Richmond Cemetery

Coordinates: 51°27′19″N 0°17′18″W / 51.4553°N 0.2884°W / 51.4553; -0.2884
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Richmond Cemetery
War graves and the South African War Memorial in Richmond Cemetery
Map
Details
Established1786
Location
CountryEngland
Coordinates51°27′19″N 0°17′18″W / 51.4553°N 0.2884°W / 51.4553; -0.2884
TypeActive
Owned byRichmond upon Thames London Borough Council
Size15 acres (6 hectares)
WebsiteRichmond Cemetery
Find a GraveRichmond Cemetery

Richmond Cemetery is a

Gothic revival
style, but both are now privately owned and the Nonconformist chapel today falls outside the cemetery walls after a redrawing of its boundaries.

Many prominent people are buried in the cemetery, as are 39 soldiers who died at the South African Hospital in Richmond Park during the First World War and many ex-servicemen from the nearby

Sir Edwin Lutyens, derived from his design of the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London. The war graves and the cenotaph are the responsibility of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
.

History and setting

The cemetery was founded following the Richmond: Poor Relief, etc. Act 1785 (25 Geo.3 c.41), which granted

King George III, to Richmond vestry. A plot of 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares) was enclosed for a burial ground; a workhouse was also provided.[1] The site was originally a simple square plot divided into four by footpaths; between 1865 and 1879, the cemetery expanded and subsumed the land between the original site and the workhouse, which was laid out in a grid format, and by 1894 the cemetery had further expanded onto a plot of land to the north, also in a grid layout. The cemetery now occupies an area of 15 acres (6 hectares), ten times its original size.[2] In 1873 the local vicar built a wall to divide the consecrated ground (for Church of England devotees) from the unconsecrated ground (for Nonconformists and non-believers), but the move met with consternation in the local community and the wall was found torn down one morning. The vicar offered a reward for information as to the identities of the culprits but was apparently unsuccessful. There was never any attempt to rebuild the wall.[3][4]

The original plot contains many mature trees, including yews, cypresses, and several palm trees. Prior to the expansion of London, the site was originally in a rural and picturesque location, comparable to a smaller-scale Highgate Cemetery, and retains its rural feel today; author Darren Beach describes it as having "a decidedly rural feel", while historian Hugh Meller calls it "an unusually rural cemetery which in spring simulates a country churchyard".[3][4]

To the east of the cemetery is Richmond Park, the two sites separated only by a five-metre (sixteen-foot, six-inch) strip of land known as the Freebord or "deer leap", owned by the Crown to protect the park's boundaries and allow access to the exterior of the wall for inspection and repair.[2][5] Just to the north is East Sheen Cemetery. The two cemeteries are today joined, forming a contiguous area of graves, though the original boundary is still denoted by a holly hedge.

The cemetery enjoys protected status as a result of designation as Metropolitan Open Land and (jointly with East Sheen Cemetery and Pesthouse Common) as a conservation area.[2]

Chapels

Richmond Cemetery originally contained two chapels, one of

Anglican chapel, was sold in 1992 and was also restored in the 1990s. Its design is unusual for an English cemetery chapel, featuring significant plate tracery and decorative sculpture, but the architect is unknown. After a redrawing of the cemetery's boundary, it now stands outside the gates on Grove Road.[2][3]

The chapel in East Sheen Cemetery is now also used for services for Richmond Cemetery. Both cemeteries are now administered and maintained by Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council.[8][9]

Richmond Old Burial Ground

Beyond the former Anglican chapel are old burial grounds that are now closed. The area called "Richmond Old Burial Ground" covers about four acres. It was first opened for burials in 1856, and most burials there took place between then and the

First World War. Volunteers have now photographed and recorded the inscriptions on more than 1000 graves, recording the deaths of over 2000 people.[10]

Memorials

The Bromhead Memorial
Lutyens' South African Memorial among the war graves

Richmond Cemetery contains several significant memorials, including a granite tomb belonging to engraver William Harvey, originally set at a steep angle but since subsided, which is decorated by an incised palette in pink granite. The Prendergast family are commemorated by two crosses featuring floral-themed engravings.[2][3] According to Historic England, "Richmond Cemetery is unusually endowed with war memorials and war graves".[11][12] A significant number of recipients of the Victoria Cross—Britain's highest military honour for gallantry—are buried there.[4]

Bromhead Memorial and Royal Star and Garter Home graves

Two sections of the cemetery are dedicated to deceased residents of the

Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond. One is denoted by the Bromhead Memorial while the other—opened in 1994—is marked with a Christian cross by a local stonemason.[8][13] Both plots contain standardised gravestones and do not allow personalised memorials. The Bromhead Memorial is a large monument close to the boundary with East Sheen Cemetery. Dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Charles Bromhead and his wife Margaret, former governors of the home, it takes the form of a triptych with stone panels, in front of which is a low spine wall; both the spine walls and the panels in the triptych are engraved with the names of deceased ex-servicemen from the home who are not commemorated elsewhere. The whole memorial is set on a stone base with three steps, and at the very front is a sculpture of a seated lion. It was designed by Cecil Thomas and was unveiled in 1957 as a gift from the governor of the home in a ceremony presided over by Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke and the Bishop of Southwark. It is a grade II listed building.[11]

