Locations
Views and Aspects of the City of London Cemetery (1) Buildings
Here are some aspects of the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium which do not necessarily have a wildlife connection, they just reflect the Cemetery and its landscape.
The cemetery landscape is Grade I listed in the Heritage Category of Park and Garden by Historic England (https://historicengland.org.uk/), the Government department that describes itself as 'the public body that looks after England's historic environment'. There are a further eight buildings and monuments within the 200 acre site that are listed as Grade II.
The cemetery is notable for the large number of re-burials of remains from the City of London churches. The City churchyards were full - if not actually overflowing - with remains. A number of cemeteries were built around London in the mid-nineteenth century to relieve the pressure. The grounds of the City of London Cemetery were laid out in 1855. The first interment took place on 24th June 1856, although the grounds were opened first on 24th July 1856. Some of the remains from City churches were transferred to the City of London Cemetery and are often marked with a grand monument.
An on-line search may well result in many photographs of some of the grander monuments, or of more well-known people buried there, but I hope to include some lesser-known - and less grand - graves and memorials and some other aspects that I have found interesting.
On this page are some of the buildings which make up the cemetery and crematorium. Other pages will include some of the memorials, and some general features.
All of the photographs included here were taken by myself.
Link to Memorials in the Cemetery
Link to Other Features of the Cemetery
The Main Gate of the City of London Cemetery, on a cold day in February 2009
MAIN ENTRANCE SCREEN AND LODGES
The photo shows the main entrance gateway, which is the view most people would have if visiting. There is another gateway - with no additional structure apart from gateposts - to the east near the junction of Rabbits Road with Forest View Road. This is known as the South Gate, but is rarely open.
The main entrance gateway and the associated buildings to the right, including the café, the florist and the gatekeepers office, was originally the Porter's Lodge. To the left of the gateway is what was originally the Superintendent's House, but are now the administration buildings and enquiries office. These are all Grade II listed. (List Entry Number: 1080984*)
Above the vehicle entrance is a large carved panel with the City of London's coat of arms. Above the pedestrian gates are some ornamental tablets set into the masonry depicting the construction date of the cemetery (1855), the Heraldic Shield of the City of London, the renovation date of the gateway (1898), and a somewhat worn and indistinct shield at the bottom of which is the motto Dum spiro spero, which translates to "While I breathe, I hope".
City of London Emblem
'Erected AD 1855'
'Restored AD 1898'
Dum spiro spero - "While I breathe, I hope"
Offices and Public Enquiries buildingADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC ENQUIRIES BUILDING
The buildings to the left of the gate are the offices and administration buildings, part of the ground floor being used for public enquiries.
This view is from outside the railings of the cemetery, where there is a car park.
The vehicle which can be seen is used to carry people to more distant parts of the cemetery if they so require. There are something like 7.5 miles of road within the grounds.
A view across the garden lawn to the cafe outside seating area and the gatehouse buildingsTHE CEMETERY CAFE AND GARDENS
The buildings to the right of the main gate are used by the gatekeeper staff, a florist, administration offices upstairs, and a cafe to the rear. This opened originally as 'The Gatehouse Pantry', then became the 'Poppy Pantry'. With seating provisions inside, and outside in the pleasant gardens, the cafe has proved very popular. For a time the cafe was run by the Royal Voluntary Service, but this closed in March 2023. In June 2024 the cafe was opened once again under a new management.
The Chapel, City of London Cemetery
THE CHAPEL
Straight ahead from the main gate, along Chapel Avenue, is the Chapel. This was originally know as the Dissenters' or Non-Conformist Chapel. It is visible from the Main Gate, but is largely obscured by trees lining the roadway - particularly the branches of a fine conifer close to the chapel. It is octagonal in shape, with a large rose window above the entrance doorway.
Interior of the Chapel. Part of the octagonal design can be seen.
This is another Grade II listed building.
The Church, City of London Cemetery
THE CHURCH
Also known as the Church Chapel or Anglican Chapel, from the main gate is at the NW end of Church Avenue. As with the Dissenters' Chapel, it was designed to be visible from the main gate, but the view is largely obscured now by trees.
