Southern Cemetery

Before I write this review I must confirm that I’m a relatively normal person and am by no means a death-​obsessed goth.
I am also not the only person who I have found who enjoys a good walk through the absolutely enormous grounds of Southern Cemetery, which incidentally was the inspiration for the Smiths’ song ‘Cemetery Gates’. I think it’s fascinating to see the graves of the different religions, which really reflects South Manchester’s diverse population. First of all (if you’re approaching from the Chorlton end) you’ll see the Jewish part of the cemetery, then the Muslim section followed by sections for the various denominations of Christianity. Some of the graves are really ornate and some are sadly just a piece of strong cardboard.
A number of famous people are buried in Southern Cemetery including Sir John Alcock, John Rylands (the grandest memorial in the cemetery), Sir Matt Busby and L S. Lowry.
The cemetery was in the news recently for all the wrong reasons, as the Muslim graves were targeted by thugs. This seems to have stopped now that the council has installed a flood light over this area. Even though this really shouldn’t have been necessary, it is nice to see the council taking steps to ensure that this is a safe area.
If you’re visiting a grave, there are plenty of florists on the Barlow Moor Road opposite the cemetery.