Cathays Cemetery is set across 117 acres of land and is one of the largest cemeteries in England and Wales. Found near the centre of Cardiff, we went along for a guided tour of the cemetery to learn all about the rich history and the notable people buried there.
Roger Swan, a retired bereavement services worker, worked for Cardiff Council for 15 years. In his retirement he continues to take tours of the cemetery grounds as he is passionate about the history of the site. He usually has roughly 20 people attend the tours but had around 90 on the tour on Sunday, April 24.
As you walk through the magnificently maintained grounds of Cathays Cemetery, Roger provides you with a wealth of knowledge. He said that the cemetery opened in late 1859, where the first burial was Maria Dolores DePico in the July of that year. She was the 25-year-old daughter of the Spanish Ambassador to Cardiff. The cemetery hadn't officially opened at that time but she was allowed to be buried there before its official opening.