It can also be described as being at the 'west end of Central Avenue', and Central Avenue was intended to be the main approach-way for funeral services. The cemetery was built in the mid-19th C., at a time when railways were gaining prominence. The intention was that a special railway station be built between what is now Manor Park Station and Ilford, and the coffins and funerary procession would use the railway to get to the new cemetery. The station was never built; the present day Manor Park Station was instead. There is a gate at the extreme south-east corner of the cemetery, adjacent to the area known locally as 'The Butts' and close to the pedestrian underpass to Little Ilford. If one takes the train between Manor Park and Ilford stations, looking down from the train viaduct one can see what looks as though it may have been a siding - perhaps one intended for the funeral trains?
A dog-like 'grotesque' architectural feature on the ChurchThe Church has a tall (19m) crocketed spire, below which hang a number of dog-like creatures. These take the form of gargoyles, but as they don't appear to spout rainwater from the roof, they are perhaps better called 'grotesques', an architectural term for a fantastic or mythical figure carved or moulded onto a building for ornamental purposes. The term 'chimera' may also be used. (See Wikipedia article).
This is another of the cemetery's Grade II listed buildings
1855 Drain-pipe fitting
Three winged creatures on the Church's east side.
Above two windows on the west side are three more carvings, in the form of winged creatures. Also on the east side of the Church is a drain-pipe fitting, dated 1855, which corresponds to the year in which the grounds of the cemetery were laid out.
The Traditional Crematorium, or East Chapel
THE TRADITIONAL CREMATORIUM BUILDING
This was the second crematorium in London and was opened in October 1904. (source: London Metropolitan Archives Collection Catalogue). The first cremation took place in March 1905. Since the new crematorium was built in 1971 this building is no longer used as such, but is now a Chapel of Remembrance, known as The East Chapel. This is a bit confusing, as it was for a time known as the South Chapel.
To the right of the door, an inscription in the stonework say: EAST CHAPEL. It can be seen, though, that the word 'East' has replaced another word - presumably 'South'.
To the left hand side of the door, a stone inscription states:
CITY OF LONDON BURIAL BOARD / THIS CREMATORIUM WAS OPENED BY / WILLIAM JOSEPH DOWNES ESQre / CHAIRMAN OF THE SANITARY COMMITTEE / ACTING AS THE BURIAL BOARD FOR THE CITY OF LONDON / ON THE 25th OCTOBER 1904
The building is Grade II listed.
The Cottage in the City of London Cemetery
THE COTTAGE IN BELFRY ROAD
The Cottage, also known as The Lodge, was built in 1855 to a design by William Haywood. This is another Grade II listed building.
The photograph was taken on 2nd March 2023
The South Chapel (Crematorium Building) with the catacombs in the distance and a pond to the right
NORTH AND SOUTH CHAPELS AND CREMATORIUM BUILDING
A new, modern, cremation facility was built in 1971, close to the intersection of the 6-way junction (a rond-point) which is reached from the main gate by way of Chapel Avenue.
Above the cremation chamber are two chapels, known as the North Chapel and the South Chapel. I suggest that it was unfortunate that the building was situated in the valley of the Alders Brook, as this has to a large degree spoilt the intended view of the Catacombs when seen down the valley from the south-west.
The Catacombs
THE CATACOMBS AND COLUMBARIUM
The Catacombs are situated at the NE end of Rhododendron Avenue, although they are more readily located by walking down Chapel Avenue from the main gate until the 6-way junction is reached, where are the modern North and South Crematorium Chapels. The Catacombs can be seen in the distance beyond the South Chapel.
The catacombs are built into a bank which - when what is now the cemetery was the lands of Aldersbrook Manor (see here) - would have been the retaining bank of the 'Great Pond'. This was an ornamental feature created by the damming of the Alders Brook, a small stream running in a NE direction from Wanstead Flats. The course of the brook can be clearly ascertained by the realisation that Rhododendron Avenue, together with the crematorium buildings, lie in a shallow valley.
The catacombs apparently were never really succesful as a means of commemorating the dead, and part of them have now been converted into a columbarium. We have a wildife connection here as 'columbarium' means dovecote, from columba dove. I doubt that catacombs relate in any way to cats.
The Catacombs are Grade II listed.
A toilet block near to the ChurchTOILET BLOCK
The grounds are well endowed with toilets, and these are usually set discreetly and unobtrusively in their locations. Often they are of designs in keeping with other buldings within the cemetery, as is this one near the church.
Old Stable BuildingOLD STABLE BLOCK
In an area of the cemetery which is not part of the public access, is an old building which I assume was a stable block.
I am not sure what specific purpose it is used for nowadays, but as may be seen from the photograph, the area is used for storage and maintenance.
