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Camberwell Old Cemetery (also known as Camberwell Cemetery)

Introduction

There is a WWI War Memorial near the entrance and a memorial to members of the public who were killed by a Zeppelin was erected in around 1920. Only the gothic Gate Lodge survives of the original buildings. The cemetery was described as being 'eminently picturesque' when it opened but it had degenerated into a disorderly and uncared for cemetery by the end of the century. Woodland has developed in the north-west area where sycamore dominates although there are other native trees such as ash, oak, hornbeam, hawthorn, white willow, yew, sallow, horse chestnut and poplar among a dense undergrowth, the graves barely visible.

Camberwell Cemetery was opened in 1856 by Camberwell Burial Board, at that time the area was surrounded by fields. The cemetery originally had 3 chapels, none of which remains although the gothic entrance lodge still stands. Its layout was planned on picturesque principles with winding paths. It was enlarged in 1874 but there was a great shortage of burial space and by the late C19th it was in a deplorable and neglected state. It was renamed Camberwell Old Cemetery when the Camberwell New Cemetery was opened in 1927 and the majority of burials now take place there.

Sources consulted:

John Archer, Bob Britton, Robert Burley, Tony Hare, Ian Yarham, 'Nature Conservation in Southwark' Ecology Handbook 12, London Ecology Unit, 1989; Hugh Meller & Brian Parsons, 'London Cemeteries, An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer', 4th edition (The History Press, 2008); John Beasley, 'Southwark Remembered', Tempus Publishing, 2001; Ron Woollacott, 'Southwark's Burying Places, Past and Present', Magdala Terrace Nunhead Local History publication, 2001; Southwark Listed Buildings data

For more information see http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.asp?ID=SOU015

Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts

Access contact details

1 April-30 Sept: Mon-Fri 8.30am - 5pm; Sat 8.30am-7pm. Sun/BH 10am-7pm. 1 Oct-31 Mar: closes at 5pm. Xmas day 10am-2pm.

Directions

London Overground: Honor Oak Park. Bus: 63, 122, 171, 172, 484, P2, P3, P4, P12.

Owners

London Borough of Southwark

Other Websites

History

Period

  • Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)
  • Victorian (1837-1901)
Features & Designations

Designations

  • The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building

  • Reference: Lodge; gates, piers and railings on Forest Hill Road; monument to Charles Waters; James John Berkeley chest tomb; monument to Zeppelin victims; monument to Rebekah Horniman
  • Grade: II
Key Information

Type

Funerary Site

Purpose

Sacred / Ritual / Funerary

Principal Building

Religious Ritual And Funerary

Period

Post Medieval (1540 to 1901)

Survival

Extant

Hectares

11.71

Open to the public

Yes

References

Contributors

  • London Parks and Gardens Trust