Tombs at Brompton Cemetery, one of seven large cemeteries established in London in the 1830s and 1840s

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 have 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 Area acres[1] Graves (interments) Closed Remarks "Friends"
Abney Park Cemetery 1840 London Borough of Hackney N16 32.5 (200,000) Yes It became the main burial place of English nonconformists when Bunhill Fields closed Yes
Brompton Cemetery 1840 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea SW10 38 35,000+ (205,000) No Owned and maintained by The Royal Parks Yes
Highgate Cemetery 1839 (East)
1854 (West)		 London Borough of Camden, Haringey and Islington N6 38 53,000+ (170,000) No Divided into East and West cemeteries Yes
Kensal Green Cemetery 1833 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea W10 70 65,000+ (250,000) No Also known as the General Cemetery of All Souls. The oldest of the Magnificent Seven and still in operation. Yes
Nunhead Cemetery 1840 London Borough of Southwark SE15 49 (270,000) Yes Also known as "Cemetery of all Saints" Yes
Tower Hamlets Cemetery 1841 London Borough of Tower Hamlets E3 33 (350,000) Yes Also known as Bow Cemetery. Closed in 1966 Yes
West Norwood Cemetery 1837 London Borough of Lambeth SE27 39.5 42,000+ (200,000) CF Originally known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery. The first cemetery in the world designed in the Gothic Revival style Yes

Abbreviations used in the column closed

C = Still used for cremations
F = Burial in family plots is still possible

Gallery

Jewish cemeteries

Main article: Jewish cemeteries in the London area

There are many Jewish cemeteries in London; they are not included here but some of them are listed at Jewish cemeteries in the London area.

Roman Catholic cemeteries

Name Date opened Location Postal area Area acres[1] Closed Notes Website
St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery 1858 London Borough of Brent NW10 30 No Next to Kensal Green Cemetery and the West London Crematorium Yes
St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cemetery 1861 London Borough of Waltham Forest E11 No –

