Look around. This is the Velho Cemetery. It’s London’s oldest surviving Jewish cemetery.
This Jewish Cemetery dates back to 1657. Jewish burial grounds in England disappeared after the expulsion of Jews in 1290. Oliver Cromwell readmitted Jews 350 years later. Cemeteries were then constructed quickly.
Jewish custom dictates avoiding certain activities in cemeteries. The dead can no longer enjoy recreation, eating, drinking, or music. Stepping on a grave or sitting on a gravestone is also disrespectful. Jewish people believe in the impurity of the dead. Burial grounds were traditionally outside town or city walls. The deceased must be buried as soon as possible.
Funerals do not occur in synagogues. They are usually graveside or in an Ohel. An Ohel is a prayer hall in the cemetery. Some grounds also have a Bet Taharah. Here bodies are ritually washed. They are prepared for burial.
The first Jews of the Resettlement arrived in England in 1656. They were Sephardim from Holland and Portugal. Ashkenazim from Holland and Germany soon joined them. Both groups settled in London’s East End. By 1700, the community had about 600 people.
England’s earliest Jewish burial grounds are nearby. The Sephardi Velho cemetery opened in 1657. The Ashkenazim opened their burial ground in 1696. It’s close by on Alderney Road.
Early grounds were small, simple, and functional. They had plain headstones and tombs. Inscriptions were predominantly in Hebrew. Traditional symbols include Cohen hands. These depict hands raised in priestly blessing. It shows the deceased was a member of the Cohanim. A pouring pitcher marks a Levite’s grave. Levites assisted the Cohanim in religious services. Candelabras appear on women’s gravestones. They show the woman’s role in lighting Sabbath candles. Felled tree motifs mean the deceased’s life was cut short.
Antonio Fernandez Carvajal and Simon de Cacares paid for the cemetery. The land was an orchard in Mile End. The rent was high due to the owner’s opportunism. The first burial was Isaac de Brito’s wife in 1657. Carvajal was the second person buried here. He died in 1659. Samuel Pepys attended a Sabbath service during the mourning period.
Few burials occurred in the early decades. Many Marrano families had members buried elsewhere. They preferred to be buried alongside them. The Ashkenazi community opened its own cemetery in 1696. It was the Alderney Road Cemetery.
The site expanded in 1670 and 1684. A high brick wall was built around the perimeter. Land was secured for the Hebra Geumilut Hasadim. This was a charitable hospital for poor women.
By the 18th century, the cemetery was filling up. In 1726, a new cemetery was leased. It was the Novo Cemetery. This original burial ground became the Velho Cemetery. The Velho Cemetery closed in 1735. The Sephardic community purchased the freehold in 1737. This secured its safety.
The most recent burial was in 1828. Rabbi Raphael Meldola was buried at Rabbi David Nieto’s feet. The Hebra Geumilut Hasadim Hospital operated after the closure. It became part of Beth Holim. The hospital was a retirement home. The cemetery was a garden for residents. New hospital buildings were constructed in 1913. The retirement home relocated in 1977. The building is now student accommodation for Queen Mary University.
Both Velho and Novo cemeteries are within Queen Mary University grounds. Novo is open to the public. Velho is only accessible by request. University buildings border the cemetery.
The oldest graves are in the northwest corner. The newest are along the southern edge. Most graves follow Sephardic tradition. They are laid flat and have factual information. Some later burials are more expressive. There are elevated tombs and children’s graves. The most common motif is an axe striking a tree.
Many Marranos were uncircumcised. They had to request burial dispensation. Their graves were positioned against the walls and left unmarked. There are also 15 plague victims in unmarked graves.
There are records of 1706 burials. Grave inscriptions are in Portuguese, Hebrew, and English. Most gravestones are limestone or marble. Many are now difficult to read.
The Novo Cemetery was bombed during the Blitz. The Velho Cemetery avoided significant damage. Antonio Fernandez Carvajal’s gravestone was replaced in 1925.
Notable interments include Antonio Fernandez Carvajal. Also Dr. Fernando Mendes and Rabbi David Nieto. This sacred ground connects us to London’s early Jewish community. It reminds us of their struggles and resilience.