List of cemeteries in London
There are a number of cemeteries in Greater London. Among them are the Magnificent Seven, seven large Victorian-era cemeteries. There are also a number of crematoria. A number of cemeteries have listed buildings or structures, or has been placed on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by English Heritage. Others have secured Green Heritage Site accreditation or may be on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
'The Magnificent Seven'
The Magnificent Seven cemeteries were the first commercial cemeteries constructed around the outskirts of London. They are all of special historical value and are on the English Heritage lists.
Name | Date opened | London Borough | Postal area | Closed | Remarks | "Friends" |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abney Park Cemetery | | London Borough of Hackney | | | It became the main burial place of English nonconformists when Bunhill Fields closed | |
Brompton Cemetery | | Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | | | Owned and maintained by the Royal Park Service | |
Highgate Cemetery | 1854 (West) | London Borough of Camden, Haringey and Islington | | Divided into East and West cemeteries | | |
Kensal Green Cemetery | | London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | | Also known as the General Cemetery of All Souls. The oldest of the Magnificent Seven and still in operation. | | |
Nunhead Cemetery | | London Borough of Southwark | | | Also known as "Cemetery of all Saints" | |
Tower Hamlets Cemetery | | London Borough of Tower Hamlets | | | Also known as Bow Cemetery. Closed in 1966 | |
West Norwood Cemetery | | London Borough of Lambeth | | | Originally known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery. The first cemetery in the world to use the Gothic style. | |
Abbreviations used in the column closed
- C = Still used for cremations
- F = Burial in family plots is still possible
Gallery
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Abney Park Cemetery
Main Gate -
Brompton Cemetery
Main Gate -
Highgate Cemetery
Main Gate -
Nunhead Cemetery
Main Gate -
West Norwood Cemetery
Main Gate
General cemeteries
- No! = Cemetery is approaching capacity
Other burial grounds
Name | Notes |
---|---|
Huguenot Burial Ground | Now a public park and no longer regarded as a cemetery. Part of the Huguenot history of Wandsworth. |
Moravian Burial Ground | Not a traditional cemetery. |
Royal Burial Ground | Located at Frogmore, not considered a "regular" cemetery (and strictly speaking not in London). |
Royal Hospital Chelsea Burial Ground | Part of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Many monuments for Chelsea pensioners. |
Royal Hospital Greenwich Cemetery | Part of the Royal Naval Hospital; in 1847 East Greenwich Pleasaunce was opened as the Hospital's graveyard, with remains being disinterred from the original Hospital graveyard in 1875 to allow for railway construction. The graveyard is now a public park. |
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle | As a Royal Peculiar it is not considered a "regular" cemetery (and strictly speaking is not in London). |
St Paul's Cathedral | Burials and memorials are not considered a "regular" cemetery. |
Westminster Abbey | As a Royal Peculiar it is not considered a "regular" cemetery. |
Crematoria
Name | Date opened | London Borough | Postal area | Location | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beckenham Crematorium | | tbc | Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery | Also known as Elmer's End Crematorium & Cemetery. | |
City of London Crematorium: New | | City of London Cemetery and Crematorium | |||
City of London Crematorium: Old | | City of London Cemetery and Crematorium | Superseded 1971. Now only used as a chapel | ||
Croydon Crematorium | | London Borough of Croydon | | Mitcham Road Cemetery | |
Golders Green Crematorium | | London Borough of Barnet | | Own grounds | |
Honor Oak Crematorium | | London Borough of Southwark | | Camberwell New Cemetery | |
West Norwood Crematorium | | London Borough of Lambeth | | West Norwood Cemetery | |
Former cemeteries
Many of these cemeteries were former graveyards and carry the name of the church they belonged to.
Name of the cemetery | Period in service | Location | Postal area | Remains moved to | M* | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cross Bones Graveyard | | Redcross Way | | | Also known as the Halloween Graveyard | |
Enon Chapel | | St. Clement's Lane | | West Norwood Cemetery | | Later renamed Clare Market Chapel |
St Benet Gracechurch | | Gracechurch Street | | City of London Cemetery and Crematorium | | Also known as Grass Church |
M*, if a memorial or something similar was erected to commemorate the former burial ground or cemetery
- ? = Unknown
- D = Disappeared
- M = Memorial in the relocation site
- P = Memorial plaque near or on the former site
See also
Further reading
- Beach, Darren, London's Cemeteries (2006), Metro Guides, 231p, ISBN 978-1-902910-23-9.
- Meller, Hugh & Brian Parsons, London Cemeteries: an illustrated guide and gazetteer (2008), Fourth Edition, The History Press, 416p, ISBN 978-0-7509-4622-3.
External links
- London Cemeteries on the TimeTravelBritain website, written by Catherine Richards and photographs by Sue Bailey
- Paul Talling's website, showing the dereliction of cemeteries in London
- Jewish Cemeteries in London on the IAJGS website
- Silent Cities Cemetery photography by Jeane Trend-Hill, showing the cemeteries of London