Beer Cemetery, Beer, Devon

I'd first noticed the cemetery whilst travelling past on a bus, which was unusual because it doesn't normally go along that road but was diverted for some reason - probably road works - then having remembered it again in recent years I went for an explore in September 2017.

There doesn't seem to be much information about the cemetery itself but it does have a cemetery chapel. It's a Listed Building too, being a nice unexpected find when I visited.

I didn't take a photo of the notice on the gate - in fact, I only really read the first bit of it at the time - but I recently saw a photo of it taken by someone else and can now copy what turned out to be nicely amusing wording...

'THIS IS A CLOSED CHURCHYARD

Please continue up the road and on the bend you will find the current one.

This churchyard does not take any new residents, but temporary visitors wishing to look around are more than welcome!'

I had a good wander around both cemeteries and took quite a lot of photos. I'll try not to add too many samey pictures but it'll be a struggle as it really is such a photogenic place.

The non-conformist cemetery chapel was built in 1866 as a gift from the Rolle family (well-known landed gentry in Devon) and used for funerals until Beer had its current church, St Michael's, built eleven years later in 1877.

 

A Grade II listed building,  it's constructed with ashlar in the Early English/Decorated style. A single cell chapel, the door is situated at the west, above which is a delightful rose window. It wasn't open when I visited so no interior photos, unfortunately.

 

Like most chapels, there was a bellcote containing a single bell at the western end. However, it is no longer there with just the truncated mount remaining in situ, seen above.

The outer drip mould surrounding the top of the door architrave ends in head stops. Beautifully made, they were carved by Harry Hems, a famous stone and wood carver of the late 19th and early 20th century who had a workshop in Exeter. He specialised in ecclesiastical work and owned a large collection of wood carvings saved from refurbished churches, which is now in Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum and is the largest collection anywhere. 

Head stops also adorn the drips moulds on the three lancet windows along each north and south side, each one a different character showing the art and expertise of the maker.

And also on the west window, which wasn't very easy to get to, seen below.

And a few more photos of this first cemetery before we go to the second one. Well maintained, it's nevertheless a lovely place for wildlife as well as a peaceful walk for us humans.

 

Now up the road to the second cemetery next door.

Oddly enough, this newer cemetery was less maintained than the old one at the time of my visit.

It was still interesting and made a nice short walk along the path, although I didn't take very many photos or meander further amongst the graves. There's a reason for the latter, which will become evident when I've written an article about the parish church graveyard in Seaton when I had a horror filled moment - something to look forward to, lol! - as well as me being somewhat necrophobic. 

There are Commonwealth War Graves from the First and Second World War in both this and the first cemetery, but again I didn't take a proper look at any of the gravestones.

Those are all the photos I took of this cemetery but I did take a few more of the first one from over the wall.

And a final look at the entrance.

I mentioned on my previous post that I'm working on a long article. This wasn't it, lol, although it turned out to be another long one that I'd also been working on. I was leaving this until I could visit again in order to copy the information on the notice. Then I came across someone else's photo and info about it...so I didn't need to! Anyway, I'm not sure what's coming next but if it's the other long one it'll be Jacob's Ladder Beach in Sidmouth, which is an incredible area of historical remains and geology. And now that I've mentioned it I think I ought to make it that one. As Captain Picard often said, "Make it so". And I'm rambling as usual. 

The first of September today and the start of Autumn. Have a great season, everyone. :)