Near my old workplace there’s a lovely public garden that is always busy with office workers, local residents and shop owners enjoying the pretty view, it being a place to escape the office and have a break, especially in the summer.

What is unusual about this garden is that it used to be an old cemetery. (It was a place of burial from 1747, but was open to the public as a garden from 1885). Among the benches, trees and flowers are box tombs. I don’t think they still contain any bodies but they are interesting to look at and certainly add character to the park.

Something less obvious, and what I didn’t notice until my umpteenth time passing through is, if you look closely, all along the back walls of the garden are headstones. They look quite old and most have the writing worn and weathered away.

This garden has been a sight for sore eyes especially from my desk, being able to see racing dogs, lunchers or local journalists filming but I think it’s the strange history that has kept me interested.