Old Burying Ground

Old
and
eerie
The Old Burying Ground is indeed old. Founded in 1749 and finally closed for new customers in 1844, it was the first and only place to be buried in Halifax back in the 18^th century.
It started out as a simple graveyard but in the mid 19^th century it was fenced in and made to look like a official cemetery. It now contains about 1,300 gravestones but it is estimated that over 12,000 people were buried here over the centuries. Many never had gravestones and other memorials and stones simply wore away.
The graveyard has a massive and very cool gate with a lion on top and many unique and interesting gravestones. Huge slabs of slate mark some of the graves, while others have morbid death heads or lugubrious angels decorating the stone.
The wonderful old burial ground was restored and prettied up in the 1990’s and now the eerie, creepy and absolutely fascinating and mesmerizing graveyard is a reminder of things and people that once were, but are no more.

Great place to get a bit of Halifax history.

This burying ground is beautiful, but creepy. I had my camera with me, but I can’t bring it upon myself to take pictures of a grave yard.
Buried bodies from centuries ago fill this cemetery, gravestones that have been restored or taken care of, fill this odd and kind of morbid museum. There’s no charge to go inside, and it’s really a quick walkthrough unless you’re actually paying attention the the headstones, but it may be a quick visit, if you don’t mind the dead.

Wow. Haligonians sure love them some graveyards, huh? Well, with ones that we have all over town, it’s no wonder why especially when you stumble upon the Old Burying Grounds, a snapshot into hundreds of years of history from this harbour town’s humble beginnings.
There’s a whole lotta history packed beneath these stones — as in, thousands of bodies buried despite the far fewer tombstones you’ll see above ground. As with all of our final resting places, there are some famous folks packed in those tight quarters, and many more writers and artists who were influenced by the sight over the years.
Of course, being of the internet, ‘you have three seconds of my attention’ generation, I have no idea who any of those people are. But I promise… important stuff happened here. Or around here. Or something.
All in all, it’s a cool place to visit, a quick stop on your way anywhere in the downtown core, and a neat photo to snap of the giant lion statue.

If you like really old burial grounds that have some treasure troves of history, tombstones, etc this is it. I can only imagine being in here after dark. It’s creepy enough during the day.

This is a common thread for Halifax’s downtown historical landmarks. Protected by prestige metal gates, and announced with its huge stone sculpturing, Old Burying ground alludes to both eerie moods and solid city presence.
Its impossible to miss, and seems like a popular spot for downtowners to venture. It isn’t out of the ordinary to see folks settled up along the sculpture steps to enjoy a summer sit-​down. The gates are open all day and are allow for an easy walk-​through for those who are interested. And while the towering sculpture and high gates can seem a little intimidating, its actually a fine place to take a walk or read a book.
Another element of Halifax’s historical sightings, Old Burying Ground is a Barrington Street graveyard that is offers a sturdy welcome.

The Old Burying Ground stands as a testimony to Halifax’s early days. Founded in 1749, the same year as the settlement, and was Halifax’s first and only burying ground. For several decades it was a non-​denominational cemetery but in 1793 it was turned over to St. Paul’s Anglican Church and was maintained from that time forward as an Anglican cemetery.
The Burying Ground was closed to new burials in 1843, and for over a century it was left pretty much alone, with the exception being a monument for the Crimean Wary which was installed in 1860. (The Camp Hill cemetery took over for the Old Burying Ground when it was taken out of service.)
Today, the Old Burying Ground provides a quiet place for reflection in the heart of downtown Halifax. Over 12,000 souls are buried here, even though only about 1,200 headstones remain. Some have decayed over the centuries and many were buried without headstone.
If you have any interest in the history of Halifax, the Old Burying Ground has to be on your tour.

I have to give this a five star because of the history and stories that come with it. It really is a wonderful place to take a stroll through.
It is located along Barrington St. and is one of the best ways to learn a little about Halifax. It was a fairly warm day when I went through, which allowed me to spend extra time there. It is amazing what some people might think is creepy, others find interesting.

Of course, I like a quiet moment; the chance to walk in silence reflecting on life and death, while enjoying the temperate Nova Scotia climate. But in all honesty, my last visit to the Old Burying Ground was accompanied with a hankering to stake vampires while verbally sparring with my opponent. I crave a Joss Whedon reality: I want Buffy the Vampire Slayer to grace this earth, not just the silver screen.
Okay, I digress — but really, who doesn’t want to save the day against the dwellers of the underworld?
Anyway, this is a lovely cemetery smack dab in the middle of downtown Halifax. The grounds are well kept and the tombstones are decrepit and authentic, just the way I like ‘em. History, aesthetic and nostalgia fuse, providing a lovely atmosphere to walk, reflect and daydream about being a super-​duper villain hunter.

I have a soft spot for old cemeteries. And the older the better. And given the «youth» of the North America, this is a pretty old one. Old cemeteries are a great way to learn about history.
Two famous people buried here are Captain Lawerence of the USS Chesapeake who is more famous in the US for his «Don’t give up the ship» cry, uttered just before he gave up his ship. And for a British general who was responsible for burning down Washington DC during the War of 1812. Which was done after the Americans burned down the Canadian capital of York (now Toronto).
The tombstones look very similar to others that I’ve seen in Boston, MA and Newport, RI. Apparently the locals imported New England slate for their tombstones until US independence from the British empire.

Another reason I love Hali: the plentiful, beautiful urban cemeteries. This one is a great specimen. It’s located along busy Barrington Street, which means that each day many people get to (at least superficially) enjoy the history lesson it provides as they walk by. The gates are not always open but if they are you should definitely take the opportunity to walk around the grounds and admire the aged headstones and monuments with their lichen coatings.

Is it weird that I really enjoy cemeteries? I guess it’s the history buff in me, but walking around and seeing the names on these tombstones is really interesting for me. I can spend hours just wondering through, reading and making up stories about these old souls.
The Old Burying Ground is not as big as some of the other grave yards in the city and certainly not full of celebrities, but it’s quiet and charming and features the really great Welsford-​Parker monument. A friend of mine once tried to climb the monument (tut tut, for shame!) to get a picture with the lion, but he got tired and did not make it.
I would not recommend you follow in his foot steps because while he is my friend, he’s also a little bit dumb. I would, however, recommend you take a walk around the Old Burying Ground and let your inner history buff out for an afternoon.