Description of Historic Place

Harpurhey Cemetery is on the east side of Harpurhey Road, in Harpurhey Hamlet, in the Municipality of Huron East. The cemetery was established in 1848.

The property was designated, by the former Town of Seaforth (now Municipality of Huron East) in 1986, for its heritage value, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, By-law 35-1986.

Heritage Value

Harpurhey Cemetery is a good representation of nineteenth century cemetery design. It is characterised by a naturalistic setting to attract and comfort the living. The use of markers and monuments perpetuates the memory of individuals of historic importance. The park-like layout encourages public use. True to the original plan, gravesites are placed with separate individual markers.

The United Presbyterian congregations of McKillop and Tuckersmith established the Harpurhey Cemetery in 1848. The cemetery is associated with the area's earliest pioneers. The earliest grave dates to 1839. In 1978 a stone cairn was dedicated to commemorate the pioneers who worshipped in the area.

Source: Town of Seaforth, By-law 35-1986.

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements that contribute to the heritage value of Harpurhey Cemetery include its:
- stone cairn
- park-like layout including mature trees
- monuments and markers representing a range of size, styles, materials and symbolism
- individual grave markers with their surviving inscriptions