Top Chester landmarks
Top Chester landmark tickets
Top Chester activities
Top Chester landmarks
Beyond Chester
Chester trip ideas
  • Top Chester landmark tickets
Lowest Price Guarantee

Guided Overleigh Cemetery Tour in Chester

13 Reviews 4.69 out of 5 stars Based on 13 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor | Chester, England
Lowest Price Guarantee

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
This is usually booked 35 days in advance.

1 hour 30 minutes (Approx.)
Mobile Ticket
Instant Confirmation

Overview

Opened in 1850, Overleigh Cemetery hosts many fascinating graves and monuments that reflect Chester's rich and diverse history. Every gravestone conceals a life story waiting to be told, and every grave has a hidden history. Led by a qualified and insured Green Badge guide, tours will include visits to around 25 of the most notable graves.

Designed by a famous local architect, T.M. Penson, the cemetery was laid out "with admirable taste" and included two lodges, two chapels, and an ornamental lake with three islands. Humble graves were unmarked or had a simple wooden cross, while the better-off had grander memorials.

You'll discover the extraordinary stories of some of those laid to rest here, including Mary Jonas, who had 33 children, including 15 sets of identical twins; Edward Langry, the husband of Edward VII's mistress, who went crazy and died in the local lunatic asylum; and William Bidulph Cross, who made his own illuminated coffin from wooden matchboxes.

What's Included

  • Qualified and insured Green Badge guide (2022)

    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    Cemetery, Chester CH4 7HW, UK

    Open in Google Maps

    Meet at the Cemetery Gate in Overleigh Rd, opposite Blackwells Stonecraft

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    Start Time • 4:00 PM

    What To Expect

    Cemetery

    The guide will give a brief description of the background and history of the cemetery, which replaced the cemeteries in the 8 parish churches within Chester city walls which were full by the mid 19th century.Stops may include the graves of famous Victorian personalities such as local architects, John Douglas and T M Lockwood, the archaeologist Professor Newstead, who excavated many sites in Chester, Dr Arthur Randall Jackson, who discovered 47 new species of spider, and the Browns William and Charles, who founded Browns Department store and saved Bishop Lloyd's palace from destruction. Others were victims of tragic accidents, such as two Hoole children who drowned after falling through the ice on a frozen pond, Marjorie Tucker an RAF driver in the 1st World War who was killed by a passing train a few weeks before the war ended, and Marie Verbinnen, a Belgian refugee who died of a heart attack just three weeks after the war's end. Thomas Hughes drowned when the Lusitania sank.
    Read more

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • Operated by a business

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

    We’re here to help.
    Live Chat, Text, Call, or Email our friendly customer support with your questions.

    Activity code: C-452403P1

    Reviews

    4.69
    13 reviews

    Average 4.69 out of 5 stars based on 13 traveler reviews collected by Cool Destinations and partner sites such as Trustpilot, Viator, and TripAdvisor

    5 stars
    10
    4 stars
    2
    3 stars
    1
    2 stars
    0
    1 star
    0

    Loading Options
    Don't miss out!
    This is usually booked 35 days in advance.

    Similar Tours & Activities

    Chester City Walking Tour with an APP

    Chester City Walking Tour with an APP

    New To The Site!
     3 to 4 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$9.99

    Private Food and Drink Tour in Chester
    Likely to Sell Out

    Private Food and Drink Tour in Chester

     4 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$118.43

    Admission Ticket to Sick To Death in Chester

    Admission Ticket to Sick To Death in Chester

     1 hour  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$10.56

    Food and Drink Night Out in Chester

    Food and Drink Night Out in Chester

    New To The Site!
     2 hours 45 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$125.40

    Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

    Private Food and Drink Tour in Chester
    Likely to Sell Out

    Private Food and Drink Tour in Chester

     4 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$118.43

    Fascinating Walking Tours Of Roman Chester With An Authentic Roman Soldier

    Fascinating Walking Tours Of Roman Chester With An Authentic Roman Soldier

     1 hour 30 minutes  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$15.84

    City Sightseeing Chester Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

    City Sightseeing Chester Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

     1 hour  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$17.11

    CHESTER: North Wales Adventure - Sightseeing Day Trip Tour

    CHESTER: North Wales Adventure - Sightseeing Day Trip Tour

     8 hours  Free Cancellation  Instant Confirmation
    from
    US$77.64

    Language & Country

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    Cool

    Help Center

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

    American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket