Views and Aspects of the City of London Cemetery (3) Other Features
I have included here some aspects of the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium which are neither buildings or memorials, just some features which I have found interesting. They do not necessarily have a wildlife connection although some - at least remotely - may have.
All of the photographs included here were taken by myself.
The Modern Crematorium Pond - complete with heron
THE MODERN CREMATORIUM POND
Adjacent to the South Chapel of the modern crematorium is a large ornamental pond, complete with water-lilies, some very large carp, usually moorhens and coots, and often a heron. A fountain and a waterfall add to the ambience, and there is a pleasant selection of water-side plants edging the pond.
THE OLD CREMATORIUM POND AND THE SUNKEN GARDEN
The Old Crematorium Pond - at least, that's what I call it - is just to the north-east of the East Chapel and is a peaceful place to stand and perhaps watch a herd of terrapins and some flocks of large carp, or maybe - also watching the carp - a statuesque heron. Just to the west, across Limes Avenue, is a sunken garden which is perhaps even more peaceful as it has benches, no terrapins or carp - just perhaps butterflies, bees, birds, bushes and plants.
The Sunken Garden in the City of London Cemetery
The Old Crematorium Pond
The Brewster Oak, City of London Cemetery 150th Anniversary
THE BREWSTER OAK
Following Chapel Avenue directly ahead from the main gate, on the left of Chapel Avenue is the Brewster Oak. On 13th August 2006 an Open Day was held to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the cemetery. During the day an oak tree was planted on an area of lawn by Mr John W. Brewster OBE, Chairman of the Port Health & Environmental Services Committee.
The tree is an English Oak, Quecus robur, and the photograph was taken in 2018.
Passion Flower Sculpting on a Celtic Cross
PASSION FLOWER SCULPTING
At least nature-related, this one - a Passion Flower decoration on a Celtic Cross.
The structure of the Passion Flower is said to represent the elements of the Passion of Christ: the lacy crown = the crown of thorns; the style = the three nails; the five anthers = the five wounds; the ten petals = the 10 faithful Apostles.
The grave is near the Church, and the text reads:
IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF / THOMAS HARVERSON, / OF WANSTEAD. / WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE / SEPTR 10TH 1890, / IN HIS 67TH YEAR
Garlanded AngelPLANTS USED AS A GARLAND
There are many sculptures of angels in the cemetery, and this one appears to have decorated itself with a garland of ivy.
It is remarkable too that the figure has retained both its arms and hands, as so often these are missing.
BUS SHELTER
Not really - not a shelter for buses at all, nor even a bus stop. You would wait a very long time, although there are cemetery transport vehicles that might be used to convey people to a distant part of the cemetery if there is a need.
I think there are 13 of these shelters which - of course - are for people to rest or shelter in.
One of the distinctive City of London waste bins can be seen to the right.
And sometimes a proper bus might turn up... this one was used for a funeral service on 12th October 2006.
Pedestrian Shelter
Sometimes a bus does turn up inside the cemetery - Routemaster RM298, 'Rose'
Fox carving
A real fox, having a scratch amongst the gravestones
FOX CARVING
Not that there aren't lots of real foxes living in the cemetery - it's almost unusual to visit without seing at least one - and especially when visiting the cafe there.
This wooden carving is on stump of a tree in the memorial gardens, enclosed within a square of benches.
Koala Bear Carving
KOALA BEAR CARVING
I am not sure whether this is supposed to represent a koala bear - perhaps it is a monkey, or even a goblin. And I am not sure on the corner of which grave I saw it to take the photograph. I keep looking out for it in the hope that some of the inscription on the grave might give a hint.
THE BIRCHES NATURE RESERVE
In a somewhat remote northerly part of the cemetery, best accessed from Limes Avenue, is The Birches Nature Reserve.
This was created in 2006 in a wooded area that was unsuitable for use as a burial site. The small stream known as the Alders Brook runs through here, so it has formed a shallow valley which over the years has developed into a woodland. At some time a pond was dug to enhance the wildlife, and in fact this is the first visible appearence of the brook itself. There is more information on The Birches here.
Inside the Nature Reserve
Outside of the Birches Nature Reserve
The Birches Pond, showing the culvert from which the Alders Brook exits.THE ALDERS BROOK
Within the Birches Nature Reserve the first above-ground view of the Alders Brook may be had, in the form of water issuing from a culvert into a small pond or wet area. Until this point the water flows undergound through a culvert.
The egress from the culvert can be seen in the photograph (just right of centre). More information about the brook can be found here.
One of the manhole covers, presumably allowing access to the culverted Alders Brook, looking towards Haywoods Lawn.The apparent course of the brook as it flows through the cemetery can be traced from approximately 100 metres west of the main gate at West Boundary Road, in the form of a shallow valley. It the flows beneath Rhododendron Avenue as far as the Catacombs, and may be surmised by a series of manhole covers along the course. Beyond the Catacombs, from the main steps that lead to the terrace above those, manholes may again be seen as far as the raised land known now as Haywoods Lawn.
On the lawn itself - a recently established area for burials - and in line with the photograph on the right, is another manhole access, although at present it is not obvious within the newly established area.
Hindu shrine to Lord Shiva
HINDU SHRINE TO SHIVA
The cemetery is open to burials and cremations from people of all religions and none, and from anywhere - not just the City of London. Almost certainly, though, the majority will be either Christian or Atheist.
Not far from the modern crematorium building, on Central Avenue, is a monument which is a Hindu shrine to the deity Lord Shiva.
Ordnance Survey Benchmark in the City of London Cemetery.ORDNANCE SURVEY BENCHMARK
A not-very-obvious aspect of the cemetery is this Ordnance Survey (O.S.) benchmark, located on the SE corner of the Church.
O.S. benchmarks are intended to be permanent markers to which a reference of the height-above-sea-level at that point is made, and shown on O.S.maps. The height above sea level is based on the 'Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN)', that is, the height above the level of the mean high tide at Newlyn in Cornwall.
The actual datum mark is the horizontal line incised into the stonework, shown in the centre of the photograph. The upwards-pointing arrow makes clear where and what it is.
With the advent of G.P.S. (Global Positioning Service), and the accuracy enabled by that system, to a great extent the use of benchmarks has been superceded. Many still remain, however, but are not maintained, so they may eventually disappear.
I have been unable to find this mark in 2022, and I fear that it might have been obliterated in renovation work.
Mystery mark and textMYSTERY MARK
I was somewhat uncertain what this mark and text on the side of a grave in Poplar Road represents, but the the grave is dedicted to John Chidlaw Percival CBE FRICS.
It states 'VIEW =) REST PLACE 16th AUGUST 2006' with what looks like an elongated = (equals) sign and a thin crescent moon symbol between VIEW and REST.
As John Percival was a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors I surmise that the sign relates to that profession.
Paul Ferris (begun 28th February 2023)
References:
* Grade Listed Buildings: https://historicengland.org.uk/
(1) A Geological Walk in the City of London Cemetery. Wendy Kirk and David Cook. Aldersbrook Geological Society
(2) https://hidden-london.com/nuggets/city-of-london-dragons/
(3) Coughlin, Con (2013). Churchill's First War: Young Winston at War with the Afghans. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 63.
(4) https://www.companyofnurses.co.uk/annie-brewster-remembered/
(5) The City of London Cemetry Heritage Brochure (Edition 2, 2004)