Link to Memorials in the Cemetery
Link to Other Features of the Cemetery
Paul Ferris (begun 28th February 2023)
References:
* Grade Listed Buildings: https://historicengland.org.uk/
(1) A Geological Walk in the City of London Cemetery. Wendy Kirk and David Cook. Aldersbrook Geological Society
(2) https://hidden-london.com/nuggets/city-of-london-dragons/
(3) Coughlin, Con (2013). Churchill's First War: Young Winston at War with the Afghans. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 63.
(4) https://www.companyofnurses.co.uk/annie-brewster-remembered/
(5) The City of London Cemetry Heritage Brochure (Edition 2, 2004)
Views and Aspects of the City of London Cemetery (3) Other Features
I have included here some aspects of the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium which are neither buildings or memorials, just some features which I have found interesting. They do not necessarily have a wildlife connection although some - at least remotely - may have.
All of the photographs included here were taken by myself.
The Modern Crematorium Pond - complete with heron
THE MODERN CREMATORIUM POND
Adjacent to the South Chapel of the modern crematorium is a large ornamental pond, complete with water-lilies, some very large carp, usually moorhens and coots, and often a heron. A fountain and a waterfall add to the ambience, and there is a pleasant selection of water-side plants edging the pond.
THE OLD CREMATORIUM POND AND THE SUNKEN GARDEN
The Old Crematorium Pond - at least, that's what I call it - is just to the north-east of the East Chapel and is a peaceful place to stand and perhaps watch a herd of terrapins and some flocks of large carp, or maybe - also watching the carp - a statuesque heron. Just to the west, across Limes Avenue, is a sunken garden which is perhaps even more peaceful as it has benches, no terrapins or carp - just perhaps butterflies, bees, birds, bushes and plants.
The Sunken Garden in the City of London Cemetery
The Old Crematorium Pond
The Brewster Oak, City of London Cemetery 150th Anniversary
THE BREWSTER OAK
Following Chapel Avenue directly ahead from the main gate, on the left of Chapel Avenue is the Brewster Oak. On 13th August 2006 an Open Day was held to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the cemetery. During the day an oak tree was planted on an area of lawn by Mr John W. Brewster OBE, Chairman of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee.
The tree is an English Oak, Quecus robur, and the photograph was taken in 2018.
Passion Flower Sculpting on a Celtic Cross
PASSION FLOWER SCULPTING
At least nature-related, this one - a Passion Flower decoration on a Celtic Cross.
The structure of the Passion Flower is said to represent the elements of the Passion of Christ: the lacy crown = the crown of thorns; the style = the three nails; the five anthers = the five wounds; the ten petals = the 10 faithful Apostles.
The grave is near the Church, and the text reads:
IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF / THOMAS HARVERSON, / OF WANSTEAD. / WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE / SEPTR 10TH 1890, / IN HIS 67TH YEAR
Garlanded AngelPLANTS USED AS A GARLAND
There are many sculptures of angels in the cemetery, and this one appears to have decorated itself with a garland of ivy.
It is remarkable too that the figure has retained both its arms and hands, as so often these are missing.
BUS SHELTER
Not really - not a shelter for buses at all, nor even a bus stop. You would wait a very long time, although there are cemetery transport vehicles that might be used to convey people to a distant part of the cemetery if there is a need.
I think there are 13 of these shelters which - of course - are for people to rest or shelter in.
One of the distinctive City of London waste bins can be seen to the right.
And sometimes a proper bus might turn up... this Routemaster was used for a funeral service on 12th October 2006.
Pedestrian Shelter
Sometimes a bus does turn up inside the cemetery - Routemaster RM298, 'Rose'
Routemaster RML 2380 in the car park by the Main Gate
A leopard-skin hearseNot that there aren't lots of real foxes living in the cemetery - it's almost unusual to visit without seing at least one - and especially when visiting the cemetery cafe.
The wooden carving below was on stump of a tree in the memorial gardens, enclosed within a square of benches, however eventually it succumbed to the fungal rot that had caused the tree to be felled in the first place.
A wooden fox, carved from a felled tree
A real fox, having a scratch amongst the gravestones
Koala Bear Carving
KOALA BEAR CARVING
I am not sure whether this is supposed to represent a koala bear - perhaps it is a monkey, or even a goblin. And I am not sure on the corner of which grave I saw it to take the photograph. I keep looking out for it in the hope that some of the inscription on the grave might give a hint.