South African War Memorial and war graves

Another section is given over to war graves commemorating 39 soldiers who died at the South African Hospital which operated in Richmond Park during, and immediately after, the First World War; the section is marked by a

the Cenotaph on Whitehall, the most famous of Lutyens' memorials in Britain and the most influential on other First World War memorials. It is of coarse granite construction, with a springbok inscribed in the apex of the front and rear while the sides both carry a carved stone wreath; the only text inscribed on the monument are the phrases "union is strength" and "our glorious dead" on the front, and the same text translated into Dutch on the rear. The memorial was unveiled by South African General Jan Smuts on 30 June 1921.[12][14] The war graves section is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) on behalf of the South African government.[15][16] The cenotaph became a focus for commemorations in the 1920s and 1930s, after which it appears to have been forgotten and was neglected until 1981 when the CWGC became aware of it and agreed with the South African government to take responsibility for its upkeep.[17] There are a total 178 Commonwealth service personnel from both World Wars buried in this cemetery.[18]

Notable burials

David Blomfield's grave
George Osborn's grave
Félix Pissarro's grave
Matilda Smith's grave
Curzon Wyllie's grave

Notable people buried in Richmond Cemetery include:

See also

References

  1. ^ Malden, H E ), ed. (1911). "Parishes: Richmond (anciently Sheen)". A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3. Victoria County History. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Richmond Cemetery". London Gardens Trust. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ^ .
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  5. ^ "Richmond Park Management Plan" (PDF). The Royal Parks. January 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Map of Richmond and East Sheen Cemetery". Richmond Cemetery. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  7. ^ Historic England (15 May 1990). "Church of England Chapel Richmond Cemetery (1261361)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Richmond Cemetery". Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  9. ^ "East Sheen Cemetery". Parks and Gardens. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  10. ^ Govett, John. "Richmond Old Burial Ground". Richmond Local History Society. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  11. ^ a b Historic England (11 September 2012). "Bromhead Memorial (1409405)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  12. ^ a b Historic England (24 July 2012). "South African War Memorial (1409475)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Star & Garter Section". Richmond Cemetery. Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Richmond Park, London: The South African Military Hospital". World War One At Home. BBC. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  15. ^ "South Africa's Contribution to the Great War". The Centenary of the First World War. Western Front Association. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Richmond Cemetery, Surrey". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  17. .
  18. ^ "Richmond Cemetery, Surrey". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  19. ^ Odling, George (24 July 2016). "Remembering historian and former history society president David Blomfield, who died last week". Richmond and Twickenham Times. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  20. ^ a b "People of historical note buried in the borough A to L". Local Studies Library. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Sir Charles Burt". Times. 7 March 1913. p. 11 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  22. ^ "Mr. Albert Chancellor". Times. 11 November 1911. p. 11 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  23. ^ "Our History". Chancellor & Sons.
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  25. ^ "Frederick Jeremiah Edwards". Local Studies Library. Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
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  29. ^ "Richmond Cemetery VC Graves = Victoria Cross". victoriacross.org.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  30. ^ Parry-Wingfield, Catherine. "Thomas Christopher Hofland". The Twickenham Museum.
  31. ^ Luxton, Madeleine (5 April 2020). "Collection Focus – George Hilditch". Orleans House Gallery.
  32. ^ "Richard H. Hilditch. Kew Gardens from Richmond Hill". Tate.
  33. ^ "Asgill House" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
  34. ^ "Louis Honig deceased". The London Gazette (28043): 5070–5071. 23 July 1907. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Arthur Lewis Jenkins (1892 – 1917) – British Soldier and Aviator Poet". Forgotten Poets of the First World War. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Death of a poetess". Richmond Herald. 6 March 1920. p. 11.
  37. ^ "Miss Harriet Kendall". Times. 22 September 1933. p. 14 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  38. ^ "Deaths". Times. 20 September 1933. p. 1 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  39. ^ a b c d e "People of historical note buried in the borough M to Z". Local Studies Library. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  40. ^ "Sir William Olpherts". Local Studies Library. Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  41. ^ "Deaths". The Times. 28 June 1988. p. 17. Retrieved 25 March 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  42. ^ "Message from the Chairman". Internet Archive. 1983.
  43. .
  44. .
  45. ^ "General Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast". Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  46. ^ "Matilda Smith, A.L.S." Journal of the Kew Guild. Annual Report, 1925–1926. 1927: 527–528. 1927 – via ISSUU.
  47. ^ Stearn, Roger T. (2007). "Patrons and potatoes: Aspects of an Edwardian council school". Richmond History. 28. Richmond Local History Society: 78–79.
  48. ^ "Major George Powell Thomas". Glasgow Herald. 9 October 1857. Retrieved 3 December 2022 – via British Library Newspapers.
  49. ^ "Deaths". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 21 December 1889. p. 1.
  50. ^ "Thuillier, Henry Edward Landor" by Frank Herbert Brown in Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement.
  51. ^ Mitchell, Andy (16 August 2013). "Andrew Watson: a gravestone that deserves more". Scottish Sport History. Retrieved 24 February 2021.

External links