Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, London

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, London

Visited April 2019

I've visited this cemetery a number of times before. As it's managed as a nature reserve, it's got a wonderfully overgrown feel to it in places, but with well-looked after paths. It's clearly being actively cared for - new paths, hedges, and wooden seating made that clear, and there are also trails which can be followed. 

On a spring day I was there mainly for the wildflowers (the bluebells were just coming out - yay!), but I'd also recommend printing out a copy of the heritage trail leaflet (https://www.fothcp.org/heritage-trail-2) - there aren't always some available - and following it around for a good overview of the site.

Abney Park Cemetery, 2018

Abney Park Cemetery, London

Visited August 2018

Abney Park Cemetery is one of the 'Magnificent Seven' Victorian cemeteries in London. It's situated off Stoke Newington High Street, and is managed as a woodland park and nature reserve, having originally been laid out as an arboretum as well as cemetery. This means everything's a bit overgrown, rather than manicured, but gives it character. On a startlingly hot summer's day, it was full of shoppers, walkers and passers by seeking a spot of shade. There's a visitor centre on site with maps, postcards, etc, and the chapel is often used for events.

The cemetery opened in 1840, and was set up for the burial of Dissenters (non-Church of England), with a non-denominational chapel at the centre. It is probably best known as the resting place of William and Catherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army, but there are over 200,000 burials here to discover!

There is an ongoing events programme at the cemetery, and if you haven't visited before then the 1st Sunday of the month guided walks are a great place to start.

Highgate Cemetery (west side)

Highgate Cemetery

Visited May 2013

highgatecemetery.org/

The west cemetery of Highgate is open by guided tour only. This is the only one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries which charges for entry (unless you're visiting a family grave, obviously), and the west cemetery is open by guided tour only, costing £12 for adults. Is it worth it? Well, it's not something I'd do frequently, but yes, it's worth it. The tour ticket includes entry to the east cemetery on the other side of the road, which would normally cost £4.

As it's a guided tour, you'll see different parts of the west cemetery depending on your guide, and possibly the interests of you and others in your group. Every tour includes the Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon (with huge cedar of Lebanon in the centre). As it's a guided tour, there's no wandering off the path or moments of quiet isolation.

The cemetery is possibly the most famous in London, since opening in 1839. There have been stories of vampires (a quick google of the Highgate Vampire is an eye opener and no mistake, and  a number of the great and the good are here, from Pre-Raphelite artists to menagerie owners, newspaper moguls, the founder of Crufts, and scientists.

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, London

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

Visited April 2011 

http://www.fothcp.org/

The cemetery in Tower Hamlets is one of the original 'Magnificent Seven' garden cemeteries. Opened for burials in 1841, it closed in 1966 and is now managed as a nature reserve. The burials here are not as impressive as those in the other garden cemeteries - being in the East End of London, the burials here are of a poorer segment of society. You won't find many famous incumbents, instead there are sailors, trade unionists and stars of the music hall. 

The cemetery is now managed for nature, and has a wonderfully overgrown feel to it. Although the main paths are used as a thoroughfair for cyclists, wander down any other path and you'll be in a wilderness. Visit in spring for a lovely display of flowers, especially bluebells, and you might find yourself face to face with a fox cub if you're lucky (I did, not sure which of us got more of a fright!). You'll be glad you visited!

West Norwood Cemetery, London

West Norwood Cemetery, London

visited April 2011

West Norwood Cemetery is one of the 'Magnificent Seven' Victorian garden cemeteries in London. It's in South London, in the borough of Lambeth. Opened for burials in 1837, it contains a wonderful mix of landscaped and more wild areas. Burials still take place here, and the crematorium in particular is in regular use. The cemetery was created on land which was once part of the Great North Wood, hence the name Norwood, and some parts of the ancient woodland remain. Visit in spring for the bluebells, and the birdsong.

There's a wide range of the great and the good buried here - you'll find the vault of Sir Henry Doulton (of course made of terracotta), Sir Henry Tate (he of the 'Tate and Lyle' sugar), Isabella Beeton (cookery writer Mrs Beeton), artist David Roberts, Sir Hiram Maxim (inventor of the Maxim gun), and geologist Gideon Mantell, one of the pioneers of palaeontology, to name a few.

There is also a Greek Orthodox cemetery in the midst of the site, which I will write about in a separate post.

Despite being a working cemetery/crematorium, visitors are welcome to wander round and take photos. There are tours at various points in the year, including some opportunities to visit the catacombs - highly recommended if you don't mind the dark!