William Gay (landscape gardener and surveyor)

William Gay moved to Leicester where in 1849 he was clerk of work at Welford Road Cemetery then in 1852 registrar.[1][2] While at Leicester, William was approached by the Bradford Cemetery Company to become Bradford Cemetery's first registrar.[1] William moved from Leicester to Bradford[3] to design and lay out Undercliffe Cemetery over the years 1852 to 1854.[3][4][5][6]

The surveyor of Chorley cemetery James Derham, consulted William Gay who went on to prepare the design of the cemetery grounds using his favourite devices of a promenade, viewing platform, and raised and sunken terraces.[4] In 1855 William Gay won a competition to design the grounds of Toxteth Park Cemetery, Toxteth, Liverpool.[7] The cemetery was opened in 1856.

Philips Park Cemetery, Manchester was designed by William Gay, with architects Paull and Ayliffe. The cemetery opened in 1866 and was completed in 1867.[8][9] In 1867 William laid out Belfast City cemetery in the form of a bell, possibly reflecting the Bel in Belfast and the cemetery opened on 1 August 1869.[10]

William also designed and laid out Roberts Park, Saltaire for (Sir) Titus Salt and this opened in 1871.[11][12] William landscaped Lawnswood Cemetery in Adel, Leeds and assisted architect George Corson with building design.[13][14][15] The cemetery opened in 1874.

Horton Park, Bradford was designed by William Gay. Development started in 1873 and the park opened in 1878.[16] William was architect for Pudsey Cemetery in Pudsey with John Senior responsible for laying out the grounds.[17]

William Gay moved from Leicester to Bradford[3] to design and lay out Undercliffe Cemetery[4] and he lived at 43 Charnwood Road, Undercliffe.[1] William died in 1893 and is buried in Undercliffe Cemetery, Bradford.[1] His monument describes his occupation as 'former landscape gardener and surveyor'.

• Biography at Undercliffe Cemetery