GUISELEY Cemetery will be the setting for a Heritage Open Day this month.

The event, on Sunday, September 22, is being staged by the Friends of Guiseley Cemetery. It follows on from the success of the cemetery’s first Heritage Open Day last year.

A spokesman for the friends group said: “The 2019 Heritage Open Day theme of ‘People Power’ is perfectly reflected in the graves selected for the tour of Guiseley Cemetery, showing the commitment and dedication of local people in their leadership and support of both their community and country.”

The cemetery was opened in 1922 with the first interment being that of Mrs Craven Cooper, who along with her husband had farmed the land for more than 30 years.

Guided tours, free of charge and lasting approximately 45 minutes, will take place at 2 pm, 3pm and 4pm with a maximum number of ten people each time.

The spokesman said: “A selection of graves has been selected to be visited during the tours, or alternatively visitors may wish to self-tour with the help of a leaflet and a map of the location of the graves within Guiseley Cemetery. The tour will incorporate graves of those who made a significant difference within their community along with a number of war graves.

“In addition to their continuing maintenance and care of the cemetery the friends of Guiseley Cemetery were responsible for providing a headstone to remember patients from High Royds Hospital who had previously been buried in unmarked graves.”

The event will include complimentary light refreshments, and visitors will be able to look at leaflets, photographs and publications relevant to the open day. Twelve car parking places are available on site including two disabled spaces. Guiseley Cemetery is on Chevin End Road.

The Friends of Guiseley Cemetery was formed in 2006 and its efforts were recognised by Leeds City Council in 2010 when the group was awarded a runner up certificate in the annual Community and Civic Pride Awards.