Horse Drawn Hearse Marks Completion of Brompton Cemetery's Restoration
£6.2 million project has renovated memorials, preserved wildlife and added new cafe
A Victorian hearse pulled by traditionally decorated black horses has been driven through Brompton Cemetery to mark the completion of a £6.2m project to restore and conserve the 39 acre cemetery between Fulham and Lillie Roads.
The four year restoration project was funded through the National Lottery with a £4.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and BIG Lottery Fund plus an investment of £1.7m from The Royal Parks, the charity which manages the cemetery, plus generous donors, and with support from The Friends of Brompton Cemetery.
The Grade I registered garden cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven created outside central London in the 1830s-1840s and is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest with there are many unique, listed monuments and architecture.
Altogether It contains 35,000 monuments and the 205,000 burials there include historic figures such as Emmeline Pankhurst, leader of the suffragette movement; Sir Henry Cole, who was instrumental in the Great Exhibition and founded the V&A museum, built the Royal Albert Hall and is believed to have invented the Christmas card; and Dr John Snow, who discovered the link between cholera and contaminated water.
There are 2,625 former Chelsea Pensioners, and 13 holders of the Victoria Cross also buried at the cemetery, and many well-known figures from the arts, commerce, sports and horticulture.
Key features of the restoration include:
- A major refurbishment of the Grade II*-listed Chapel has seen the leaking lead roof replaced. The chapel is double domed with a coffered ceiling remniscent of the Pantheon and it sits in the centre of a 300-foot wide semi-circular arched colonnades - inspired by St Peter’s piazza in Rome. During restoration an original but previously undocumented 1840s York and Portland-stone floor, with radial design, was discovered.
- Digital information is bringing the cemetery to life. Visitors can browse interactive drone-views of the cemetery and explore a mobile-friendly burials database. Display boards narrate the cemetery’s history, and trained volunteers will continue to give educational tours. Accessibility improvements allow wheelchair users to travel widely, including into the chapel.
- Improvements to the Gardenof Remembrance have created a welcoming space for relatives. New planting reflects the species brought to the cemetery by the famous ‘plant hunter’ Robert Fortune, himself buried at Brompton.
- 15 historic memorials have been renovated including the Grade I-listed tomb of Albert Mellon andThe Central Colonnades – now taken off the Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register.
- The North Lodge has been transformed with the addition of two symmetrical bath stone and glass pavilions: The Meeting Place, comprising visitor centre and information hub; and the Cafe North Lodge, with accessible toilets and external seating.
- Wildlife conservation and enhancement has been central to the project and landscape management practices will improve biodiversity and ecology, including the five existing bee hives.
The project has placed the community at its heart, with a new volunteering and training hub - over 100 new volunteers have been recruited - and now offers a cafe and visitor centre.
And crucially the project has protected and enhanced the cemetery’s diverse wildlife and ecology – which includes 633 trees from around 60 species, 200 moth species and many types of bats, invertebrates and birds.
Arthur Tait, Chairman of The Friends of Brompton Cemetery, said: “Thanks to the generosity of our volunteers over the last 20 years, and now through this wonderful restoration project, we’ve helped transformed this cemetery into a true community asset where families can relax, and people with a wide variety of interests can enjoy themselves amid its wonderful history.
“This year we’ve arranged more than 100 different events to help people find enjoyment and interest.
“And crucially, at a time when London’s squeezed green space becomes increasingly precious, this project is cultivating and preserving the spectacular mix of manicured garden areas and wilderness – proving that busy city dwellers can explore a biodiverse slice of nature right on their doorsteps without having to leave London.”
Highlight of the events on offer this month is Brompton Cemetery's Annual Open Day on 22 July, from 11am till 4pm, showcasing the best of Brompton Cemetery! You can expect catacomb tours, artwork from Heatherley Art School, performances from local musicians in our newly restored chapel, and various family activities.
Find out more about what's on here.
July 13, 2018
evealing architectural splendour, uncovering hidden heritage gems and preserving a historic landscape and a wildlife haven for communities in a densely-populated part of the capital.
There are opportunities to join the RBKC Walking Group for a leisurely walk for all levels on 27 June at 10.30am, and the Friends of Brompton Cemetery every Sunday at 2pm.
Find out more about all these activities and book tickets on the website.