Taking advantage of a dry day, I decided to take a walk in an
unfamiliar part of the city. I came across the Brompton Cemetery. Consecrated in 1840, Brompton Cemetery is one
of Britain’s oldest garden cemeteries. This 39 acre cemetery hosts 35,000
monuments marking the resting place of more than 205,000
burials.
After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, London
became the world’s commercial capital. Its population increased from 1
million in 1800 to over 2.6 million by 1850. The cemetery was one
of 7 large, modern cemeteries created in the mid 19th century
forming a ring around the edge of London. The inner city burial grounds,
mostly churchyards, had long been unable to cope with the number of burials and
were seen as a hazard to health and an undignified way to treat the dead.
The chapel, built in the style of St Peter’s in
Rome, was built in 1839. The cemetery is designed to give the feel of a
large open air cathedral.
In many parts, the cemetery markers were covered
in wild grass, wild flowers, and ivy.
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21 year old who died in WWI
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Marker of 3 1/2 year old boy
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The catacombs
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Beatrix Potter, who lived nearby, took the names of many of her animal characters from tombstones in the cemetery.
This marker is for Robert Coombe, 'a champion
sculler on the Thames and Tyne for 7 years. He died in 1890 at the age of
52. He is here on this very spot.'
There were moms (or nannies) pushing babies in
prams. Children on scooters. Dogs on lead with their owners. There were
people all over having lunch, jogging, or just enjoying the dry day. This is
very much a well-loved and well used park. I will be back with my take
out the next time!
And, just in case you were wondering....
I blogged about this a couple of years ago too. I found it fascinating, Did you know that a amjor scene of Sherlock Holmes was filmed here a few years ago?
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