diff --git a/examples/graticule.html b/examples/graticule.html
index ed441cd6c0..f133225cd6 100644
--- a/examples/graticule.html
+++ b/examples/graticule.html
@@ -23,19 +23,20 @@
         <script type="text/javascript">
             Proj4js.defs["EPSG:42304"]="+title=Atlas of Canada, LCC +proj=lcc +lat_1=49 +lat_2=77 +lat_0=49 +lon_0=-95 +x_0=0 +y_0=0 +ellps=GRS80 +datum=NAD83 +units=m +no_defs";
             
+            var graticuleCtl1, graticuleCtl2;
             var map1, map2;
             function init(){
               initLonLat();
               initProjected();
             }
             function initLonLat(){
+                graticuleCtl1 = new OpenLayers.Control.Graticule({
+                    numPoints: 2, 
+                    labelled: true
+                });
                 map1 = new OpenLayers.Map('map', {
                     controls: [
-                    new OpenLayers.Control.Graticule({
-                          numPoints: 2, 
-                          labelled: true,
-                          visible: true
-                      }),
+                      graticuleCtl1,
                       new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher(),
                       new OpenLayers.Control.PanZoomBar(),
                       new OpenLayers.Control.Navigation()
@@ -52,12 +53,13 @@
             
             function initProjected(){
                 var extent = new OpenLayers.Bounds(-2200000,-712631,3072800,3840000);
+                graticuleCtl2 = new OpenLayers.Control.Graticule({
+                    labelled: true,
+                    targetSize: 200
+                });
                 var mapOptions = {
                       controls: [
-                      new OpenLayers.Control.Graticule({
-                          labelled: true,
-                          targetSize: 200
-                        }),
+                        graticuleCtl2,
                         new OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher(),
                         new OpenLayers.Control.PanZoomBar(),
                         new OpenLayers.Control.Navigation()
@@ -98,5 +100,12 @@ <h1 id="title">Graticule Example</h1>
         <div id="map2" class="smallmap"></div>
 
         <div id="docs"></div>
+        <br style="clear:both" />
+        <ul>
+            <li><a href="#" 
+                onclick="graticuleCtl1.activate(); graticuleCtl2.activate(); return false;">Activate graticule controls</a></li>
+            <li><a href="#" 
+                onclick="graticuleCtl1.deactivate(); graticuleCtl2.deactivate(); return false;">Deactivate graticule controls</a></li>
+        </ul>
     </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Graticule.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Graticule.js
index 1020bce5cb..d2cdd449c3 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Graticule.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Graticule.js
@@ -17,6 +17,13 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.Graticule = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
 
+    /**
+     * APIProperty: autoActivate
+     * {Boolean} Activate the control when it is added to a map. Default is
+     *     true. 
+     */
+    autoActivate: true,
+    
     /**
     * APIProperty: intervals
     * {Array(Float)} A list of possible graticule widths in degrees.
@@ -27,8 +34,8 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Graticule = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /**
      * APIProperty: displayInLayerSwitcher
-     * {Boolean} Allows the Graticule control to be switched on and off. 
-     * defaults to true.
+     * {Boolean} Allows the Graticule control to be switched on and off by 
+     *     LayerSwitcher control. Defaults is true.
      */
     displayInLayerSwitcher: true,
 
@@ -53,9 +60,10 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Graticule = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /**
      * APIProperty: layerName
-     * {String} the name to be displayed in the layer switcher
+     * {String} The name to be displayed in the layer switcher, default is set 
+     *     by {<OpenLayers.Lang>}.
      */
-    layerName: "Graticule",
+    layerName: null,
 
     /**
      * APIProperty: labelled
@@ -102,6 +110,8 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Graticule = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
      *     to extend the control.
      */
     initialize: function(options) {
+        options = options || {};
+        options.layerName = options.layerName || OpenLayers.i18n("graticule");
         OpenLayers.Control.prototype.initialize.apply(this, [options]);
         
         this.labelSymbolizer.stroke = false;
@@ -112,6 +122,18 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Graticule = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
         this.labelSymbolizer.labelYOffset = "${yOffset}";
     },
 
