Municipal cemeteries in Glamorgan

This document is reproduced here courtesy of the Glamorgan Record Office in Cardiff, Wales. The Glamorgan Record Office serves the authorities of Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan which were part of the former county of Glamorgan.

Introduction
A series of burial acts, commencing with an act of 1853 (16 and 17 Vict. c.134), authorised the provision of burial grounds by local authorities. These 'municipal cemeteries' were additional to the graveyards attached to the parish churches and nonconformist chapels, many of which, particularly in populous towns, had become full by the mid-nineteenth century.

Most of the municipal cemeteries in the former counties of Mid and South Glamorgan are now administered by the new Unitary Authorities, but a small number are administered by community or town councils.

Records for cemeteries, including burial registers, are held by the relevant local authority. The list which follows gives the names and dates of opening (where known) of all the cemeteries in each authority, together with the contact names and addresses; requests for searches of the burial registers should be sent to these addresses. Unless otherwise noted below, the Glamorgan Record Office does not hold records for these cemeteries.

Bridgend
Bridgend County Borough Council is responsible for the following cemeteries: For information on these cemeteries, and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Bridgend Cemetery (1894)
 * Cornelly Cemetery (1928)
 * Coychurch Crematorium (1970)
 * Glynogwr Cemetery (1888)
 * Laleston Cemetery (1980)
 * Maesteg Cemetery (1883)
 * Nantymoel, Blaenogwr Cemetery (1903)
 * Ogmore Vale, Pwll-y-pant Cemetery (1886)
 * Pencoed Cemetery (1953)
 * Pontycymer, Gelliron Cemetery (1888)
 * Porthcawl Cemetery (1936)
 * Sarn Cemetery (1936)
 * The Burials Officer,
 * Directorate or Environmental and Planning Services,
 * Bridgend County Borough Council,
 * Civic Offices,
 * Angel Street,
 * BRIDGEND,
 * CF31 4WB,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1656 643422
 * Email: [mailto:talktous@bridgend.gov.uk talktous@bridgend.gov.uk]

A charge of £25.70 is made for searches carried out by staff.

Caerphilly
Caerphilly County Borough Council is responsible for the following cemeteries: For information on these cemeteries, and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Abercarn Cemetery (1901)
 * Bargoed, Gwaelodybrithdir Cemetery (1917)
 * Bedwas Cemetery (1960)
 * Caerphilly, Penyrheol Cemetery (1909)
 * Gelligaer Cemetery (1935)
 * Llanfabon Cemetery (1969)
 * Risca, Old Cemetery (1888)
 * Risca, Danygraig Cemetery (1931)
 * Rhymney Cemetery (1894)
 * The Licensing Registration Officer,
 * Council Offices,
 * Pontllanfraith,
 * BLACKWOOD
 * NP12 2YW
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1495 235189
 * Email: [mailto:publicservices@caerphilly.gov.uk publicservices@caerphilly.gov.uk]

Cardiff
Cardiff County Council is responsible for the following cemeteries:

For information on these cemeteries and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Cathays Cemetery (1859)
 * Llandaff Cemetery (1922)
 * Llanishen Cemetery (1926)
 * Pantmawr Cemetery (1931)
 * Radyr Cemetery (former churchyard)
 * Thornhill Cemetery (1952)
 * Western Cemetery (1937)


 * The Bereavement Services Manager,
 * Cardiff Bereavement Services,
 * Thornhill Road,
 * Llanishen,
 * CARDIFF,
 * CF14 9UA,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)29 2062 3294
 * Email: [mailto:ThornhillReception@Cardiff.gov.uk ThornhillReception@Cardiff.gov.uk]

The Bereavement Service will carry out a manual search of their registers for a fee of £16.00. Records requiring a manual search are burials between 1859 and 1912 and cremations between 1972 and 1990. All other records are now on a computer database and there is no charge for a search of these.

Members of the public may search the registers in person, however, there is a charge of £16.00 per hour or part hour, strictly by appointment only. Once a burial entry has been found in the registers, the exact location of the grave can be supplied; for help in finding a grave in Cathays Cemetery (tel: 029 2062 3294) to find out when a member of the Bereavement Services staff will be available at the cemetery.

The Glamorgan Record Office holds a duplicate set of burial registers for Cathays Cemetery only, covering the years 1859-1951; these may be consulted in the Document searchroom.

Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is responsible for the following cemeteries: For information on these cemeteries, and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Aberfan Cemetery (1876)
 * Aberfan Cemetery, Bryntaff section (1915)
 * Cefn Coed Cemetery (1859)
 * Cefn Coed Cemetery, Ffrwd Section (1905)
 * Cefn Coed Cemetery, Pontycapel Section (1982)
 * Cefn Coed Cemetery, Capel Fach Section (1996)
 * Dowlais, Pant Cemetery (1860)
 * Graigfargoed Cemetery (Trelewis/Bedlinog) (1924)
 * Treharris, Beechgrove Cemetery (1888)
 * Bereavement Services Team,
 * Civic Centre,
 * MERTHYR TYDFIL,
 * CF47 8AN,


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1685 725146
 * Email: [mailto:bereavementservices@merthyr.gov.uk bereavementservices@merthyr.gov.uk]

A charge of £28 is made for searches carried out in the registers by staff. Members of the public may search the registers in person free of charge by prior arrangement.

Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council is responsible for fourteen cemeteries; contact addresses for different cemeteries are as follows:

(a) For information on these cemeteries and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Glyntaff Crematorium and Cemetery (1871)
 * Llanharan Cemetery (1921)
 * Llantrisant, Cefn y Parc Cemetery
 * Taffs Well, Ty Rhiw Cemetery (1909)


 * Superintendent and Registrar,
 * Crematorium and Cemeteries Section,
 * Cemetery Road,
 * Glyntaff,
 * PONTYPRIDD,
 * CF37 4BE,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1443 402810

(b) For information on these cemeteries and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Abercynon Cemetery (1901)
 * Aberdare Cemetery (1860)
 * Hirwaun, Brynygaer Cemetery (1914)
 * Mountain Ash, Aberffrwd Cemetery (1866)
 * Mountain Ash, Maesyrarian Cemetery (1908)
 * Ynysybwl Cemetery


 * Burial Clerk,
 * Cemeteries Section
 * Rock Grounds
 * Green Street
 * ABERDARE
 * CF44 7AE
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1685 885345

(c) For information on these cemeteries, and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Ferndale Cemetery (1880)
 * Penrhys Cemetery (1927)
 * Trealaw Cemetery (1882)
 * Treorchy Cemetery (1874)
 * Cemetery Offices,
 * Brithweunydd Road,
 * TREALAW,
 * CF40 2UQ,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1443 682829

(d) For information on this cemetery, and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Trane Cemetery, Tonyrefail


 * The Clerk to Tonyrefail Community Council,
 * Community Council Offices,
 * Cemetery Lodge,
 * Gilfach Road,
 * TONYREFAIL,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1443 673991

Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council does not have responsibility for any cemeteries.

(a) Barry Town Council is responsible for the following cemeteries: Barry Town Council will carry out searches free of charge as long as people are willing to wait for the results. Otherwise, there is a charge of £25.00 for an immediate response. For information on these cemeteries, and to request searches of the registers, contact:
 * Barry, Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery (1889)
 * Porthkerry Cemetery
 * The Cemeteries Officer,
 * Barry Town Council,
 * 7 Gladstone Road,
 * BARRY,
 * CF62 8NA,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1446 738663

(b) Penarth Town Council is responsible for the following cemetery: For information on this cemetery, and to request searches of the register, contact:
 * Penarth Cemetery (1905)
 * The Town Clerk,
 * Penarth Town Council,
 * West House,
 * Stanwell Road,
 * PENARTH,
 * CF64 2YG,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)29 2070 0721

(c) Cowbridge Town Council is responsible for the following cemetery: For information on this cemetery, and to request searches of the register, contact:
 * The Limes Cemetery, Cowbridge (1925)
 * The Town Clerk,
 * Cowbridge Town Council,
 * Town Hall,
 * COWBRIDGE,
 * CF71 7AD,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1446 773385
 * Email: [mailto:enquiries@cowbridge-tc.gov.uk enquiries@cowbridge-tc.gov.uk]

(d) Llantwit Major Town Council is responsible for the following cemetery:

For information on this cemetery, and to request searches of the register, contact:
 * Llantwit Major Cemetery (1929)
 * Llantwit Major Town Council Office,
 * Town Hall,
 * LLANTWIT MAJOR,
 * CF61 1SD,
 * Wales


 * Telephone: +44 (0)1446 793707
 * Email: [mailto:info@llantwitmajortowncouncil.gov.uk info@llantwitmajortowncouncil.gov.uk]

&copy; Glamorgan Records Office, Cardiff, Wales.