Cowgate Cemetery, Dover

Cowgate Cemetery, nestled beneath the historic Western Heights of Dover, spans just over two acres and holds a rich heritage dating back to 1837. Its entrance, marked by tall double gates, sits at the top of Cowgate Hill, providing access to a burial ground that succeeded the old churchyard of Saint Mary’s Parish Church. The cemetery was established on land donated in 1834 by William Mowll, a local civic figure, and became a significant resting place for the community.

The site is enclosed by a ragstone wall on three sides, with chalk hillside vaults along the upper boundary, some featuring small "front gardens" for prominent Dover families. Its steep terrain includes a six-foot drop to a lane behind the Sarah Gorely Almshouses (1877). A smaller gate once provided access from Snargate Street for hearses and handcarts.

Originally known as the New Burial Ground, the cemetery was equipped with a mortuary chapel and a lodge for the sexton. The last resident of the lodge, William Petchey, represented the third generation of his family to hold the position, with the family’s contributions spanning decades. Interestingly, the final burial at Cowgate Cemetery in 2006 was William Ebenezer Petchey, aged 105, a member of this longstanding sexton family.

The cemetery officially ceased general use in the 1870s following the opening of the Copt Hill cemeteries. However, pre-purchased plots and family vaults continued to see occasional use.

Today, Cowgate Cemetery stands as a historic landmark, a silent witness to Dover's past, with its steep hillsides and architectural details reflecting the town’s rich heritage.