THE BIRCHES NATURE RESERVE
In a somewhat remote northerly part of the cemetery, best accessed from Limes Avenue, is The Birches Nature Reserve.
This was created in 2006 in a wooded area that was unsuitable for use as a burial site. The small stream known as the Alders Brook runs through here, so it has formed a shallow valley which over the years has developed into a woodland. At some time a pond was dug to enhance the wildlife, and in fact this is the first visible appearance of the brook itself. There is more information on The Birches here.
Inside the Nature Reserve
Outside of the Birches Nature Reserve
The Birches Pond, showing the culvert from which the Alders Brook exits.THE ALDERS BROOK
Within the Birches Nature Reserve the first above-ground view of the Alders Brook may be had, in the form of water issuing from a culvert into a small pond or wet area. Until this point the water flows undergound through a culvert.
The egress from the culvert can be seen in the photograph (just right of centre). More information about the brook can be found here.
One of the manhole covers, presumably allowing access to the culverted Alders Brook, looking towards Haywoods Lawn.The apparent course of the brook as it flows through the cemetery can be traced from approximately 100 metres west of the main gate at West Boundary Road, in the form of a shallow valley. It then flows beneath Rhododendron Avenue as far as the Catacombs, and its route may be surmised by a series of manhole covers along the course. Beyond the Catacombs, from the main steps that lead to the terrace above those, manholes may again be seen as far as the raised land now known as Haywoods Lawn.
On the lawn itself - a recently established area for burials - and in line with the photograph on the right, is another manhole access, although at present it is not obvious within the newly established area.
Hindu shrine to Lord Shiva
HINDU SHRINE TO SHIVA
The cemetery is open to burials and cremations from people of all religions and none, and from anywhere - not just the City of London. Almost certainly, though, the majority will be either Christian or Atheist.
Not far from the modern crematorium building, on Central Avenue, is a monument which is a Hindu shrine to the deity Lord Shiva.
Ordnance Survey Benchmark in the City of London Cemetery.ORDNANCE SURVEY BENCHMARK
A not-very-obvious aspect of the cemetery is this Ordnance Survey (O.S.) benchmark, located on the SE corner of the Church.
O.S. benchmarks are intended to be permanent markers to which a reference of the height-above-sea-level at that point is made, and shown on O.S.maps. The height above sea level is based on the 'Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN)', that is, the height above the level of the mean high tide at Newlyn in Cornwall.
The actual datum mark is the horizontal line incised into the stonework, shown in the centre of the photograph. The upwards-pointing arrow makes clear where and what it is. In this case the O.S. Six Inch map of 1888-1915 shows a height of 47.5.
In the O.S. Benchmark Archive - freely dowladable from their website - it is referenced thus : TQ,4186,8656,14.1703,N,4,3, ,0.2,1977, ,BUTT C OF E CHAPEL CITY OF LONDON CEMY E FACE SE ANG
With the advent of G.P.S. (Global Positioning Service), and the accuracy enabled by that system, to a great extent the use of benchmarks has been superceded. Many still remain but are not maintained, so they may eventually disappear.
The mark was still visible in 2024, but less discernable.
WEST HAM PARISH BOUNDARY MARKER, AND A LITTER BIN
A familiar City of London street bin. These were used in the City itself until thought to be a danger in case of terrorist bombs.
West Ham Parish Council Boundary Marker set into the stonework of the church (I think). Dated 1901
Mystery mark and textMYSTERY MARK
I was somewhat uncertain what this mark and text on the side of a grave in Poplar Road represents, but the the grave is dedicted to John Chidlaw Percival CBE FRICS.
It states 'VIEW =) REST PLACE 16th AUGUST 2006' with what looks like an elongated = (equals) sign and a thin crescent moon symbol between VIEW and REST.
As John Percival was a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors I surmise that the sign relates to that profession.
Paul Ferris (begun 28th February 2023)
References:
* Grade Listed Buildings: https://historicengland.org.uk/
(1) A Geological Walk in the City of London Cemetery. Wendy Kirk and David Cook. Aldersbrook Geological Society
(2) https://hidden-london.com/nuggets/city-of-london-dragons/
(3) Coughlin, Con (2013). Churchill's First War: Young Winston at War with the Afghans. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 63.
(4) https://www.companyofnurses.co.uk/annie-brewster-remembered/
(5) The City of London Cemetry Heritage Brochure (Edition 2, 2004)
Subcategories
Other Locations Article Count: 30
Names, links and information about the various localities within the study area
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