General cemeteries

Name Date opened Location Postal area Area acres[1] Closed Notes Website
Acton Cemetery 1895 London Borough of Ealing W3 6.5 or 14.6 Yes
Barking Cemetery 1886 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham IG11 17 No Also known as Rippleside Cemetery
Barnes Cemetery 1854 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames SW13 16.5 Yes Also known as Barnes Common Cemetery –
Beckenham Cemetery 1876 London Borough of Bromley BR3 42 No Also known as Elmers End or Crystal Palace District Cemetery Yes
Bell's Hill Burial Ground 1895 London Borough of Barnet EN5 Yes Also known as Chipping Barnet Cemetery –
Borough Cemetery 1942 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW2 No Operated by Hounslow Borough Council –
Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries 1858 London Borough of Lewisham SE4 21.5 + 15.5 No! Originally Deptford and Ladywell cemeteries. Examples of the first wave of Victorian municipal cemeteries. Yes
Bromley Hill Cemetery 1907 London Borough of Bromley BR1 6.4
Bunhill Fields 1665 London Borough of Islington EC1 Yes Closed in 1854. Yes
Camberwell New Cemetery 1927 London Borough of Southwark SE23 80 No Yes
Camberwell Old Cemetery 1855 London Borough of Southwark SE22 44 No Yes
Charlton Cemetery 1855 Royal Borough of Greenwich SE7 8 No Yes
Chingford Mount Cemetery 1884 London Borough of Waltham Forest E4 41.5 No
City of London Cemetery 1856 London Borough of Newham E12 200 No! Yes
Eastern London Cemetery 2017 London Borough of Havering RM13 No The newest cemetery in London. -
East Finchley Cemetery 1854 London Borough of Barnet N2 40 No! Also known as St Marylebone Cemetery. Space is available but limited Yes
East London Cemetery 1872 London Borough of Newham E13 30 No Yes
East Sheen Cemetery 1906 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW10 16.5 No Adjacent to Richmond Cemetery Yes
Edmonton Cemetery 1886 London Borough of Enfield N9 30.3
Fulham Cemetery 1865 London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham SW6 13 Also known as Fulham Old Cemetery
Greenwich Cemetery 1856 Royal Borough of Greenwich SE9 22.5 No Yes
Grove Park Cemetery 1935 London Borough of Lewisham SE12 No Listed by English Heritage as a landscape of special historic interest. Yes
Gunnersbury Cemetery 1929 Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea W3 No Also known as Kensington Cemetery Yes
Hampstead Cemetery 1876 London Borough of Camden NW6 25 Yes Cremated remains can still be buried Yes
Hampton Cemetery 1879 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW12 2.3 No Yes
Hanwell Cemetery 1854 London Borough of Ealing W7 23 No Also known as (City of) Westminster Cemetery (not to be confused with the Kensington Hanwell Cemetery). Yes
Hendon Park Cemetery and Crematorium 1899 London Borough of Barnet NW7 42 No Crematorium opened 1922
Hertford Road Cemetery 1880 London Borough of Enfield EN3 11
Hither Green Cemetery 1873 London Borough of Lewisham SE6 10.8 No Originally began as Lee Cemetery which closed for burial 1878 the remainder of the cemetery is still open for burials Yes
Isleworth Cemetery 1879 London Borough of Hounslow TW7 Yes –
Kemnal Park Cemetery & Memorial Gardens 2013 London Borough of Bromley BR7 No Yes
Kensington Hanwell Cemetery 1855 London Borough of Ealing W7 17 Yes Also known as the Old Kensington Cemetery (not to be confused with the City of Westminster Cemetery, Hanwell). Yes
Lambeth Cemetery 1854 London Borough of Wandsworth (location); London Borough of Lambeth (owner) SW17 41 Yes Yes
Lavender Hill Cemetery 1872 London Borough of Enfield EN2 28
London Road Cemetery 1877 London Borough of Bromley BR1 4.8
Manor Park Cemetery 1874 London Borough of Newham E7 45 No
Margravine Cemetery 1869 London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham W6 16.5 Yes Formerly known as Hammersmith Cemetery; Hammersmith Old Cemetery; Margravine Road Cemetery Yes
Mitcham Road Cemetery 1897 London Borough of Croydon CR0 27 No Formerly Croydon Cemetery Yes
Morden Cemetery 1891 London Borough of Merton SM4 125 No
Mortlake Cemetery 1926 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (location); London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (owner) TW9 31 No Also known as Hammersmith New Cemetery Yes
New Southgate Cemetery 1861 London Borough of Enfield N11 84 No Formerly known as Great Northern London Cemetery Yes
North Sheen Cemetery 1909 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (location); London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (owner) TW9 31 No Also known as Fulham New Cemetery Yes
Northwood Cemetery 1915 London Borough of Hillingdon HA6 23 No Yes
Paddington Old Cemetery 1855 London Borough of Brent NW6 25 No Yes
Plumstead Cemetery 1890 Royal Borough of Greenwich SE2 32.6
Putney Old Burial Ground 1763 London Borough of Wandsworth SW15 Yes Upper Richmond Road. Closed 1854. Yes
Putney Vale Cemetery 1891 London Borough of Wandsworth SW15 58 No Yes
Queen's Road Cemetery 1861 London Borough of Croydon CR0 24 No Yes
Richmond Cemetery 1839 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW10 13.1 No Next to East Sheen Cemetery Yes
St Mary's Cemetery 1860 London Borough of Wandsworth SW11 8 Yes Formerly Battersea St Mary's Cemetery; Battersea Rise Cemetery Yes
St Pancras and Islington Cemetery 1854 London Borough of Barnet N2 99.5 + 77 No Also known as the Islington and St Pancras Cemetery Yes
South Ealing Cemetery 1861 London Borough of Ealing W5 27 Yes Formerly Ealing and Old Brentford Cemetery. Closed to new burials
Southgate Cemetery 1880 London Borough of Enfield N14 No –
Strayfield Cemetery 2013 London Borough of Enfield EN2 12 Adjacent to Lavender Hill Cemetery
Streatham Cemetery 1894 London Borough of Wandsworth (location); London Borough of Lambeth (owner) SW17 23.3 Yes Also known as Garratt Lane Cemetery Yes
Teddington Cemetery 1879 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW11 No Typical Victorian cemetery. Listed by English Heritage as a landscape of special historic interest. Yes
Tottenham Cemetery 1858 London Borough of Haringey N17 56 No
Trent Park Cemetery 1960 London Borough of Islington EN4 No Yes
Twickenham Cemetery 1868 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW2 8 No
Upminster Cemetery 1902 London Borough of Havering RM14 2 No Yes
Vineyard Passage Burial Ground 1790 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames TW10 Yes Yes
Wandsworth Cemetery 1878 London Borough of Wandsworth SW18 34.2 No Magdalen Road. Also known as Magdalen Cemetery Yes
West Ham Cemetery 1857 London Borough of Newham E15 20 Yes
West Ham Jewish Cemetery 1857 London Borough of Newham E15 10 Yes Yes
Willesden New Cemetery 1891 London Borough of Brent NW10 26.8 Yes Yes
Wimbledon Cemetery 1876 London Borough of Merton SW19 20.5 No Also known as Gap Road Cemetery
Woolwich cemetery 1856 Royal Borough of Greenwich SE18 34.2 No First ('Old') cemetery opened in 1856; new cemetery opened in 1885 Yes
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 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 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 1956 London Borough of Bromley Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery Also known as Elmer's End Crematorium & Cemetery
City of London Crematorium: New 1971 London Borough of Newham (location); City of London Corporation (owner) City of London Cemetery and Crematorium
City of London Crematorium: Old 1904 London Borough of Newham (location); City of London Corporation (owner) City of London Cemetery and Crematorium Superseded 1971. Now only used as a chapel
Croydon Crematorium 1937 London Borough of Croydon CR0 Mitcham Road Cemetery
Enfield Crematorium 1938 London Borough of Enfield EN1 London Borough of Enfield
Golders Green Crematorium 1902 London Borough of Barnet NW11 London Borough of Barnet Own grounds
Honor Oak Crematorium 1939 London Borough of Southwark SE23 Camberwell New Cemetery
Hendon Park Crematorium 1922 London Borough of Barnet NW7 Hendon Park Cemetery and Crematorium
Mortlake Crematorium 1939 London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (location) TW9 Kew It is Grade II listed, and was the first crematorium in England to be established under its own Act of Parliament.[2] The crematorium serves the London Borough of Ealing, the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, the London Borough of Hounslow and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
West Norwood Crematorium 1915 London Borough of Lambeth SE27 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 ????–1853 Redcross Way SE1 M Also known as the Halloween Graveyard
Enon Chapel 1823–1842 St. Clement's Lane WC2 West Norwood Cemetery D Later renamed Clare Market Chapel
St Benet Gracechurch 1181–1868 Gracechurch Street EC3M City of London Cemetery and Crematorium M Also known as Grass Church
St James' Gardens[3] 1788–1853 Euston Station NW1 2RT Excavated remains have been moved to multiple locations D Grave of Captain Matthew Flinders discovered.[4]

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

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c London Statistics Volume 24. London: London County Council. 1915. pp. 208–11.
  2. ^ "History and the board". Mortlake Crematorium. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. ^ London Cemeteries. "St. James' Gardens". Sue Bailey. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  4. ^ Esther Addley, Archaeology (24 January 2019). "Grave of explorer Matthew Flinders unearthed near London station". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
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