Victorian Cemetery
It was a beautiful sunny winter's day today: a perfect day to go out and take pictures since the light outside is brilliant for photography during the winter months. I watched a documentary about The Magnificent Seven on the BBC a while ago and decided that evening that I just had to go and check things out for myself. The Magnificent Seven are seven cemeteries used by the citizens of nineteenth century London, the first was Kensal Green-1833, followed by Norwood-1838, Highgate in 1839, Abney Park, Brompton and Nunhead in 1840 and finally Tower Hamlets in 1841.
One particular cemetery caught my attention because of the amazing wildly overgrown Victorian tombs, mausoleums and gravestones. Not just that, this cemetery is also known to be of inspiration to Bram Stoker and his book Dracula. Additionally, the Highgate Cemetery is well known for its so-called occult past, being the site of the alleged Highgate Vampire according to the local tales. Some of the graves have been seriously damaged, vaults broken open and coffins smashed apart, mostly in the sixties and seventies by vandals and/or those looking for vampires.
Rumour has it that there also has been devils worshippers activity, some masses were held in a maze of catacombs that ran beneath the cemetery. One particular tomb hidden deep within the heart of the cemetery, a small mausoleum with a marble floor but which contained no coffins, had been converted into a small temple where these activities seemed to have taken place. These days access to the cemetery is only possible through a guided tour. Today the owners are The Highgate Cemetery Charity and management is by Friends of Highgate Cemetery Ltd, both charities.
The Cemetery houses a colony of urban foxes and lots of different plants including hornbeam, exotic limes, oak, hazel, sweet chestnut, field maple, tulips and one California Redwood [it's unknown how it ended up in London at the cemetery but growing steady and tall]. Some fifty species of bird and eighteen of butterfly have been spotted here, and among the spiders, three rarely sighted in the United Kingdom. Today was the perfect opportunity to feel the vibes of this intriguing and amazing place and not just because of its history, but also because of its woodland paths, its Victorian funerary architecture and beautiful wild landscaping.
Seems my math was off before, but glad I'm up to .06% now.
I do like natural greenery versus the golf course look, but there's something more to a once manicured landscape allowed to run wild. I must be somewhat twisted.
On the other hand, I can compare it to the old railroad shops I visited before they became an official museum. When I first happened on them, they were still as the railroad had left them when abandoned. . . broken windows, bits and pieces of machinery left lying about where the last workers had left them (and of course like the cemetery unfortunately, the work of vandals).
Over the years I went back as restoration slowly took over, and although it's nice to see things returned to their in use conditions, I'm glad I had the chance to wander through the crumbling buildings, around the rusting machines, and pick my way across the overgrown grounds.
Perhaps that's my attraction to this cemetery—greenery and stonework left as is rather then all polished up as if it were new.
Great pictures! Can't wait to see more.
—wonder if there's room for another Redwood in London? ;-)
"Not just that, this cemetery is also known to be of inspiration to Bram Stoker and his book Dracula". Wow! How interesting!
Those pictures are just fantastic! I wonder if those people who are buried there ever thought that their cemetery would end up being a tourist attraction :)
I once saw on TV what looked like "The circle of Lebanon" but I am not sure if it was the same cemetery. It looked more or less the same...The TV program was "How London was built" if I am not wrong and it showed old cemeteries.
Thanks for sharing Tess!!
Have a wonderful week!
Jim: I will upload the pictures in the morning, I was quite busy today talking chocolate and relaxation therapy ;)
I don't think you're twisted at all, I think you're right. In the early Victorian days this particular cemetery was a place to walk around, a park as you wish, to meet other people and have tea... There was one grave of a general which was vandalised by vampire hunters, where the relatives used to meet up on Sundays on the roof of the tomb to have tea together... really absurd. In those days they had a totally different perspective on death, quite interesting to hear or read about!
Your place sounds kinda like a train cemetery ;) Oh and there is definitely room for another Redwood :-*
Wen: Thank you so much, I'm happy that you like them! Most people find it creepy while to me it's history and architecture. A lot of the graves tell you stories about those who are buried there, it's so interesting to hear and see the details in symbolism!
It's not really a tourist attraction to be honest, the people who were there for the tour were all from London actually. I was told, to keep the place open and maintained as it is, it costs a thousand pounds a day. So they really really need the money to keep a place like this available to the public, to researchers, historians, botanists etc. All the work is done by volunteers so are the guided tours which are basically guided because of vandalism, people don't pay respect unfortunately.
I will look into that show, it does sound familiar btw, perhaps that was the one I watched as well... Have a great week too! Thank you :)
I always wonder when I'm admiring your photos, can you hear me in California saying "oooooh, ahhhhh, pretty!"? Can you?
hee hee
Tess, that is absolutely beautiful. It's your eye for everything that surrounds you that I love so much!
Thank you so much for giving me a tour of something I might never see IRL.
Hugs dear friend, I appreciate you and your talent!
Mon
Great photos! Old cemeteries are awesome.
Monica: Actually... yes! I can hear you loud and clear *hehe* Thank you dear I'm happy you enjoy them! *smiling from ear to ear*
I still need to upload them but once they're there I will let you know k? I only took 231 pics that day ;)
Hey... I meant what I said about visiting :) One day you will see it with your own eyes, better keep the camera ready ;)
Hugs to you too! You're a sweetheart!
Dalton: hey Dalton, how are you? Thank you so much, I'm happy you enjoy them too! Yes this particular cemetery was very beautiful! It reminds me of Scotland in a way. So many hidden and interesting stories... It's a shame I couldn't just wander around and take time to see things, the tour was over an hour but I could've stayed there for at least another hour ;)
That is a very interesting photographic documentation, I really like the feeling. I am always so captured by historical moments like these, it is as if the stone itself calls to be observed.
Hi Reuben, welcome :)
Thank you for leaving a comment, I'm happy you like my pictures :)
I agree with you about the stone, I always want to read what it says and not just the words, there's also a lot of symbolism which has a deeper meaning...
AMAZING. So atmospheric - you couldn't create a more layered and dynamic place could you? Astounding. Thank you for sharing it!!! I'd love to know some of the stories lying there!!
First, I love the backstories and urban myths. Is there a cemetary that doesn't have one?!?
Second, the pictures are fantastic. If it wasn't for headstones I'd think it was a garden.
Hi Megg, nice to see you again. Yes the place is wonderful, it's really worth a visit if you're in the area! The guide will tell you some stories but it would've been nice to hear a few more. Guess I was too busy taking pictures anyway ;)
Very nice photos :) and an apple store in sight :p
Hi Chris good to 'see' you back :)
The myths are cool aren't they? Especially the ones that are linked to this particular cemetery, what is a shame though is that it also caused vandalism in the past, their main reason to have guided tours only. Some people don't realise what treasures are out there...
Happy to hear you like my pictures :) How's your visit across the pond going?
Stuart: Hey Stu, how are you dear? Glad you like my piccies but what the heck are you on about? Apple store? I had two rough days so I'm not totally awake yet but I don't think I could blame a lack of wit today... *LOL*
Or are you trying to get me in some kind of discussion again? :p
Choose your weapon and I'll meet you at dawn Sir... our meeting point will be at the gate of this cemetery and I won't accept no vampire talk as an excuse to not show up. You'd better book your flying horse...