Think about this. Sixty thousand souls rest here in Hampstead Cemetery. It is a sprawling 26-acre site. Hampstead Cemetery offers a serene escape from London’s urban hustle. We stand at the entrance ready to explore its stories.
Hampstead Cemetery opened in November 1876. The Bishop of London consecrated it. Islington and Camden Cemetery Service jointly manage it today.
Notice the pair of Gothic-style mortuary chapels. Both are Grade II listed buildings. The southern chapel was originally Anglican. The northern one was non-conformist. They share a common porte-cochère. Today, only the southern chapel is used as an inter-faith worship space. The Heritage Lottery Fund helped restore these buildings.
Look around at the Celtic crosses. Many mark the plots of Scottish families. These are primarily in the southwest area of the chapel. Over in the northeastern corner, you can find modern and Art Deco stonemasonry.
Have you spotted the Bianchi monument? It is a large triangular grave. The Gall family commissioned it. Romeo Rathmann, a Trieste-born sculptor, created it in 1937. This is a superb example of Art Deco style. The female angel raising her hands heavenward is quite famous. It often graces local guidebooks.
Take a look at James Wilson’s tomb. He was Chief Engineer to the Egyptian Government from 1875 to 1901. His red marble tomb has a striking Egyptian style.
Let’s talk about some notable people buried here in Hampstead Cemetery. You might recognize some names. There is Andrew Fisher who was the fifth Prime Minister of Australia. Kate Greenaway, the children’s book illustrator, rests here. Joseph Lister, the pioneer of antiseptic treatment, is buried here. Marie Lloyd, the music hall star, also calls this place her final home.
Pause for a moment near the Screen Wall memorial. It is near the north boundary, to the right of the main entrance. This lists Commonwealth service personnel from both World Wars whose graves lack headstones. There are 216 from World War I and 44 from World War II. One Polish and one Czech serviceman from the latter war are also listed.
Consider the trees around us. Mature ash trees dominate here in Hampstead Cemetery. You will also spot yew, sycamore, and Norway maple. Silver birch, Lombardy poplar, and purple cherry-plum trees are also common.
Did you know there is a wildlife area in the cemetery’s eastern half? This has trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. These plants attract butterflies like small whites and meadow browns. Birds like jays and green woodpeckers also live here. The ubiquitous grey squirrel thrives here as well.
Reflect on Charles Cowper Ross’s epitaph. He was “a man of the theatre.” It reads: “What will be said, When I am dead, Of what I used to do? They liked my smile? I failed with style? Or, more than likely, ‘Who?'”
Now, let’s consider a darker side of Hampstead Cemetery. In 1884, Alfred Pierpoint Chambers was found dead on his wife’s grave. He had taken Potassium Cyanide after being seriously affected by her death. In 1892, Edward Cornelius Scanes shot himself on his first wife’s grave. He had been suffering from depression. These tragic stories remind us of the cemetery’s role as a place for both remembrance and sorrow.
Hampstead Cemetery is more than just a burial ground. It is a place of history, art, and nature. It holds stories of famous individuals and ordinary people. Each grave has a tale to tell, if we take the time to listen.