A CEMETERY on the grounds of Nazareth House will be “retained and protected” sitting next to 144 new apartments, the developer has confirmed.

Demolition work is under way at the 147-year-old Nazareth House, in London Road, as part of plans to raze the buildings to the ground.

However, questions have been asked over the future of a small cemetery on the site and how it would fit into the new development.

Yesterday, developer McCarthy and Stone confirmed “the cemetery is being fully retained and protected.”

Back in October 2022, YouTuber Martin Halliday, who was given permission to explore the site.

The 41-year-old, from Shoebury, explores old and empty buildings in south Essex for his channel DE-eVOLVED.

He said: “The cemetery at Nazareth House is quaint minding its own business at the rear of the site, its well cared for and to this day still appears clean and free from overgrowth.

“There are some very old graves here that date far beyond the 19th century.

“I think out of respect the graves should definitely remain and not be exhumed. Let them rest where they are.

“They were there long before the new building plans and deserve to stay put.

“I don’t think it will put people off moving into the new builds. It is not a creepy or run-down cemetery, but a sweet, elegant place where souls lay at rest. I pray they are continued to be looked after and become a respected part of the ever-changing history Southend is leading.”

Some of the people reportedly buried at the site includes Father James Bellord and Clement Scott.

This comes after bosses confirmed the historic chapel would not be retained due to its “poor state of repair”.

But “items of interest and value within the chapel has been relocated for reuse by the owners prior to McCarthy Stone taking ownership of the site”.

The former care home at Nazareth House closed in 2020 after 147 years.