From top left: Drummond Hill Cemetery entrance, soldiers monument and crypt; 200+ old tree on the grounds; cemetery paths.

General Information

The Drummond Hill Cemetery is one of the most celebrated battlegrounds of the war of 1812 that took place between the British and the Americans.  The bloody battle which took place here two centuries ago is known as the "Battle of Lundy's Lane".

This point of interest is linked to The Battlefields of The War of 1812 Tour.

Directions

From Toronto:

Take QEW South to Niagara Falls, Ontario

Once in Niagara Falls stay to the right, avoid the ramp going towards Fort Erie

Exit from QEW at Drummond Road turn Left after exit

Turn Right onto Drummond Road

Follow Drummond Hill past Lundy's Lane

Turn Left onto Buchner Place

Parking and entrance to Drummond Hill Cemetery straight ahead

From Niagara Falls:

Head south on Victoria Avenue toward Crawford Place

Continue onto Ferry Street

Continue onto Lundy's Lane

Turn left onto Drummond Road

Turn right onto Buchner Place

Parking and entrance to Drummond Hill Cemetery straight ahead

From Rainbow Bridge (US/Canada Border):

Rainbow Bridge turns into Roberts Street

Take Roberts Street to Stanley Avenue

Turn Left onto Stanley Avenue

Turn Right onto Ferry Street

Ferry Street turns into Lundy's Lane

Turn Left onto Drummond Road from Lundy's Lane

Turn Left onto Buchner Place

Parking and entrance to Drummond Hill Cemetery straight ahead

Historical

On the afternoon of July 25th, 1814, Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond, with about 2,000 British, Canadian troops engaged an invading American army.  The battle took place in the summer heat during 1812, and in the end both sides claimed victory and the field where the Drummond Hill cemetary sits today was left in the hands of the British-Canadian forces.  These troops had the duty of cleaning up the battlefield where hundreds of pits were dug to house the bodies that lay about.

The oldest stone in the cemetery dates all the way back to 1797, and most of the stones have been adequately restored and are kept in pristine conditions.  One of the highest structures in this cemetery is the soldiers' monument.  This exquisite monument was created by the Canadian Parliament and marks the remains of 22 British soldiers who were buried in the vault below it.  Also, the grave of Laura Secord, one of the most famous women of the War of 1812, can be found in this cemetery.  

The Drummond Hill Cemetery has been widely recognized as having paranormal activity that has been reported to have taken place within the gates.  Along with many reports of ghostly visits from the unrested souls of the soldiers whose lives were brutally taken on these grounds. Some local residents claim to have witnessed unexplained ghostly encounters while growing up just a few streets over from the cemetery. 

Recreational

The Drummond Hill cemetery is located only minutes away from Clifton Hill, The Canadian Horseshoe Falls, and many other popular tourist attractions in Niagara Falls.

Further Information

City of Niagara Falls museums. December 2, 2009. http://www.niagarafallsmuseum.ca/homepage.html

Napoleonic miniatures wargame society of Toronto. Lundy's Lane: July 25th, 1814-action report. December 2, 2009.  http://www.napoleonicminiatureswargame.com/lundyslane.html

This webpage was prepared by Kristin Atkinson and Cavelle Schmid in December 2009. Trip narration by Kristin Atkinson, photos by Cavelle Schmid and Kristin Atkinson. Thanks to the staff at Brock University for their help in the creation of this page.