The London Burial Grounds: Notes on Their History from the Earliest Times to the Present DayHolmes, Isabella M.
History
The London Burial Grounds: Notes on Their History from the Earliest Times to the Present Day
Holmes, Isabella M.
Cemeteries -- England -- London -- History
46. _Millbank Penitentiary Burial-ground._—432 square yards in size. In
1830-33 there were an average of 14 interments per annum, but at times
it was more used. The site of this graveyard will be preserved when the
space which used to be occupied by the prison is built upon.
47. _Knightsbridge Green._—Victims of the plague from the leper hospital
and elsewhere were buried here. A grassy, closed triangle opposite
Tattersalls.
ST. MARTIN’S IN THE FIELDS.
48. _St. Martin’s Churchyard._—⅓ acre. This is stone-paved, has trees
and seats in it supplied by the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association,
and is maintained by the vestry.
49. _Additional ground in Drury Lane._—Less than ¼ acre. Laid out as a
public garden, and now maintained by the vestry. It is well kept, and
contains some gymnastic apparatus for the use of the children. Also
called the Tavistock burial-ground.
ST. JAMES’S, WESTMINSTER.
50. _St. James’s Churchyard_, Piccadilly.—½ acre. This is a dreary
ground, and might be made very attractive. The part where most burials
took place is considerably raised above the rest. The yard on the north
side of the church is entirely paved with stones, amongst which are many
tombstones. In the upper part tombstones form the walks, the walls, &c.
One gate is often unlatched.
51. _St. James’s Workhouse Ground_, Poland Street.—The workhouse was
built upon a “common cemetery” where, at the time of the plague, many
thousands of bodies were interred. A small part of it was kept as the
workhouse burial-ground, but this has now disappeared, and all that is
left of the original ground used for interments is the garden or
courtyard of the workhouse. It is a pleasant recreation ground for the
inmates, and is well supplied with seats, being about ¼ acre in extent.
THE STRAND.
52. _St. Mary le Strand Churchyard._—At the west end of the church,
about 200 square yards in size, closed and not well kept.
53. _Additional ground, Russell Court, Catherine Street._—430 square
yards. It is probable that few grounds in London were more overcrowded
with bodies than this one, which was entirely surrounded by the backs of
small houses. When closed in 1853 it was in a very disgusting and
unwholesome condition, and it continued to be most wretched until the
Metropolitan Public Gardens Association asphalted it in 1886. It is
maintained as a children’s playground by the London County Council. This
is the scene of “Tom all alone’s” in “Bleak House.” There are 6
gravestones against the wall.
54. _St. Clement Danes Churchyard._—This is now ¼ acre in extent, having
been curtailed when the Strand was altered. It is closed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account