Last year a hit and run incident damaged the lovely flint boundary wall to the Havant Dissenters’ Cemetery in New Lane and extensive research by the United Reformed Church locally and elsewhere indicates that the wall, being outside of any particular church building, is not insured and ownership has been lost in the ‘mist of time’.
It is going to cost just under £6,000 to repair and, like all churches, the cost of general maintenance is huge, never mind walls not attached to any particular building.
This historic cemetery area in New Lane has three sections. The newest is still being used on a limited scale and the two other areas are The Dissenters’ Cemetery and St Faith’s Old Cemetery on land given by Sir George Staunton in the early 1800s, with a clear distinction between sections.
Friends of Havant Cemeteries work once a month to maintain and enhance this area of the town to help it become a wildlife haven for nature and people alike. A recent Heritage Lottery Fund grant has paid for new gates, seating and an information board in the Dissenters’ section, with an additional information board on the corner of New Road and Eastern Road.
The United Reformed Church in North Street, Havant is now seeking donations to meet the cost of repairs to the damaged gate pillar and wall to enhance the new gates and seating.
Please send donations to: The Treasurer, Havant URC, Elm Lane, Havant PO9 1PP