London's 'Magnificent Seven' cemeteries: Historic England calls on public to help protect 'incredibly special' graveyards

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Tom Powell28 October 2018

Historic England has called on Londoners to help protect the city’s seven “incredibly special” Victorian cemeteries.

The so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’, which includes Highgate Cemetery, were built on the outskirts of the capital in the mid-19th century as burial spaces moved away from the city centre.

But many were neglected during the 1900s as they became overgrown and deteriorated, while the families of those buried there moved away, forcing some to shut their gates.

Becky Barrett, Historic England’s Principal Adviser for Heritage at Risk London, told the Standard that the future of the Magnificent Seven looks brighter today than it has done, but stressed that public support is still vital.

Nunhead Cemetery in south-east London
Tom Powell

“Those responsible for the upkeep of our Magnificent Seven cemeteries today are facing a backlog of repairs and unchecked vegetation,” she said.

“Their upkeep relies on the generous support and time of so many individuals.”

Magnificent Seven Cemeteries

Abney Park​
Brompton
Highgate
Kensal Green​
Nunhead
Tower Hamlets
West Norwood

She described the cemeteries as “valuable windows into the past”, as well as being important green spaces in densely built-up areas.

“They provide an insight into the fashions and practices of Victorian London, they illustrate a breadth of craftsmanship and architectural styles, and, perhaps most poignantly, they are biographies of our communities with countless stories to tell,” she said.

“Often it’s only the design of the monument that hints at the status and interests of the individual interred - from royalty, to circus performers, suffragettes and novelists.”

Six out of seven cemeteries have been transferred to local authorities or charitable trusts over time, with only Kensal Green remaining in private ownership.

Three of the cemeteries are included on Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register.

Many of the cemeteries became overgrown and neglected during the 1900s due to high maintenance costs
Tom Powell

However, the fortunes of our Magnificent Seven cemeteries are “definitely on the up”, adds Ms Barrett. “More people are discovering their charm, raising awareness of their importance and getting involved in their day-to-day care,” she says.

“Cemetery managers are also recognising and valuing these cemeteries as important green spaces.”

The Heritage Lottery Fund is also a generous supporter of historic cemeteries. West Norwood, Abney Park and Brompton cemeteries are all recent recipients of significant lottery funding.

The grave of Karl Marx in highgate Cemetery
PA Archive/PA Images

Ms Barrett is urging those who want to help protect their local Victorian cemetery to look out for volunteering opportunities. Many allow people to spend a day clearing ivy from vulnerable monuments or helping with social media and fundraising.

People can also contribute by helping to complete patchy cemetery records by recording individual monuments and inscriptions, and trying to trace descendants responsible for their upkeep.

Historic England also runs a project called Enrich the List, where anyone can upload their own photos and stories about the sites.

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