The cemetery has had various titles including The Cemetery by the Common, Hill Lane Cemetery and is currently known as Southampton Old Cemetery. An Act of Parliament was required in 1843 to acquire the land from Southampton Common. It covers an area of and the total number of burials is estimated at 116,800. Currently there are 6 to 8 burials a year to existing family plots. History On 9 November 1841, Southampton Town Council resolved "that the Town Clerk be directed to give notice of an application to parliament at the next session for establishing a cemetery or burial ground on part of Southampton Common". The town council approached John Claudius Loudon. He was a well known landscaper, designer of arboretums and cemeteries including Histon Road Cemetery at Cambridge and Bath Abbey Cemetery. Loudon, normally based in London, had been staying on the Isle of Wight whilst his wife was writing a book. The damp sea air had a debilitating effect on his health and he moved to take temporary lodgings in Southampton. Southampton Town council had no previous experience of laying out a cemetery and was pleased that Loudon was conveniently available. They paid him £37 for his services, but decided not to use his proposed layout. The Bishop of Winchester was not willing to concede that the proposed Anglican chapel would adjoin a nonconformist chapel. Competition As was customary in the planning of early cemeteries, the council held a competition and asked for suggested layouts to replace the one made by Loudon. A design by William Rogers, a local nurseryman and councillor, was accepted and he was awarded the contract. Opening The cemetery was opened on 7 May 1846 when the Bishop of Winchester consecrated part of the grounds. A section was left unconsecrated for the "Dissenters" (non-conformists) and agnostics while another part was provided for the Hebrew community. In 1856, the Roman Catholics were given ground within the cemetery for their use. The Southampton Cemetery Act 1843 allowed for up to to be taken from the common but it was initially laid out as a site with the remaining being added in 1863. In 1884 a further act of parliament was obtained to transfer another to the cemetery. Notable incumbents The cemetery has 60 headstones associated with RMS Titanic, although no bodies were returned to Southampton. Charlie Barr (1864–1911), the three times winner of the America's Cup,