Prior to its opening in 1873, people in Barrow were usually buried in Dalton Cemetery, St. Mary’s Churchyard, Walney, or St. Michael’s Churchyard, Rampside. The land was bought from the Duke of Devonshire. The buildings e.g. the chapels, the gatehouse and the North Lodge were designed by the well-known firm of Paley & Austin, who had an office in Barrow, and built by James Garden (see Dalton Cemetery). The old buildings are Grade II listed. On entering through the gatehouse, the first section was designated Anglican (Church of England), the middle section Non-Conformist, and the furthest section Roman Catholic.