Neilston Cemetery

Neilston Cemetery is a well-maintained late 19th century site retaining many of its original features, with the main phases of its development clearly visible.

The gate lodge, toilets and shelter are of roughcast brick construction with slate roofs. All three buildings are unused, but secured, and appear to be in fairly good state of repair. The ruined glasshouse and cold frames were removed during the course of this survey in 2009 and the drinking fountain recorded on the 1913 and 1947 maps has completely disappeared.

Much of the earlier cemetery is bounded by a substantial sandstone wall with coping stone, in places reaching 2 metres in height. This has been breached along the south-west boundary to allow access to the 21st century extension. The sandstone gate piers from the original cemetery on Neilston Road, and the first early-20th-century extension off Lochlibo Road have survived along with what appear to be the original gates. The caps on the impressive 1875 gates are coffin shaped. The carriage drives are lined with distinctive ceramic guttering which may have a connection with the Shanks ceramic works which was located nearby.

Most of the tree planting in the cemetery is confined to the earlier phases, with planting in the mid-20th century onwards confined to the perimeter. The most heavily planted area is the slope down to the Lochlibo Road entrance, probably planted in the early-20th century. The Horse Chestnuts are now severely pollarded and the Yews trimmed to frame the headstones. The grassed areas are mown regularly to allow easy access to the graves.

Information from the Garden History Society in Scotland, 2012