My ‘culture’ visit at the very beginning of this week, was to Highgate Cemetery in North London.
Now that may appear slightly macabre and strange to some, but it is a place that I have always wanted to visit, but never found the time to do so.
The graveyard was opened in 1839, and designed as a multi-faith stand alone site, without any association to a church or any religious denomination.
Its architectural features and its setting makes it unique, and it has been the back drop to many a film/tv drama throughout the years.
It is still a ‘working’ resting place, and there are also many ‘famous’ individuals buried there, from all walks of life – and I sought out the plots of some that were of interest to me.
A really interesting place and well worth a visit in my opinion
Examples of the differing types of memorials and grave stones
More examples of the differing types of memorials and grave stones
A view of one of the many paths that crisis cross the site
The tomb of Karl Marx – the ‘father’ of communism
Examples of memorials and grave stones
So many different types of memorials
The grave of the legendary thespian Sir Ralph Richardson – star of theatre, film and broadway
Some dodgy pensioner having a mooch around a cemetery
The grave of Bruce Reynolds – the mastermind behind the Great Train Robbery in 1963 – where they netted £2.6m……..the equivalent of £49m in today’s money
The grave of legendary music hall and variety entertainer Max Wall, and whose epitaph poignantly says “I believe that since my life began – the most I’ve had is just a talent to amuse”
Sir Rod Stewart (and his siblings) memorial to their mum and dad. His parents owned a sweet shop in Archway, just down the road to the cemetery
Authoress “George Elliott” – a bird who wrote under a geezers name – so that she coukd get her work published
“Watch Out, Beadle’s About”
A memorial to the London Fire Brigade
The Sex Pistols manager, and (along with Vivien Westwood) possibly the ‘godfather’ of the ‘punk’ fashion.
So many different types of memorials
Glaswegian guitarist/ singer-songwriter ‘Bert Jansch’ – a major influence to the old skool muso’s such Jimmy Page, Paul Simon, Jeff Beck, right through to the likes of Johnny Marr of The Smiths
So many different types of memorials
ӀncrediЬle story there – Carly (Nov 17)
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