Camberwell Cemeteries

File:Camberwell Old Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 839996.jpg

File:Monument to Members of Public Killed By Zeppelin, Camberwell Old Cemetery, 2018 (2).jpg

The old cemetery, located on Forest Hill Road, covers approximately {{convert|12|ha|acre}}. It is part of the second wave of mid 19th century cemeteries{{Cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/cem.html |title=Genealogical Research, England and Wales, Victorian London Cemeteries |access-date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923185631/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/cem.html |archive-date=23 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/london/cemeteries.shtml London's Victorian Garden Cemeteries, Catherine Richards, Time Travel Britain] that were established in London to solve the problem of overcrowding in church yards.[http://www.victorianlondon.org/death/burialgrounds.htm Victorian London – Death and dying – Overcrowding, The Victorian Dictionary, compiled by Lee Jackson] The first wave of cemeteries are commonly known as the Magnificent Seven.

The site was purchased in 1855 by the Camberwell Cemetery Board (formed 1850) from the Trustees of Sir Walter St John's Charity

at Battersea for £9,927. It was originally meadow land, which was then designated as a Burial Ground of St Giles, Camberwell.{{Cite web |url=http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200032/deaths_funerals_and_cremations/185/cemeteries/2 |title=Southwark Council, Cemeteries, Camberwell Old Cemetery |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928004720/http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200032/deaths_funerals_and_cremations/185/cemeteries/2 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}

The first interment took place on 3 July 1856; over 30,000 burials took place in the subsequent 30 years. In 1874 the cemetery was expanded by a further seven acres with the inclusion of land bought from the British Land Company for £4,550. By 1984, 300,000 interments had been carried out at the cemetery.[http://www.foresthillsociety.com/2011/02/save-honor-oak-recreeation-park.html Save Honor Oak Recreation Park, The Forest Hill Society.com]

The Gothic Revival lodge and two chapels (one Church of England and one Non-Conformist) were designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott's architectural firm.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ancestryaid.co.uk/boards/genealogy-coffee-room/1308-architecture-cemeteries.html |title=Architecture in Cemeteries, Ancestry Aid, Mary C |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328084311/http://www.ancestryaid.co.uk/boards/genealogy-coffee-room/1308-architecture-cemeteries.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} When burials were transferred to the New Cemetery the chapel fell into disrepair and both were demolished in the 1960s. A third (Roman Catholic) chapel was demolished in the 1970s.London Cemeteries: An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteeer by Hugh Meller & Brian Parsons Later the architectural importance of the lodge was recognised[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-470928-lodge-to-camberwell-old-cemetery-camberw Lodge to Old Camberwell Cemetery, British Listed Buildings] and when it was destroyed by fire in the 1970s it was restored rather than being torn down. The lodge was used in the 1970 film adaptation of Joe Orton's play Entertaining Mr Sloane, as well as scenes filmed in the cemetery among the graves.[https://movie-locations.com/movies/e/Entertaining-Mr-Sloane.php Lodge to Old Camberwell Cemetery filming location, Movie Locations][https://www.reelstreets.com/films/entertaining-mr-sloane/ Stills of filming locations, Reel Streets]

There are 288 Commonwealth service war graves from the First World War, 160 of whom are in a war graves plot in cemetery's north-east corner where there are two Screen Wall memorials, one listing those buried in the plot and the other those buried elsewhere in the cemetery whose graves could not be marked by headstones. There is also a group of special memorials to 14 casualties buried in the Second World War.[http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/41702/CAMBERWELL%20OLD%20CEMETERY] CWGC Cemetery report.

