Link to the Show / Show NotesIt's a matter of life and death - an unusual and privileged walk through
Kensal Green cemetery.
It may seem strange to us today that Victorian families enjoyed nothing more
than a Sunday afternoon stroll through one of London's great cemeteries. Take
this walk with me and you will find out why.
I am accompanied by one of my nephews, Andrew Lewis. Together we have the
benefit of a knowledgeable guide and expert Henry Vivian Neale. Henry is chief
guide for the Friends of Kensal Green.
For more information about the Friends, check out their
web site which is kept up to date,
and gives details of the history, opening times, and events at the Cemetery.
Kensal Green is an awesome and sometimes spooky place. There are huge
mausoleums, fantastic statuary, amazing decorations, and space below for dozens
of bodies. Some of the stories Henry tells are legendary. How about the
cross-dressing surgeon, who throughout her life posed as a man in order to be
accepted in a profession denied to woman of her time? or maybe you'd like to
hear about a man who made a considerable fortune from being able to act a scene
whilst simultaneously riding sic horses bareback? or possibly you'd like to see
the memorial to someone who pushed a wheelbarrow across the Grand Canyon on a
tightrope?
Mix with the remains of the aristocracy and royalty, cheek by jowl with
upstarts and crooks who thought highly enough of themselves to have
fantastically decorative and expensive mausoleums constructed for them during
their lifetimes.
During our visit, we see inside the Grade 1 listed Anglican Chapel, and
descend to the extensive catacombs below.
This walk is a real treat. Part stroll, part documentary, part history
lesson, part comedy - this episode is a one-off.
The nearest London Underground station
is Kensal Green on the Bakerloo Line (Zone 2). The cemetery is also served by
buses 18, 23, 52, 70, 295 and 316;
please use the
Journey Planner to plan your journey with Transport for London. There
is limited parking in front of the
Main Gate on Harrow Road.
We start at Top Gate - from the Underground turn left then right onto Harrow
Road. Top Gate is a few paces on your left hand side. Check the Opening Hours
before your visit, and the Friends web site if you want to visit the Anglican
Chapel and catacombs as we did.
Opening hours
Summer (1 April to 30 September)
Monday to Saturday: 9.00 to 18.00 (Top Gate*)
Sunday: 10.00 to 18.00 (Top Gate*)
Bank Holidays (UK National Holidays): 10.00 to 13.00 (Top Gate*)
Winter (1 October to 31 March)
Monday to Saturday: 9.00 to 17.00 (Top Gate*)
Sunday: 10.00 to 17.00 (Top Gate*)
Bank Holidays (UK National Holidays): 10.00 to 13.00 (Top Gate*)
My grateful thanks to Henry Vivian Neale for taking the time to show us
round. It may be the first and last occasions when he has given several thousand
people the benefit of his great knowledge in one 90 minute period.
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