Consider this. What stories lie beneath our feet here at Mortlake Cemetery? This cemetery is more than just a final resting place. It is a chronicle of lives. It is a place of remembrance.
Mortlake Cemetery, also known as Hammersmith New Cemetery, opened in 1926. It was created to provide burial space for the Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith. The Margravine Cemetery was full. Today, Hammersmith and Fulham Council manages Mortlake Cemetery.
The cemetery spans nearly 26 acres in Kew, Richmond. It is located on Mortlake Road. You will find it opposite North Sheen Cemetery. Kew Gardens is the nearest London Underground station.
Pause for a moment. Imagine the families who have visited this cemetery. Think about the mourners who have come to pay their respects over the years. Mortlake Cemetery holds countless stories of love, loss and remembrance.
During World War II, Mortlake Cemetery became the final resting place for many service personnel. There are 109 Commonwealth war graves here. Some are in private graves. Others lie in a special services plot in the south-eastern corner. Due to limited space, some graves hold up to five bodies.
The names of those buried in the special plot are listed on a memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission erected it. This memorial also lists service personnel cremated at Mortlake Crematorium.
Speaking of the crematorium, it was built next to the cemetery in 1939. Seventy-seven Commonwealth servicemen of World War II were cremated there. Their names are on a screen wall memorial in Mortlake Cemetery.
Among them is Vivian Davies. He was an England rugby international and a captain in the Royal Artillery. Historic England has listed the memorial as Grade II.
Mortlake Cemetery is the final resting place for several notable people. Woman Police Constable Jane Philippa Arbuthnot is buried here. She was killed by a car bomb outside Harrods in 1983.
James Collins is also buried here. He was the Secretary of the Australian Government’s Department of the Treasury. His signature appeared on Australian bank notes from 1910 to 1926.
The TV comedian Arthur Haynes rests here as well. Also, Stephen Ward, a key figure in the Profumo affair, is buried in Mortlake Cemetery. Actress Carol White, known for her role in “Cathy Come Home,” is also buried here. Millie Small, best known for her 1964 hit “My Boy Lollipop”, was also laid to rest here.
Take a moment to reflect on these lives. Mortlake Cemetery serves as a reminder of our shared history. It is a place to honor those who came before us. Let us remember their stories. Let us cherish their memories.
Before we move on, consider visiting the chapel. It seats 60 people. It has a CD player and an organ. If you wish to use the chapel, inform your Funeral Director. They can book it for you.
Mortlake Cemetery stands as a testament to time. It is a peaceful sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of London. Remember those who rest here. They are an integral part of our history.