The South View Conservation Group is made up of local volunteers from throughout the South View area of Basingstoke. Our goal is to maintain the Holy Ghost Cemetery, which is a hidden treasure of 1.2 hectares of tranquil green space at the heart of modern Basingstoke.
Mature trees make this a lovely setting with seasonal changes marked by snowdrops, primroses and cyclamen.
This was the town’s graveyard from 1208 until it was full in about 1912 although cremation interments may still take place here.
The Holy Ghost Cemetery contains the Grade II* listed ruins of two chapels – the west 
wall of the 13th century chapel of the Holy Ghost and the tower and arched windows of the early 16th century chapel of the Holy Trinity, added to the earlier chapel by Lord Sandys of the Vyne at Sherborne as a burial place for his family.
Although the older headstones have been removed and laid as paths, burials from the 1850s onwards record the history of the town since then, with many interesting townspeople buried here.
The cemetery lodge, also listed, dates from 1850 and was the birthplace of John Arlott.
The South View Conservation Group has regular work parties to clear away overgrowth from the monuments in the Cemetery and carry out conservation work. These take place on a Saturday morning from 10am to noon with a refreshment break.
In addition we are developing a Website and a comprehensive program of trails through the cemetery supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Work Parties
A list of conservation work parties for 2011 to 2012 can be found in the Work Party Schedule.
If you require any further information please contact: Dr Ray-Anne Lutener, Chairman, by emailing: rayanne.lutener@googlemail.com
