Date/Time
Date(s) - 22/07/2019
11:15 am - 1:15 pm
Location
Highgate Cemetery
Categories
SOLD OUT – Unfortunately all available spaces have been taken for this trip.
In 1832 Parliament passed a bill encouraging the establishment of private cemeteries, outside London, to combat the terrible overcrowding of graves, and consequent health hazards which threatened inner London.
Highgate Cemetery was built in 1839, one of the now-called “Magnificent Seven”sites created during the 1830’s and 40’s. It epitomises the atmosphere of a Victorian cemetery.
We have arranged a special guided tour of the West part of this cemetery, which is not normally open to the public. Here you will find the graves of Michael Faraday,Alexander Litvinenko, Christina Rossetti, Carl Rosa, Jacob Bronowski, Philip Harbenand many more, as well as a section of Commonwealth War Graves with its Memorial Wall.
The tour lasts an hour and a quarter and covers the history of the cemetery,interesting graves, the catacombs, architecture and general history about Victorian attitudes to burial, grave robbing etc.
You will also have unescorted access to the Eastern area where Karl Marx, George Eliot, Bert Jansch, Sir Ralph Richardson and other familiar names are buried, plus Fireman’s Corner, an area created by the widows and children of firemen who gave their lives in service. In all, there are over 170,000 people buried in 53,000 graves with more than 300 war graves.
Please note that the paths are uneven and, on the West side, are fairly steep, whilst those on the East side have gentler slopes. The tour also includes two flights of stairs.