There is also an unusual First World War memorial dedicated to 21 civilians who were killed in a Zeppelin raid on Camberwell in 1917.{{NHLE|num=1385532|desc=Monument to Members of Public Killed by Zeppelin, Camberwell Old Cemetery|accessdate=5 December 2018}}

On 1 July and 21 July 1944 V1 flying bombs landed in the cemetery. The blasts caused damage to surrounding properties, but no casualties.[http://www.flyingbombsandrockets.com/V1_summary_dulwich.html Flying Bombs and Rockets, V1 & V2 Logs SE21 & 22 Dulwich, Camberwell Old Cemetery, 02/07/44]

On 3 November 2011 Azezur Khan (a.k.a. Ronnie), was shot dead following a funeral in the cemetery.[http://content.met.police.uk/Appeal/East-Dulwich-shooting-update/1400004291258/1257246745782 Metropolitan Police, News Item Accessed 10/11/11] Police believe that Mr Khan was an innocent bystander.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15683463 BBC News 10/11/11]

• James John Berkeley, chief engineer of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway[http://www.irfca.org/articles/eminent-railwaymen.html "Eminent Railwaymen of Yesteryear", James J. Berkeley, Indian Railway Fan Club, R.R.Bhandari, July 2008][https://wiki.fibis.org/w/James_John_Berkeley James John Berkeley, FIBIS Wiki, January 2019]{{cite book|title=Appletons' annual cyclopaedia and register of important events of the year: 1862|year=1863|publisher=D. Appleton & Company|location=New York|page=690|url=https://archive.org/stream/1862appletonsan02newyuoft#page/n697/mode/1up}}
• Frederick John Horniman, founder of the Horniman Museum, died 1906{{Cite web |url=http://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/browse-our-collections/authority/agent/identifier/agent-1879.htm |title=Horniman, Frederick John – Horniman Museum & Garden's website |access-date=9 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109161451/http://www.horniman.ac.uk/collections/browse-our-collections/authority/agent/identifier/agent-1879.htm |archive-date=9 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}
• Able Seaman Albert Edward McKenzie VC in Zeebrugge Raid, died November 1918{{Cite web |url=http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/lonseast.htm |title=Albert Edward McKenzie, Grave locations for holders of the Victoria Cross, South East London |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041028140920/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/lonseast.htm |archive-date=28 October 2004 |url-status=dead }}
• Harry Quelch (1858-1913), journalist, early British Marxist and trade unionist.Ernest Belfort Bax, "Introduction" to Harry Quelch: Literary Remains. E. B. Bax, editor. London: Grant Richards, 1914. Transcribed by Ted Crawford for Marxists Internet Archive. [http://www.marxists.org/archive/bax/1914/xx/harry-quelch.htm] Retrieved 2 September 2009.
• Elizabeth Mary Anne Eagle Skinner (1875–1929), founder of the Mystical Church of the Comforter[https://loughborough-junction.org/2016/12/01/the-mystical-church-of-the-comforter-in-denmark-hill-railway-station/ The Mystical Church of the Comforter, Denmark Hill Railway Station]
• William Stanlake VC in Battle of Inkerman, died 1904{{Cite web |url=http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/lonseast.htm |title=William Stanlake, Grave locations for holders of the Victoria Cross, South East London |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041028140920/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/lonseast.htm |archive-date=28 October 2004 |url-status=dead }}
• Charles Waters founder of the International Bible Reading Association.{{NHLE|num=1385530|desc=Monument to Charles Waters, Camberwell Old Cemetery|access-date=28 April 2023}}
• Jack Whicher, noted detective and founder member of the Detective Branch of the Metropolitan Police, died 1881
• Liam MacCarthy (1853–1928) a London-based Irish nationalist, businessman, and activist who is best known for having the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Liam MacCarthy Cup for hurling named after him.
• John Donovan, George Cross (Albert Medal for Lifesaving)[https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/john-donovan-am/ John Donovan recipient of the Albert Medal] recipient. He was the Chief Boatman in charge of the Old Head HM Coastguard Station, Kinsale. He and his crew dragged their galley a mile and half overland and lowered it down a cliff face to go to the aid of the Italian barque Thetis, a ship of 324 tons, with a crew of eleven persons, when they were being driven ashore in Courtmacsherry Bay during a gale on November 30, 1866[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/23260/page/3227/data.pdf/ Rescue of the Thetis, London Gazette June 7th 1867]

