New Heritage Display Opens at Hailsham Cemetery Visitor Waiting Room

Visitors to Hailsham Cemetery can now discover more about the town’s rich history thanks to a new historical exhibition created by the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society and housed in the recently refurbished visitor waiting room at the cemetery in Ersham Road.

The display shows a glimpse of some of the traditional activities that took place in and around Hailsham and some photographs of the historic area of Ersham where the cemetery is located. The cemetery itself was opened over 150 years ago in 1872 and the town’s ancestors who are resting at the cemetery helped to form an important part of the town’s heritage. Changes will be made to the display from time to time, the history of the cemetery itself expanded.

The exhibition is located in the cemetery’s new visitor waiting room, a small building which had previously stood unused before being refurbished and repurposed by Hailsham Town Council. The improvements form part of the Council’s ongoing programme of investment to enhance facilities and improve the experience for cemetery visitors.

The waiting room provides a welcoming and comfortable space for people attending funerals, visiting loved ones or seeking shelter during periods of poor weather. The addition of the historical display further enhances the facility by offering visitors the opportunity to learn more about an important part of Hailsham’s history.

“The Society was really pleased to be able to curate a small display in the refurbished waiting room at the cemetery for people visiting,” said Richard Goldsmith, Chair of the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society. “Our town and local area have a very interesting and varied local history, and we are fortunate that so many of our predecessors helped to record this information by keeping photographs and documents and sharing their memories.”

Tony Lee, Operations and Facilities Manager at Hailsham Town Council, welcomed the collaboration: “We’re delighted to have worked with the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society to bring this exhibition to the cemetery. The refurbished waiting room has already provided a valuable facility for visitors, and the addition of these fascinating displays gives people another reason to spend time reflecting on the history of both the cemetery and the wider town.”

“The Society’s volunteers have done a wonderful job in creating an informative and engaging exhibition, and we’re grateful for the time, knowledge and enthusiasm they have contributed to this project.”

Councillor Dave Chapman, Chair of the Town Council’s Assets Management Committee, said the display demonstrates how the Council is continuing to improve its public facilities while celebrating Hailsham’s heritage: “The refurbishment of the waiting room was an important improvement to the cemetery, and it’s wonderful to see the space now being used for an additional community purpose. This exhibition provides visitors with a greater appreciation of the cemetery’s history and its place within the story of Hailsham.”

He added: “Our cemetery is not only a place of remembrance but also an important part of the town’s heritage. Working in partnership with the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society has enabled us to preserve and share that history in an accessible and meaningful way, and I encourage visitors to take the opportunity to explore the display when they are at the cemetery.”

The Hailsham Heritage Centre & Museum, operated by the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society, is located in Blackman’s Yard, just behind the Town Council offices in Market Street. Open from May to October, the museum welcomes visitors every Friday and Saturday from 10am to 12.30pm, with free admission.

Although compact in size, the museum features a wealth of exhibits, including a reconstructed period kitchen, displays on agriculture and farming, collections of local artefacts, historic photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries, and an interesting selection of wartime memorabilia.

For further information about the Hailsham Heritage Centre & Museum, contact Richard Goldsmith on 01323 843102/07850 893997 or visit hailshamhistoricalsociety.co.uk.