The town of Kirkby is situated in the north of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley and was developed as an overspill town for Liverpool in the 1950s. There are no Kirkby cemeteries, with residents encouraged to use the local authority cemetery at Whiston for the burial of their loved ones or interment of ashes.
Opened in 1996 and officially named Knowsley cemetery, the one cemetery in the borough is often referred to as Whiston or Fox’s Bank. It is conveniently located in the centre of the borough in Fox’s Bank Lane, Whiston. This makes it equally accessible from Halewood, Huyton and Prescot, which also make up the borough. Plots are available for both burials and cremated remains.
Liverpool City Council run Kirkdale Cemetery is often used by Kirkby residents. This is despite the higher fees imposed for non Liverpool residents. There are two reasons for this why it remains popular however. One is its proximity to Kirkby, being quicker to get to, especially for those reliant on public transport. The other is historical, as many Kirkby residents have family buried in the cemetery which is a legacy of the slum clearance of the 1950 when people were moved from inner city Liverpool to the new town. Kirkdale Cemetery does have new plots available for cremated remains, but regular burials can only take place in existing graves.
The only place where burials can take place within Kirkby is in the graveyard at St Chad’s Church. Although it is a ‘new town’, there has actually been a settlement in Kirkby dating back to Norse to times and it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. This explains the presence of St Chad’s Church, built one hundred years before the town’s expansion. Prior to St Chads’ there was a chapel there that was built in 1766. St Chad’s contains a number of Norman architectural features, a reference to an even earlier church that was on the site.
Close to the lychgate entrance to St Chad’s, there are a number of graves that are a few hundred years old. At the back of the church is a modern well kept graveyard with newer graves. No new plots are available however and burials can only take place in existing graves where there is space available.
Sarsfield Memorials is licensed to work in both Knowsley and Liverpool. If you are a Kirkby resident and interested in purchasing a memorial for a grave, or renovating an existing one, please contact us. We will be happy to discuss your requirements and provide a free no obligation quote. Due to the current situation with COVID 19, we are unable to see you at your homes presently, but can meet you at a cemetery or churchyard.