File:Camberwell New Cemetery SE23 - geograph.org.uk - 45054.jpg File:Honor Oak Crematorium SE23 - geograph.org.uk - 45058.jpgThe cemetery is located on Brenchley Gardens about half a mile from the old cemetery. In the early 20th Century it was recognised that the original cemetery would be at capacity in the near future. The land for the new cemetery was purchased in three lots in 1901:

1. The central portion of {{convert|9.7|ha|acre}} was bought from Alfred Stevens, farmer and landowner of Peckham Rye for £11,305
2. The western portion, {{convert|13|ha|acre}}, next to One Tree Hill was bought later in 1901 also from Alfred Stevens for £19,469
3. A final {{convert|4.9|ha|acre}}, adjoining the Brockley footpath were bought from the Governors of Christ's Hospital for £6,325

Following its acquisition much of the {{convert|27.6|ha|acre}} of land was rented out for other uses, including a golf club and a fireworks factory run by Joseph Wells. Although much of the land was later used for interments there are large portions that remain unused for burials. Some of this land is now a recreation ground and there now is strong local opposition to this land being used for its original purpose of burials.

In 1926 the first part of the land was laid out as a cemetery and was consecrated by the Right Reverend William Woodcock Hough, Bishop of Woolwich. The first interment took place on 23 May 1927. A smaller section was set aside for use of Free Churches.

The lodge, waiting room and mortuary chapels were designed by Sir Aston Webb and his son, Maurice.[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-470688-lodge-camberwell-new-cemetery-camberwell Lodge, Camberwell New Cemetery, British Listed Buildings] Maurice Webb was the architect for the Honor Oak crematorium, built in 1939 to meet a growing demand for cremations. It is situated in the cemetery grounds, ten acres of which were landscaped as memorial gardens. The crematorium is also a listed building[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-470678-crematorium-camberwell-new-cemetery-camb Cremetorium, Camberwell New Cemetery, British Listed Buildings] and is notable for its beautiful stained glass window.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100324203106/http://www.getwalking.org/walking-routes/south-london-walking-routes/honor-oak-park/ Honor Oak Park, Get Walking]}} By 1984 over 91,000 cremations had been conducted.

In addition to one grave from the First World War, there are 198 Commonwealth service war graves of the Second, some 80 of the latter in war graves plot in Squares 91 and 92. A Screen Wall memorial lists some 120 whose graves could not be marked by headstones, and 56 other service personnel who were cremated at the crematorium.[http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2043505/CAMBERWELL%20NEW%20CEMETERY] CWGC Cemetery report.

The cemetery has recently been used as a filming location for London Boulevard and Hereafter[http://filmlondon.org.uk/filming_in_london/locations_crew_facilities/locations/location_of_the_month/november2010 Film London, Guide to filming in London, November 2010, Camberwell New Cemetery]

• George Cornell East end gangster famously shot by the Kray twins in 1966 at The Blind Beggar public house
• General Frederick Coutts (1899–1986), Salvation Army general
• General Wilfred Kitching (1893–1977), Salvation Army general
• Freddie Mills world light heavyweight boxing champion from 1948 to 1950
• William Pullum world weight-lifting champion[http://www.superstrengthbooks.com/william_pullum.html Super Strength Books, William A Pullum: Wizard of the Weight-Lifting World][http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/?go=blogs.Detail&gid=19939 William A. Pullum, The Underground, Mixed Martial Arts, Ross Enamait]
• John Trunley (1898–1944) a local celebrity who appeared on stage with Fred Karno in the early 20th century as a "fat boy" (he weighed 33 stone at age 18)London Cemeteries: An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer, by Hugh Meller & Brian Parsons
• Anne Shelton (1923–1994) popular singer, the 'Forces' Favourite' in WWII[http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.php?ID=SOU014, London Gardens Online: Camberwell New Cemetery]

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW060452 Aerial view from 1939], Camberwell New Cemetery from the English Heritage "Britain from Above" archive

{{Cemeteries in England}}

{{Cemeteries in London}}

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Category:Cemeteries in London

Category:1856 establishments in England

Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Southwark

Category:Anglican cemeteries in the United Kingdom

Category:Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in England

Category:Honor Oak