Park ward voters in today’s local elections will be lucky enough to see inside the restored Scartho Cemetery Chapels.
Last year, specialist contractors finished work on the impressive Victorian chapel buildings in time for polling day.
North East Lincolnshire Council is working with its partner Equans to preserve the chapels with works being undertaken by Burnley based ‘UK restoration Services’.
The restoration was part of an ongoing project to bring a group of buildings at the cemetery’s Scartho Road entrance back into use.
Since starting work in August 2022, stonemasons have repointed the prominent chapel spire, repaired the stonework such as the angle turrets and flying buttresses, and replaced deteriorating brickwork.
Inside the chapel, the flooring had been damaged by historic failure of the drainage system.
Once the floor had been given time to dry out, contractors carefully took up the original tiles and carried out groundworks underneath.
The tiles were then put back in place and any damaged tiles replaced. This also provided an opportunity to re-instate original cast iron floor grilles.
The chapel and nearby Gatekeeper’s Lodge and cemetery waiting room were built in 1888 and the cemetery was opened in 1889.
The Scartho Chapel buildings are located directly to the east of the main and the inner Gateways and provide a focal point to anyone entering the site from Scartho Road.
Both buildings also form part of the Grade II listed grouping with the Cemetery Lodge and the inner gateway the Chapels were designed by EW Farebrother for Grimsby Corporation Cemetery Committee and were constructed by J Thompson Builders of Grimsby.
The Chapels are in a gothic revival style and are constructed of red brick in an English bond with limestone dressings with a Westmoreland green slate roof.
Elections
Elections are taking place on 2 May this year, with the cemetery building being one of nearly 100 polling stations around the borough where you can vote in person.
To find out more about the elections, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk and search for “Elections”.
There are elections for one Ward Councillor seat in 12 wards across North East Lincolnshire at this year’s elections.
People need to show photographic ID to vote in the person at this year’s local elections.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 2 May, with the ballots counted overnight and the results declared as they happen.