Man's mission to find hundreds of missing graves

30 November 2025

Henry Godfrey-Evansin Chelmsford

News image — Each iron tag is believed to represent a person buried somewhere on the plot

Henry Godfrey-Evans/BBC A man knelt down next to a cluster of rusted iron tags, each one has a faint number engraved on it. There is a grave, or tomb, behind him. — Each iron tag is believed to represent a person buried somewhere on the plot

A plumber has appealed for help in his mission to locate hundreds of missing grave plots at a rundown cemetery.

Mark Rogers said his interest was piqued upon learning that his wife's great-great grandfather was buried somewhere at the New London Road cemetery in Chelmsford.

Burials no longer take place at the site and Chelmsford City Council has welcomed any help in trying to map the unmarked graves.

Mr Rogers said it was sad that people's ancestors could not be located.

The 51-year-old believes there are hundreds of unmarked graves and as many as 2,000 numbered metal tags - which should correspond with graves - scattered around the overgrown two-acre cemetery.

"Many people have family members buried here that have a number and a metal tag and have no idea where they are," said Mr Rogers, who lives in Tillingham near Maldon.

"Essentially, finding the old plot map would be ideal, but that's probably long gone."

Henry Godfrey-Evans/BBC A mass of tall brambles with a very old gravestone in the middle of it all, houses are visible behind. — Some of the ancient graves are guarded by brambles more than a metre high

The cemetery was designated as non-conformist, which usually refers to protestants who do not belong to the Church of England.

It opened in 1846 and the Essex Gardens Trust said it was taken over by Chelmsford council in 1950.

According to Historic England records, it is home to the Grade II listed gravestone where Joseph Freeman is buried.

Local Chelmsford historian Alan Pamphilon has been helping Mr Rogers.

He said our ancestors were "excellent record keepers" but that paperwork was put together using ink which deteriorated over time.

Mr Pamphilon hoped documents regarding New London Road could be found "hiding in attics".

Chelmsford City Council is responsible for maintaining the site, with help from volunteers.

It said it never received burial registers for New London Road, but would welcome and "assist" the effort to map the unmarked graves "where possible".

The spokesperson said the closed churchyard was "rich in biodiversity and local ecology".

A spokesperson for Essex County Council added: "We can confirm there is no map on record."

However, it said the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford kept details of individuals buried in unmarked graves between 1869 and 1991.

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