Mortlake Cemetery, London

Mortlake Cemetery, London

Visited April 2016

Managed by Hammersmith and Fulham council (despite being in the borough of Richmond upon Thames), this cemetery opened in 1926 and is still in use. It’s situated near Kew, across the road from another cemetery (North Sheen Cemetery). It was built when Magravine Cemetery (see earlier blog post) was considered full, and is sometimes known as Hammersmith New Cemetery.

The cemetery has a Gothic style chapel in the grounds, although two were planned. It has a lot of mature trees, but being crowded with burials hasn’t become in overgrown. Some areas are being left a bit grassy to encourage nature, and the trees provide welcome shade on a sunny day.

There is a new area for burials near the River Thames as the old area is full, and the crematorium is behind a hedge in one corner. The cemetery isn’t particularly picturesque (although the Swiss chalet in the middle which houses the toilets is certainly different!), and there are very few notable burials. As all the burials date from the 20^th and 21^st centuries, there aren’t any of the overwrought Victorian memorials found in older cemeteries. Worth a visit if you’re in the area, but unless you’re after a specific burial it’s probably not worth a special visit.