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 Railway Bri ...

, in the

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames () in southwest London forms part of Outer London and is the only London borough on both sides of the River Thames. It was created in 1965 when three smaller council areas amalgamated under the London ...

. It is located off Rocks Lane on Barnes Common.

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 established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

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

with the intention of turning it into a lawn cemetery, 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. Ebenezer Cobb Morley grave Barnes

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 aslike Herb Robert, Ox-eye Daisy and foxglove. For its part,

Richmond upon Thames Council Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London, the United Kingdom capital. Richmond upon Thames is ...

describes the cemetery as an "atmospheric and romantic place" with "an evocative atmosphere of decay and seclusion".

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. * 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 and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a populat ...

(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 (also known as 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 ...

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 Sir Francis Palgrave, the (born Jewish) historian to his wife Elizabeth, daught ...

(1824–1897), professor of poetry, Oxford University *

Henry William Pickersgill Henry William Pickersgill Royal Academician, RA (3 December 1782 – 21 April 1875) was an England, English painter specialising in portraits. He was a Royal Academy, Royal Academician for almost fifty years, and painted many of the most notable ...

(1782–1875), portrait painter. An inscription on his memorial also commemorates his wife

Jeanette Pickersgill Jeanette Pickersgill (30 November 1813 – 20 March 1885) was an English painter, She was the first person to be legally cremated in the United Kingdom, at Woking Crematorium in Surrey. Life She was born Jeannette Caroline Grover in 1813 in Ams ...

(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 Dr Samuel Rabbeth (19 August 1858 – 20 October 1884) was a young medical doctor who died from diphtheria contracted from a child patient whom he tried to save. His tragic death was widely reported in the newspapers and there is a memorial to him ...

(1858–1884), a young doctor who died from

diphtheria Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild clinical course, but in some outbreaks more than 10% of those diagnosed with the disease may die. Signs and s ...

contracted from a child patient whom he saved * 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 t ...

(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 (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and three from

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

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

History

Notable interments

War graves

See also

References

External links