The cemetery dates back to 1855 and was laid out by Darlington architect James Pigott Pritchett junior.

In 1854, a competition was held to design two chapels, a lodge and entrance gates for the new Boston Cemetery.

[1] He provided the layout for the grounds and plans for the twin chapels and a lodge, all in the gothic style.

[3] One of the most curious graves is that of Major Walter George Burnett Dickinson (1858–1914) who died of a heart attack 36 hours after the beginning of the First World War whilst requisitioning horses in the Boston area.

[4] Another grave is that of Linley Moreton Phillips, an Australian civilian prisoner of war in Ruhleben internment camp from 1914 to 1918, who died on ship returning to Boston.