during the consultation period.

Submissions may be made until Friday, 18 November via the website or by writing to Linwood Cemetery Consultation, C/- Kevin Williams, Civic Offices, P O Box 237, Christchurch.

Christchurch City Council is seeking the contact details of families of those buried at the cemetery and registrations of interest from anyone wanting to be kept informed about conservation work there. For further information or to register your interest in the cemetery call Council project leader Kevin Williams on 941 8697 or email Kevin on kevin.williams@ccc.govt.nz

Background

Linwood Cemetery, which opened in 1883, was the first municipal cemetery of the Christchurch City Council, which at that time had its town belt bounded by the four avenues. In keeping with international trends of the time, the cemetery was placed on the outskirts of the city, bounded by Butterfield Ave, Hay St, Buckley Rd and McGregors Rd.

The cemetery is the fifth-oldest surviving cemetery to be established in Christchurch and is an historical record of many early Christchurch residents. The nature of the cemetery means that it is thought that there is a wider cross-section of society buried there than at other Christchurch cemeteries and church graveyards of the nineteenth cemetery.

For further information see http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Parks/Cemeteries/operating_linwood.asp or library.christchurch.org.nz/Guides/Cemeteries/Linwood/

ENDS

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