West Norwood Cemetery, Victorian cemetery in West Norwood, England.
Description
West Norwood Cemetery is a burial ground in the London Borough of Lambeth that holds 69 listed monuments across 40 acres (16 hectares) of landscaped grounds, including catacombs, mausoleums and a Greek Orthodox section with 19 individual structures. The site features two chapels, an oak columbarium and tree-lined paths that wind past Gothic Revival monuments and formal garden areas.
History
Parliament approved the creation of this burial ground in 1836 as the first in Britain to use Gothic Revival design under architect William Tite. The site became one of seven major Victorian cemeteries opened beyond central London during the 19th century to relieve overcrowded churchyards.
Culture
The cemetery earned recognition as the South Metropolitan Cemetery, forming part of London's seven major Victorian burial grounds constructed in the 1830s.
Practical
The grounds open at 8 AM and close at 4 PM between November and March, extending to 6 PM during warmer months; paths are mostly paved and suitable for walking. West Norwood station sits within a short walk from the main gate and offers regular trains into central London.
Did you know?
Beneath the chapels lie underground catacombs originally designed to hold 3,500 coffins, now open to guided tours on select days. Many monuments carry layers of lichen and moss that have spread over decades, giving parts of the grounds a gently overgrown character.
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