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William Gay (landscape gardener and surveyor)

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William Gay
Born1814
Died1893
Occupation(s)Landscape gardener and surveyor

William Gay (1814–1893)[1] was a British landscape gardener and surveyor, and designed parks and cemeteries.

Career

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William Gay moved to Leicester where in 1849 he was clerk of work at Welford Road Cemetery then in 1852 registrar.[1][2] While at Leicester, William was approached by the Bradford Cemetery Company to become Bradford Cemetery's first registrar.[1] William moved from Leicester to Bradford[3] to design and layout Undercliffe Cemetery over the years 1852 to 1854 and later became the cemetery's secretary.[3][4][5][6]

The surveyor of Chorley cemetery James Derham, consulted William Gay who went on to prepare the design of the cemetery grounds using his favourite devices of a promenade, viewing platform, and raised and sunken terraces.[4] In 1855 William Gay won a competition to design the grounds of Toxteth Park Cemetery, Toxteth, Liverpool.[7] The cemetery was opened in 1856.

Philips Park Cemetery, Manchester was designed by William Gay, with architects Paull and Ayliffe. The cemetery opened in 1866 and was completed in 1867.[8][9] In 1867 William laid out Belfast City cemetery in the form of a bell, possibly reflecting the Bel in Belfast and the cemetery opened on 1 August 1869.[10]

William also designed and laid out Roberts Park, Saltaire for (Sir) Titus Salt and this opened in 1871.[11][12] William landscaped Lawnswood Cemetery in Adel, Leeds and assisted architect George Corson with building design.[13][14][15] The cemetery opened in 1874.

Horton Park, Bradford was designed by William Gay. Development started in 1873 and the park opened in 1878.[16] William was architect for Pudsey Cemetery in Pudsey with John Senior responsible for laying out the grounds.[17]

Personal life

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William Gay moved from Leicester to Bradford[3] to design and lay out Undercliffe Cemetery[4] and he lived at 43 Charnwood Road, Undercliffe.[1] William died in 1893 and is buried in Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford on 11 March 1893.[1] His monument describes his occupation as 'former landscape gardener and surveyor'.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Undercliffe Cemetery – Heritage Trail". Flickr. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  2. ^ "Welford Road Cemetery" (Leicester County Council). Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Gibson, Kathryn. "Grave Undertakings..." Institute of Historic Building Conversation. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Harrison, John (10 September 2011). "Chorley Heritage Day – Chorley Cemetery tour". Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  5. ^ Silveeira, Susanne (3 December 2012). "Historical Parks in Bradford – Final Critical Report". Wordpress. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Undercliffe Cemetery". Parks and Gardens. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Toxteth Park Cemetery". Parks and Gardens UK. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Philips Park Cemetery". Parks and Gardens UK. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Philips Park Cemetery". Medlock Valley. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Belfast City Cemetery". Belfast City Council. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Roberts Park, Baildon". Parks and Gardens UK. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  12. ^ Historic England (2007). "Roberts Park (1147636)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Lawnswood Cemetery, Adel". Parks and Gardens UK. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  14. ^ "The Register of Parks and Gardens: Cemeteries" (PDF). English Heritage. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  15. ^ "West Yorkshire Group Programme 2012–13" (PDF). The Victorian Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Horton Park". Parks and Gardens UK. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  17. ^ "Pudsey Cemetery". Parks and Gardens UK. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2015.

Further reading

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