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Beckett Street Cemetery, also known as Burmantofts Cemetery or Leeds Burial Ground, was opened in 1845, under the Leeds Burial Act of 1842 which was a response to St Peter's parish churchyard becoming full. It is one of the oldest municipal cemeteries (distinct from churchyards) in England. The cemetery and the street that runs past it were named after William Beckett MP who sold the land to the council.

As with other civic cemeteries of its time it was divided into 'Anglican' and 'Nonconformist' sections, each with its own chapel. Over 180,000 people were buried here, many of them in family plots each containing several burials. The chapels were demolished in the 1960s.

In 1984 it was proposed to 'clear' the cemetery and turn it into a park, as had already been done with the privately owned 'General Cemetery' on Woodhouse Moor, now known as St George's Fields. There was so much opposition that plans were dropped, although burials were discontinued from 1987.

The site remains open to the public, owned by the City Council and clearly as a burial ground, but managed by a Friends group. It is also a 'Listed Park' (grade II, list entry 1001605) of 6.5 hectares.

Sources: Friends of Beckett Street Cemetery website; Secret Leeds Link accessed 4/4/2022.