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: destroy
+     */
+    destroy: function() {
+        this.deactivate();        
+        OpenLayers.Control.prototype.destroy.apply(this, arguments);        
+        if (this.gratLayer) {
+            this.gratLayer.destroy();
+            this.gratLayer = null;
+        }
+    },
+    
     /**
      * Method: draw
      *
@@ -134,13 +156,36 @@ OpenLayers.Control.Graticule = OpenLayers.Class(OpenLayers.Control, {
                 visibility: this.visible,
                 displayInLayerSwitcher: this.displayInLayerSwitcher
             });
-            this.map.addLayer(this.gratLayer);
         }
-        this.map.events.register('moveend', this, this.update);
-        this.update();
         return this.div;
     },
 
+     /**
+     * APIMethod: activate
+     */
+    activate: function() {
+        if (OpenLayers.Control.prototype.activate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            this.map.addLayer(this.gratLayer);
+            this.map.events.register('moveend', this, this.update);     
+            this.update();
+            return true;            
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    },
+    
+    /**
+     * APIMethod: deactivate
+     */
+    deactivate: function() {
+        if (OpenLayers.Control.prototype.deactivate.apply(this, arguments)) {
+            this.map.events.unregister('moveend', this, this.update);
+            this.map.removeLayer(this.gratLayer);
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            return false;
+        }
+    },
     /**
      * Method: update
      *
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Lang/en.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Lang/en.js
index 00c5bf156b..b51b3d35cf 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Lang/en.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Lang/en.js
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ OpenLayers.Lang.en = {
     'E': 'E',
     'N': 'N',
     'S': 'S',
+    'graticule': 'Graticule',
 
     // console message
     'layerAlreadyAdded':
@@ -121,9 +122,11 @@ OpenLayers.Lang.en = {
     // console message
     'pagePositionFailed':
         "OpenLayers.Util.pagePosition failed: element with id ${elemId} may be misplaced.",
-                    
-    'end': '',
 
     // console message
-    'filterEvaluateNotImplemented': "evaluate is not implemented for this filter type."
+    'filterEvaluateNotImplemented': "evaluate is not implemented for this filter type.",
+
+    // **** end ****
+    'end': ''
+    
 };
diff --git a/tests/Control/Graticule.html b/tests/Control/Graticule.html
index 60d7f78d2e..0001d2d7bd 100644
--- a/tests/Control/Graticule.html
+++ b/tests/Control/Graticule.html
@@ -21,6 +21,42 @@
              "graticule has features");
         control.destroy();
     }
+    
+    function test_activate(t) {        
+        t.plan(7);
+        var map = new OpenLayers.Map("map",{projection:"EPSG:4326"});
+        var layer = new OpenLayers.Layer.WMS();
+        map.addLayers([layer]);
+
+        var control = new OpenLayers.Control.Graticule({});
+        map.addControl(control);
+        map.zoomToMaxExtent();
+        
+        t.ok(control.gratLayer.visibility, "Graticule layer is visible by default"); 
+        control.deactivate();
+        t.ok(control.gratLayer.map == null, 
+            "Graticule layer is not in map when control is deactivated"); 
+        control.destroy();
+        
+        var control2 = new OpenLayers.Control.Graticule({autoActivate:false});
+        map.addControl(control2);
+        t.ok(control2.gratLayer.map == null, 
+            "Graticule layer is not in map when autoActivate:false"); 
+        t.ok(control2.gratLayer.features.length == 0, 
+            "Graticule layer is empty when autoActivate:false");
+        control2.activate();
+        t.ok(control2.gratLayer.map != null, 
+            "Graticule layer is on map when control is activated");    
+        t.ok(control2.gratLayer.features.length > 0,
+            "Graticule features refreshed after control is activated");
+        control2.gratLayer.setVisibility(false);
+       
+        control2.destroy();
+        t.ok(control2.gratLayer == null, 
+            "Graticule layer is destroyed when control is destroyed");    
+            
+        map.destroy();        
+    }
 
     </script>
 </head>