Repairs under way on twin chapels

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Restoration work on Cathays Cemetery's two run-down Victorian chapels has begun.

The first phase of restoration work on two endangered chapels will begin on the 150th anniversary of their opening.

Cardiff council says it has secured £200,000 for the historic grade II listed buildings at Cathays Cemetery.

The chapels were the subject of a local campaign after being placed on a list of threatened Victorian buildings.

John Farnhill, of Friends of Cathays Cemetery, said: "It's been a long campaign that's finally come to fruition."

Cathays Cemetery in Cardiff is one of the largest Victorian cemeteries in the UK. It opened in 1859 and covers more than 100 acres (40 hectares).

Civic leaders and members of influential families are buried there.

The finely decorated Gothic perpendicular-style twin chapels with central bell tower were built in the same year the cemetery opened, at a cost of £5,300.

One chapel was used for anglican services while the other was used by non-conformists.

The restoration work will see the both roofs made weather proof. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Kate Lloyd, was due to ceremonially "remove the first slate" from the roof.

The local authority said it was looking for further funding to fully restore the buildings.

Mr Farnhill said the action group had been set up in 2006 with the challenge of having the chapel restored.

He said: "We raised a petition with over 1,000 signatures on it which we gave to the council, and obviously somebody is listening because work is about to start.

"The initial roofing work will take 12 weeks and this will be the first phase of the restoration, preventing further deterioration to the building.

"It's an important first step and we will be looking to work with the council on further phases."

The group is planning an open day at the cemetery in July, to be held in conjunction with Cardiff council's bereavement services.