Malvern Civic Society

Friends of Malvern’s Cemeteries

About us

The Friends of Malvern’s Cemeteries was established in 2011 to help to record and safeguard this rich resource of Malvern’s historical heritage. The Malvern area has several graveyards and cemeteries still in use. With limited resources, our attention is focused on Great Malvern cemetery, off Madresfield Road, WR14 3RH. This cemetery was opened in 1861 and includes three Grade 2 listed chapels.

If you would like more information about our work or have information about this cemetery, please contact us. We welcome your interest and involvement.

What have we achieved?

  • The Friends have organised the renovation of some noteworthy graves including the Foster graves.
  • The erection of an information board.
  • A photographic record.
  • Research work to record inscriptions on gravestones to be part of the digital record held by Malvern Town Council.
  • Guided walking tours of the cemetery.
  • Membership of ‘Caring for God’s Acre’. The aim is to encourage wildlife which adds to the peaceful atmosphere of this place.
  • It is hoped that A Working Party can resume in the spring to meet every third Monday of the month from 1000 to 1200 to work at the Cemetery.

Graves of remarkable people in Great Malvern cemetery.

  • Jenny Lind, afamous soprano of the 19th Century. She was known as the ‘Swedish Nightingale’ because of the purity and naturalness of her singing voice.
  • Reginald Erskine Foster, nicknamed ‘Tip’ (died 1914). He was a gifted sportsman who played Cricket and Football for England. He was the only man to have captained England in both sports.He was one of seven brothers who played Cricket for Worcestershire, known at the time as ‘Fostershire’.
  • Charles William Dyson Perrins (died 1958). The family business was Lea & Perrins, famous for ‘Perrins sauce’. He was a generous benefactor of Malvern including the endowment of the Dyson Perrins Church of England Academy.
  • Henry Ward VC. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for exceptional bravery during the Indian Mutiny in 1857. He stayed with a severely injured officer, Capt. Henry Havelock and then moved him to safety under heavy fire. It was Havelock who paid for the gravestone.
  • Dr James Wilson (died 1867). Together with Dr Gully, he established a water cure practicwe in Malvern in 1842. The success of the water cure treatment meant that Malvern became a fashionable Victorian spa town.

Graves in other churchyards.

  • Edward Elgar, composer. Buried at St Wulstan’s Church, Little Malvern. WR14 4JL.
  • Charles Darwin’s daughter. Buried at Great Malvern priory, Great Malvern. WR14 2AY

Other useful links.