Barnes Cemetery
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Barnes Cemetery, also known as Barnes Old Cemetery, is a disused cemetery in
Barnes Barnes may refer to: People *Barnes (name), a family name and a given name (includes lists of people with that name) Places United Kingdom * Barnes, London, England ** Barnes railway station **Barnes Bridge railway station ** Barnes High Stree ...
, in the
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in south-west Greater London, London, England, forms part of Outer London and is the only London boroughs, London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller ...
. It is located off Rocks Lane on
Barnes Common Barnes Common is a local nature reserve on common land in the south east of Barnes, London, England, adjoining Putney Lower Common to the east and bounded to the south by the Upper Richmond Road. Along with Barnes Green, it is one of the large ...
.


History

The cemetery was established in 1854 on two acres of sandy ground purchased by the
Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...
for the sum of £10. A chapel, lodge and landscaping were provided at a further cost of £1,400. The cemetery functioned as an additional burial ground to the local parish churchyard. It was well-used and a number of distinguished Victorians were buried there, with a variety of monuments and statues erected to their memory. At the centre of the cemetery is a large memorial to the Hedgman family, who were local benefactors in Barnes. The cemetery was claimed to be haunted by a ghostly nun that would hover over the grave of Julia Martha Thomas, the victim of an infamous murder in 1879. In 1966 the cemetery was acquired by the
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in south-west Greater London, London, England, forms part of Outer London and is the only London boroughs, London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller ...
with the intention of turning it into a
lawn cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite, graveyard, or a green space called a memorial park or memorial garden, is a place where the remains of many dead people are buried or otherwise entombed. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek ) implies tha ...
, a grass-covered area where each grave is marked with a commemorative plaque rather than standing memorials. The council demolished the chapel and lodge and removed the boundary railings to prepare the cemetery for its new role. However, it then dropped the plans and effectively abandoned the cemetery. Over the next thirty years or so, the site was subject to considerable damage and vandalism to graves and monuments. However, within the past decade, the site has seen significant change. No longer neglected, much thought and care now goes into the management of this beautiful old cemetery. Indeed, its resultant ‘gothic charm’ and evocative light levels that have been enhanced by selective thinning and conservation work, make it a popular site for local art and film students. The overgrown nature of today's cemetery provides a valuable sanctuary for birds and other fauna. With good feeding grounds all around, many native birds and summer visitors breed in the cemetery, including thrushes, wrens, tits, finches, blackcap, chiff chaff, willow warbler, goldcrest while others migrate through. Some of the original planting is still in evidence: large specimens of yew, cedar, holly, Holm oak, pines and Wych elm. Many of these have produced thickets of seedlings and saplings. There are also native deciduous trees such as oak, ash and birch, and bird-sown shrubs such as elder. In some of the more open glades you can see pretty herbaceous species such as Herb Robert, Ox-eye Daisy and foxglove. For its part,
Richmond upon Thames Council Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council, also known as Richmond upon Thames Council, LBRUT or Richmond Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, ...
describes the cemetery as an "atmospheric and romantic place" with "an evocative atmosphere of decay and seclusion". It is also regarded as a popular dogging hotspot with many google reviews alluding to indecent sexual activity occurring late at night.


Notable interments

*
Alexander Joseph Finberg Alexander Joseph Finberg (April 23, 1866 – March 15, 1939) was an art historian focused on the History of British Art who was a founder of the Walpole Society and an expert on J. M. W. Turner. Finberg was educated at City of London College, Ki ...
(1886–1939) was an art historian focused on the history of British art. He was a founder of the Walpole Society and an expert on
J. M. W. Turner Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 177519 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbu ...
. * James Heywood (1810–1897), philanthropist, MP and social reformer * Charles Innes (d. 1907), architect who designed St Michael's Church in Barnes and rebuilt much of the parish church *
Augustus Mayhew Augustus Septimus Mayhew (1826 – 25 December 1875) was an English journalist and author, born in London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kin ...
(1826–1875), journalist and author *
Ebenezer Cobb Morley Ebenezer Cobb Morley (16 August 1831 – 20 November 1924) was an English sportsman. He is regarded as one of the fathers of the Football Association (FA) and modern football. Early life Morley was born at 10 Garden Square, Princess Street in ...
(1831–1924), regarded as the father of
The Football Association The Football Association (the FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest footb ...
and modern football *
Francis Turner Palgrave Francis Turner Palgrave (; 28 September 1824 – 24 October 1897) was a British critic, anthologist and poet. Life He was born at Great Yarmouth, the eldest son of Francis Palgrave, Sir Francis Palgrave, the (born Jewish) historian to his wife ...
(1824–1897), professor of poetry, Oxford University *
Henry William Pickersgill Henry William Pickersgill Royal Academician, RA (3 December 1782 – 21 April 1875) was an English painter specialising in portraits. He was a Royal Academy, Royal Academician for almost fifty years, and painted many of the most notable figures ...
(1782–1875), portrait painter. An inscription on his memorial also commemorates his wife Jeanette Pickersgill (d. 1885), the first person to be legally cremated in the UK. Her ashes are at Kensal Green Cemetery * Youssef Sirrie or Joseph Sirry (1830–1880), Syrian-born servant of the property developer, Henry Scarth. The pub "The Arab Boy" is named after him. He inherited Scarth's estate. * Julia Martha Thomas (d. 1879), murder victim * Samuel Rabbeth (1858–1884), a young doctor who died from
diphtheria Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacteria, bacterium ''Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild Course (medicine), clinical course, but in some outbreaks, the mortality rate approaches 10%. Signs a ...
contracted from a child patient whom he attempted to save. * Edward Williams (1781–1855), landscape painter ** His sons,
Henry John Boddington Henry John Boddington (1811 – 11 April 1865) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Biography Henry John Boddington was born Henry John Williams on 14 October 1811 in L ...
(1811–1865), landscape artist **
George Augustus Williams George Augustus Williams (4 May 1814 – 26 May 1901) was an English landscape painter during the Victorian era, and a member of the Williams family of painters. Biography George Augustus Williams was born on 4 May 1814 in London. He was the ...
(1814–1901), landscape artist


War graves

Ten Commonwealth service personnel, whose graves are registered and maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...
, are buried at the cemetery, seven from
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
and three from
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.


See also

* East Sheen Cemetery, originally known as Barnes ("New") Cemetery


References


External links


Aerial view from 1921
from the English Heritage "Britain from Above" archive * {{Cemeteries, crematoria and memorials in Richmond upon Thames 1854 establishments in England Anglican cemeteries in the United Kingdom Barnes, London Cemeteries in London Cemeteries in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in England