Glasnevin

Style

Design

The opening of Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris in 1815 provided much-needed inspiration for cemetery designers, who had hitherto designed fairly functional cemeteries. With Père Lachaise as an example, the garden cemeteries were initially informally landscaped, with sweeping roads wide enough for carriages, and smaller paths for strolling. Careful planting -- particularly of trees -- and architectural features that impressed or drew the eye were key features. The whole effect was that of a private, landscaped park, with a central chapel instead of a country house.

Garden Cemetery

Unlike churchyards, these cemeteries were independent of a parish church, were located outside the city in what were then suburbs. These cemeteries became known as  'garden cemeteries'.