Beneath our feet lie stories etched in stone at Fulham Cemetery. This cemetery offers a journey back to Victorian London. Fulham Cemetery also goes by Fulham Old Cemetery or Fulham Palace Road Cemetery. It is a significant burial ground in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Fulham Cemetery was established in 1865. John Hall designed this serene space. Though recent research suggests Sir Arthur William Blomfield may have been involved in the original design. The cemetery occupies a rectangle of land. Extensions were added later in 1874 and 1880.
The cemetery was consecrated on August 3rd 1865. The first burial took place later that same day. Interestingly, the thirteenth interment was a centenarian from Fulham Union Workhouse. This was quite unusual for the 1860s.
Notable figures rest here. Lieutenant General Sir Burke Douglas Cuppage KCB is among them. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. The cemetery also holds war graves. There are 238 Commonwealth service personnel. 179 are from World War I and 57 from World War II. A special memorial commemorates seven individuals from World War I. Their graves are without headstones.
Vandalism marred Fulham Cemetery in the 1980s. Tombstones were damaged. The council implemented a policy of grassing over older graves. While aiding maintenance, it altered the traditional character. A further spate of vandalism occurred in 2014.
Originally, Fulham Cemetery had both Episcopal and Dissenters’ chapels. The Dissenter’s chapel has been demolished. The remaining chapel features a bellcote and a Resurrection scene.
The lodge near the entrance was once the superintendent’s residence. It even displayed the Bishopric of London Arms. This included crossed swords and a mitre.
The principal avenue runs from Fulham Palace Road to Munster Road. This avenue is adorned with trees. Fulham Cemetery holds many stories. These include those of local dignitaries. Among them are members of the Flew and Crowther families. Jane and Frederick Wright are also here. They died within an hour of each other after 48 years of marriage. Comic actor William Blakeley rests here as well.
A Cross of Sacrifice commemorates the dead of both world wars. Sir Reginald Blomfield designed it in 1919. It stands as a poignant reminder.
Fulham Cemetery is part of the Crabtree Conservation Area. This recognizes its historic and architectural importance. Once a nursery, the land was purchased to establish the cemetery.
Today, Fulham Cemetery stands as a Garden of Rest. It is a peaceful green space. It offers a glimpse into Fulham’s past. It reminds us of lives lived and stories untold. Fulham Cemetery connects us to history. It connects us to community. It connects us to remembrance.