Saturday

Brookwood Cemetery: North Side

As I mentioned in my post a few days ago, Brookwood Cemetery is a gargantuan place. After exploring the military and Zoroastrian cemeteries, I ventured into the main cemetery ground. It was built in 1852 to accommodate the increasing demand for burial space in London (much like Highgate Cemetery) and, at the time, was the largest cemetery in the world. 

It's so large that it's split into two sides with a fairly busy road running between the two. These photos are from the north side, nearest the train station. It's situated right next to the railway, and it's very odd to hear the beep-beep of closing doors every 10 minutes!


This is such an interesting statement. I assume it's symbolic: God has loaned out the loved one and therefore her death was a legal clause of the loan. Whether literal or symbolic, it's certainly got me thinking!
(Edit: Thanks to Joy for sending me this link about Edith Thompson and the story behind her grave!)
 I was desperate to get a photo of these gates. They're positioned right next to the railway tracks, facing the trains, and don't seem to be placed as a gateway at all. I wonder if they were once used as an entrance but have since been moved and tucked out of the way.
 
The cemetery is so large that there are tarmac roads running through it with road names and street signs. 

 I'm not sure why I was so drawn to this simple grave. I think it was the modest engraving: It almost looks like the family made it themselves. 
This is an interesting headstone because the figure is topless. I realised when I saw this that, although so many Victorian headstones are heavily influenced by Greek sculpture, the modest social values means they are almost always covered up, unlike their ancient counterparts.
 A memorial to those who died in the Transair Douglas Dakota accident.
 I found this interesting because it states exactly where Pte Reynolds (a recipient of the Victoria Cross) died. 

Tomorrow I will post the final part of this series with my photos from the south side. This seems to be the older side and houses three of the most beautiful headstones I have ever encountered. 

6 comments :

  1. I love your interpretation of the epitaph "Sleep on beloved. Her death was a legal formality" but you might find this an interesting read: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Thompson

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    1. Thank you SO much for this! It was fascinating to read!

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  2. Final comment, I promise!

    Funeral trains sound quite interesting...
    Love these pictures and I agree, the Italian one looks so home-made it's actually quite beautiful.

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    1. I can imagine the relatives slaving over it themselves to give her a real headstone.

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  3. Really interesting story about Edith Thompson! Such a neat sentiment on the grave marker too. I find old cemeteries so neat. Cool pictures!

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