A new future for St Ives’ historic Barnoon Cemetery

Walk up through Barnoon and the sea is never far from view, gravestones lined up as if still keeping watch over the bay below. That view is about to get a little more care behind it. From 1 July, Barnoon Cemetery passed from Cornwall Council into the hands of St Ives Town Council, and with it comes a plan to protect one of the town’s oldest and most quietly loved sites.

170 years of history above the harbour

Barnoon is 170 years old, making it the oldest burial ground in St Ives. Generations of local families are buried there, alongside notable figures including the Cornish artist Alfred Wallis. It’s the kind of place people pass through often without quite realising how much history sits under the grass.

The council’s stated aim now the site is theirs is straightforward: improve the quality of the site and protect its future management. The first full grass cut has already taken place, which has brought many historic memorials back into view after being lost in overgrowth. New bins, benches and signage are also being invested in.

A consultation on a new management plan is coming, covering how often the grass should be cut, how valued graves and memorials can be protected, and how wilder edges might be encouraged while keeping Barnoon as an important open space for the town.

Piecing together records that were thought lost

There’s also a genuine mystery buried in the paperwork. Many of Barnoon’s burial records appear to have been lost over the years, and the council wants to start a project linking the records that do still exist to a formal map of the cemetery, something that has never been done before. No burial deeds (deeds of grant) are currently held officially either, so tracking those down is part of the task ahead.

How to get involved

The council is looking for people who’d like to join a Friends of Barnoon group, help care for the site or adopt a historic grave, share photographs, stories or historical records, or help locate those missing burial deeds. Anyone interested can complete a short form to get involved.

If you think a family member is buried at Barnoon, the council says it can link with the Bereavement Service to help locate the grave.

Councillor Martin Van Staeyen, Deputy Mayor, is the council’s community champion for Barnoon and will help oversee its new future. Anyone with information, records or questions can get in touch at [email protected].