St Margaret of Antioch, Lee

Old and New Churchyards of St Margaret of Antioch, Lee

Visited January 2021

There are two churchyards at St Margaret of Antioch, across the road from each other and only 5 minutes walk from the centre of Lewisham.

The remains of the Medieval church and its churchyard, on the north of the road, are smaller and sadly, when I visited, the gate was locked although it does look like it should be open in 'normal times', whatever they may be. As the tomb of Edmund Halley - he the comet is named after - is in there, I'd like to visit some day! There's a wonderful information board by the railings which tells you about this building - indeed there are a number of these boards throughout Lee for historic buildings and once the weather improves I aim to do a history walk around them.

The lower levels of the west tower are all that remains of the church which was originally built in 1080, after the rest was demolished in the early 19th century and a new church built on the site. That church collapsed a few decades later having been built on the unstable foundations of the old church and the current church across the road dates from the early 1840s. 

The 'new' church is surrounded by the graveyard, and has a lych gate at the back. It's worth a visit as some of the memorials are quite lovely, although at the current time the church itself is closed to visitors which is a shame.

Old Churchyard (photos taken from the street)

Current (Victorian) churchyard

Camberwell Old Cemetery, January 2021

Camberwell Old Cemetery

Visited January 2021

Yesterday we had a rare snow day here in South-East London, so I took the opportunity to head to Camberwell Old Cemetery while the snow was still falling. I do love the snow, and it gives the cemetery such a different character.

St George's Church, Beckenham

 St George's Churchyard, Beckenham

Visited November 2020

This church and churchyard, just beside Beckenham Green in South East London, has the oldest lych gate in England. Within the churchyard there are gravestones dating back to the 17th century, up to mainly the Victorian period, with the oldest stones near the lych gate and south porch of the church. The churchyard was closed to burials in 1892, although burials in existing graves, e.g. family members, were still permitted. 

Sadly most of my photographs of the gravestones didn't come out well, so I will be going back another day to get some better ones, and perhaps visit the church itself once such things are permitted again.

Beckenham Cemetery, London

Beckenham Cemetery, London

Visited December 2020

Beckenham Cemetery is in the borough of Bromley, sandwiched between South Norwood Country Park and Birkbeck railway station, but named after none of these... It is a large, sprawling cemetery which must be stunning in summer when the trees are in leaf. In winter, on a crisp sunny day, it was lovely to walk around this older, wooden part. The more modern part, nearest to the country park, is less wooded and still in use for burials as well as being the site of Beckenham Crematorium. A few modern burials are also to be found among the trees, but much less so.

The cemetery was founded in 1880, and known as the Crystal Palace District Cemetery. It houses an ornamental garden and waterfalls which I didn't visit as it was cold, and I suspect they're better viewed in the summer anyway. It's a beautiful place for a walk, easily enough to fill a few hours and well worth a visit.

Among the most famous graves here is that of W.C. Grace, the cricketer. Also somewhere here is the grave of Thomas Crapper, he of the flushing toilet fame, but despite being armed with a map and photograph I couldn't find him. Another day.

One of my favourite graves is that of Henry Lowdes, depicting a soldier 'On Guard'. Only a couple of days later I was walking through Camberwell Old Cemetery and, buried in the grass, I spotted a near-identical figure which had been toppled and somewhat damaged (it's headless and the arms are broken) but I'd never spotted before! 

Henry Lowndes (left, in Beckenham) and Lord Rodney (right, in Camberwell)

All Saints, Upper Norwood

 Churchyard of All Saints, Upper Norwood, London

Visited January 2021

The church of All Saints in Upper Norwood is in what would have once been very leafy suburb indeed, between two remnants of the Great North Wood, Beaulieu Heights and Spa Wood. The churchyard is small, and right on a busy street corner, but it's retained it's country feel and has some aged yew trees in it. The church was built in the 1820s as a Chapel of Ease to Croydon Parish Church, and was substantially rebuilt after bombing in World War II.

The most famous memorial there for Vice Admiral Robert Fitzroy - he was Captain of HMS Beagle for Darwin's voyage, Governer of New Zealand in the 1840s, and first head of the Meterological Office. He is remembered in many place names around the world, and in 2002 the Finisterre area of the Shipping Foreca st was renamed FitzRoy in his honour.

The rest of the churchyard contains a number of well preserved Victorian memorials, and retains much of the layout shown in 1860s maps. There is also a plaque dated 2019 (but laid in 2020) which commemorates 889 pauper children who were buried here in unmarked graves from 1830 to 1858. These were all children from 'Mr Aubin's School', an industrial workhouse in Crystal Palace

Memorial plaque on grave of Vice Admiral Fitzroy

Gravestone of Vice Admiral Fitzroy