Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery is a cemetery in the

London Borough of Bromley The London Borough of Bromley () is the southeasternmost of the London boroughs that make up Greater London, bordering the ceremonial county of Kent, which most of Bromley was part of before 1965. The borough's population is an estimated 332,3 ...

, opened in 1876.

Location and history

Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery is located between

South Norwood South Norwood is a district of south-east London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon, Greater London and formerly in the historic county of Surrey. It is located 7.8 miles (12.5 km) south-east of Charing Cross, north of Wood ...

Country Park and Birkbeck. The cemetery was opened in 1876 although it is often erroneously reported as 1880 and was initially known as the Crystal Palace District Cemetery. It is often referred to today as the Elmers End Cemetery due to its location within Beckenham and proximity to

Elmers End station Elmers End is a railway station and tram terminus in Elmers End, south London, England. It is in the London Borough of Bromley and on the railway it is down the line from London Charing Cross. The railway through Elmers End was opened by the ...

. During the Second World War the larger of the cemetery’s two chapels was devastated during air raids and had to be demolished. The chapel that survived the bombing was converted to include cremation facilities and opened in 1956. It is served by

Birkbeck station Birkbeck is a railway station and light rail stop in the London Borough of Bromley in the southern suburbs of London. On the rail network it is measured from . It is located on Elmers End Road (A214) and alongside Beckenham Crematorium. His ...

, as well as Elmers End station for

National Rail National Rail (NR) is the trading name licensed for use by the Rail Delivery Group, an unincorporated association whose membership consists of the passenger train operating companies (TOCs) of England, Scotland, and Wales. The TOCs run the p ...

and London Tramlink and by

Harrington Road tram stop Harrington Road tram stop is a light rail stop in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. Harrington Road is in a residential area, and along with Woodside tram stop is the nearest tram stop to the tow ...

for Tramlink.

Burials

Memorials

* 130

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 ...

graves, including a number of casualties from the Royal Naval Depot at Crystal Palace Park and the Army Services Corp Motor Transport Depot at Grove Park .
CWGC Cemetery Record. The graves of 30 which could not be individually marked are listed on a Screen War Memorial, while those of 40 who could be satisfactorily maintained were later commemorated by 30 headstones placed in the cemetery's

Second World War 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 ...

war graves plot. * 127 World War II graves, 12 of which are in a purpose made War Grave plot which also contains special memorials to 3 personnel of the same war whose graves could not be satisfactorily maintained. * There is a memorial to 21 members of the Beckenham Auxiliary Fire Service who were killed in the course of a single night (19–20 April 1941) during a German raid on the

East End of London The East End of London, often referred to within the London area simply as the East End, is the historic core of wider East London, east of the Roman and medieval walls of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It does not have uni ...

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 ...

. Many of the firemen were buried in the cemetery, some others in nearby

West Wickham West Wickham is an area of South East London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Bromley with some parts lying in the London Borough of Croydon. It lies south of Park Langley and Eden Park, west of Hayes and Coney Hall, north of ...

.Kent Fire Brigade Roll of Honour 1899-1990

Notable Burials

W.G. Grace William Gilbert Grace (18 July 1848 – 23 October 1915) was an English amateur cricketer who was important in the development of the sport and is widely considered one of its greatest players. He played first-class cricket for a record-equal ...

(1848-1915), cricket player *

Frank Bourne Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Edward Bourne OBE DCM (27 April 1855 – 9 May 1945) was a decorated British soldier who participated in the defence of Rorke's Drift during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. Early life Born in Balcombe, Sussex, England ...

(1855-1945), British soldier *

Thomas Crapper Thomas Crapper (baptised 28 September 1836; died 27 January 1910) was an English plumber and businessman. He founded Thomas Crapper & Co in London, a plumbing equipment company. His notability with regard to toilets has often been overstated, mo ...

(1836-1910), businessman * George Evans VC (1876-1937),

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

recipient *

Josiah Stamp, 1st Baron Stamp Josiah Charles Stamp, 1st Baron Stamp, (21 June 1880 – 16 April 1941) was an English industrialist, economist, civil servant, statistician, writer, and banker. He was a director of the Bank of England and chairman of the London, Midland and Scot ...

(1880-1941), his wife, and son the 2nd Baron (who died together in an air raid on 16 April 1941). * William Walker (1869-1918), diver *

Frederick Wolseley Frederick York Wolseley (16 March 1837 – 8 January 1899) was an Irish-born New South Wales inventor and woolgrower who invented and developed the first commercially successful sheep shearing machinery after extensive experimentation. It revolut ...

(1837-1899), inventor *

Robert Pate Robert Francis Pate Jr. (25 December 1819 – February 1895) was a former British Army officer, remembered for his assault on Queen Victoria on 27 June 1850. Early life Robert Pate was born on Christmas Day, 1819, in Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambr ...

(1819-1895), British Army officer *

Doris Castlerosse Doris Browne, Viscountess Castlerosse ( Delevingne; 25 September 1900 – 12 December 1942) was an English socialite and the first wife of Valentine Browne, 6th Earl of Kenmare.Spence, Lyndsy, Biography She was born Jessie Doris Delevi ...

(1900-1942), socialite *

Samuel Rowbotham Samuel Birley Rowbotham (; 1816 – 23 December 1884, in London) was an English inventor, writer and utopian socialist who wrote ''Zetetic Astronomy: Earth Not a Globe'' under the pseudonym Parallax. His work was originally published as a 16-page ...

(known as Parallax) (1816-1884), inventor

References

External links

Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery on the Bromley website

{{Authority control Cemeteries in London 1876 establishments in England Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Bromley Religion in the London Borough of Bromley Crematoria in London Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in England