A Visit to West Norwood Cemetery

West Norwood Cemetery (formerly known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery) was opened in1837 and designed by Sir William Tite. This was the second of the Magnificent Seven which are the name given to the early Victorian cemeteries set up by private companies between 1833-1841 to provide for London’s expanding population.

Known as the Millionaires’ Cemetery, West Norwood is the resting place of many self-made Victorian industrialists, inventors, scholars and manufacturers including Mrs Beeton, Dr William Marsden, Sir Henry Doulton, Charles Spurgeon and Sir Henry Tate.

Besides Tite (who is interred in the catacombs), there are a number of distinguished Victorian architects and builders including Thomas Cubitt, Wiliam Burges and Thomas Belcher buried in this cemetery.

Several of the Grade II listed monuments were designed by noted architects of the day (for example, the Otto Berens and Eustratios Ralli mausolea designed by E.M.Barry). There is also a unique and interesting section of memorials to Greek merchants.

Dr Jane Jordan is a member of the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery and gives public tours of the cemetery on the first Sunday of the month throughout the year. An author and academic, Jane is an expert on the Victorian period.

Meeting Point: By the archway/memorial just inside the main gate.

This event helps raise funds for The Victorian Society - the only charity dedicated to fighting for our Victorian and Edwardian heritage. Funds raised from events and memberships allow us to employ expert caseworkers to reply to thousands of planning applications a year in our role as a statutory consultee in the planning system.

We help tackle the climate emergency by campaigning for the sensitive reuse of historic buildings to generate much lower carbon emissions than demolition and rebuild. Join us today and safeguard our unique cultural heritage for future generations! For further information, .

FAQs

How do I get to the meeting point?

Buses 196, 468, 2, 68 and 432 all have stops nearby.

The nearest railway station is West Norwood.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

Please contact Ruth Miller by email at [email protected] before the day of the event.

Image: Various Mausoleums, West Norwood Cemetery . Copyright Stephen Richards. Used under CC

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