A GROUP of volunteers has taken over a historic Glasgow cemetery.

The new Friends of Maryhill Road Graveyard was created by enthusiastic residents who hope to bring the abandoned public space back to life.

Currently, there are 17 members looking after the area, but they hope to expand.

Vice-president and secretary of the group, Gillian Keel, said: “It’s a very slow process, we have been trying to get to where we are for a number of years now.

“We finally have the group set up and it is incorporated.

“We have a committee all in place and we have members, as a result of a public meeting, which we held in January."

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

The burial site sits near Maryhill train station, around what used to be the Maryhill Old Parish Church.

It was donated to the public in 1826 by Lilias Graham, the daughter of Mary Hill and owner of the Gairbraid Estate.

Glasgow City Council used to maintain the site but stopped looking after it years ago.

The volunteers have already upgraded the gates, but have several other items on the agenda.

Gillian said: “The plan is to level the ground and have some seating installed, so people can come in.

“It’s supposed to be a contemplative area, a place where people can come in and sit quietly.

“We are going to restore some of the headstones, which have fallen down.

“We are hoping to have a plaque, which will list the people who are interred there, and allow family members to come and find the grave of their relative who was buried there.

“That is really our plan at the moment, it will be an area on Maryhill Road where people can come in and sit quietly, off the hustle and bustle of the road.

“We also hope to reinstate what was the martyr’s column, which did sit within the graveyard but was removed for safeguarding and is in storage at the moment.

“We are hoping to get that back and put it back in place and have signage about the history of the graveyard, that kind of thing."

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

Glasgow Times:

According to the Friends, the site is a special part of local history and an important asset for the community.

The group hopes to turn it into a well-used space for social activities and reconnecting with history.

The board member added: “It’s fairly unique in Glasgow that a graveyard sits within the grounds of a church, there are only a couple of others.

“There are some interesting graves in it and, just from a historical point of view in Maryhill, it is of interest.

“All graveyards should be respected and kept up. This, sadly, has not been. It was locked up and forgotten about.

“There is really nothing like it in this area and it will be a nice little garden for people to come into. It is a quiet space and we hope to make it attractive.

“We have a couple of people saying it will encourage antisocial behaviour and encourage youths to sit and drink in there, but I think that is a risk we just have to take.

“You could say that about any public space or park, that is a risk that you just have to run.

“We will have keyholders and it will be opened in the mornings and closed at night.

“It’s just a bit of Maryhill history.”

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “We have been working with the local community to establish and support the Friends of Maryhill Road Graveyard group and will continue to do so in the future.”