Initially land on the western side of Shamblers Copse was purchased from the Ward Estate. This land covered four acres and created the first 10 plots of the Cemetery.

The design and planning for the ‘twin' chapels, a Receptacle House (also known as the ‘Dead House'), a Porter's Lodge and the general laying out of the Burial Ground was contracted to Messrs. Mew & Manning.

The plans were displayed in the Town Hall on Market Hill, Cowes for public viewing and comment and it was proposed that three quarters of the cemetery would be consecrated.

In January 1856 tenders were published in local newspapers for laying the roads and drainage within the cemetery as well as the wall, which was to be built around the perimeter. A bell was purchased to hang in the consecrated Chapel and boundary stones were to be positioned to indicate the unconsecrated section of the Cemetery.

A lodge keeper was appointed and tenders were put out for the planting of trees, ornamental shrubs and flowerbeds at the Cemetery's entrance.

On the 8 th November 1856, the first burial took place. This ‘honour' was bestowed upon James Cribb, a 32 year old local shoemaker, who was interred in the unconsecrated section in Grave 2600 in Plot 7.

By I872 it was quite clear that more unconsecrated burial space would be required and another piece of land on the western side was offered by Mr W G Ward.

Sometime during the next five years, two more acres of copse land to the south of the cemetery was purchased from the Ward Estate - plus a section of meadow owned by Mr Attrill - to ‘square' the area off.

The west wall was taken down and rebuilt along the new boundary and the front wall
was extended to meet it.

This new section, which comprised a further 13 plots was leveled, seeded for grass and new shrubs were planted, including 100 rhododendrons.

Twenty-four iron seats were purchased and installed around the cemetery ( what happened
to these ?).

By 1880 an area of outstanding beauty had, no doubt, been created and, at weekends,
a policeman patrolled the Cemetery to deter flower picking!

With the population of Cowes ever expanding in this most popular of yachting havens, more land was purchased
from the Ward Estate in 1904.

In 1933, negotiations with Mr Mullett of Somerton Farm were successful in purchasing a further 4 acres to the south, expanding the cemetery to its present size. Then, as now, the Cemetery covered 17 acres.

Prior to 1856, the southern part had been used as farmland and, due to the intense farming,
is poor in flora. However, the northern section had been part of Shamblers Copse and, therefore, had only ever been ancient woodland.

The evidence is there for all to see. The northern part of the Cemetery is rich in woodland plants, the seeds of which could have lay dormant in the ground for centuries, until the land was cleared to create the Cemetery, allowing daylight to reach them.