Cemetery reopens after safety fears forced closure

A cemetery in Nottingham has reopened after safety tests were carried out on headstones.

Rock Cemetery, on the corner of Mansfield Road and Forest Road East, closed over the summer after concerns were raised over some graves.

Despite the site reopening, some areas are still closed "to ensure public safety", Nottingham City Council said.

The authority urged people to "refrain from approaching, touching, or leaning on headstones", with works set to continue over the coming weeks.

The cemetery closed in July 2025 over fears around the safety of the graves, after a gravestone fell on a four-year-old boy in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

It closed again in August over the safety of some of the memorials.

Nottingham City Council said it was conscious of the importance of providing safe access while continuing essential works.

"Maintaining both safety and respect for the memorials is our top priority," a spokesperson said.

The site is now open from 10:00 to 14:00 daily.

Local historian Yvonne Wright used to visit the site more than three times a week and was emotional when she was able to return.

"I was on my way back, and I thought, am I going to burst into tears?

"I walked in and I was like, 'I'm home', I've been back three times since it opened.

Ms Wright first visited the graveyard while supporting a woman with dementia nearby.

"I used to come across and walk around, sit down and have a flask and a piece of cake," she added.

"It's just a wonderful place, and every name tells a story."

Ms Wright runs a Facebook group where she connects people with the graves they are looking to find in the cemetery.

She said: "A lady came from Australia [to find her relative] and it was closed, so hopefully when she comes back next year it will still be open."

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