In just 50 years, London’s population had doubled from 1 million in 1800 to 2.3 million in 1850. Stories of body snatchers and graves being dug that already contained bodies prompted a creation of several cemeteries, independent of any parish church, with well-thought out landscape design to appeal to the newly emerging middle-class.
These were to be known as “London’s Magnificent Seven Cemeteries” and aren’t only the resting places of many well-known names in British industrial history, but have become unique and historic visitor attractions.
These seven are:
- Kensal Green Cemetery - Click to see our extensive list of engineers known to be buried here.
- Highgate Cemetery - One of the most famous of the seven and resting place for Michael Faraday and Karl Marx amongst others.
- Nunhead Cemetery - Consecrated in 1840, this quiet burial ground shelters an Anglican chapel.
- West Norwood Cemetery -Perhaps the most ‘well-maintained’ than the others, Henry Bessemer and Sir Henry Tate are buried here.
- Abney Park Cemetery -In 1840 this cemetery was arranged as an extensive A-Z arboretum, with several organised visitor’s attractions.
- Brompton Cemetery - Said to host tombstones that inspired character names for Beatrix Potter’s children’s books, this cemetery nurtures a domed chapel and the graves of Charles Vignoles and John Fowler.
- Tower Hamlets Cemetery - This cemetery was opened in 1841 and closed for burials in 1966. It’s now a peaceful nature reserve.
