East London Cemetery

East London Cemetery is a working cemetery and crematorium in Plaistow, in the London Borough of Newham, in the east of the city. Founded in the early 1870s, it still operates today and preserves traces of Victorian London's history. For visitors interested in lesser-known corners of the capital, it is a quiet, off-the-tourist-trail stop.

What is the history of East London Cemetery?

The cemetery was founded in 1871 and laid out in 1872 to meet the growing demand for burial space in London's eastern suburbs. The first burial took place in August 1872. The grounds cover roughly 33 acres. After 1888, a pair of Gothic-style chapels was built in the centre of the site. The Nonconformist chapel was later converted into a crematorium, which has been in use since 1954.

The cemetery was previously run by the East London Cemetery Company. It is now owned and operated by the Dignity Funeral Group.

Who is buried here?

Several people known from history and culture are laid to rest here:

• Lilian Baylis – theatre producer and director, a major figure in London theatre,
• Elizabeth Stride – regarded as the third victim of Jack the Ripper,
• Queenie Watts – actress who appeared in many Carry On films,
• Karl Hans Lody – a German spy in the First World War and the last person shot at the Tower of London; he was first buried within the Tower grounds and later moved to this cemetery.

Some sources spell his first name "Carl".

What memorials and war graves can you see?

A memorial here commemorates around 550 victims of the paddle steamer Princess Alice, which sank in the Thames near Beckton in 1878. The 1917 Silvertown explosion is also remembered on site.

The cemetery contains war graves too: 244 burials from 1914-1918 and 132 Commonwealth burials from 1939-1945. These are looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, so the war graves are easy to recognise by their uniform headstones.

How should you visit?

This is an active cemetery, so respectful behaviour is expected: keep voices low, be discreet when taking photographs, and avoid photographing funeral parties. It is best to plan your visit away from times when ceremonies are held. A walk lets you see Victorian headstones, the Gothic chapels and the communal memorials. Check current opening hours with the operator, Dignity, before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Where is East London Cemetery? In Plaistow, in the London Borough of Newham, east London.

Is the cemetery still in use? Yes. Burials continue, and a crematorium operates on the grounds.

Who owns it? Today, the Dignity Funeral Group; the previous owner was the East London Cemetery Company.

Is a Jack the Ripper victim buried here? Yes, Elizabeth Stride, regarded as the third victim, is buried here.

Is it the same as Plaistow Cemetery? No. Plaistow Cemetery in Bromley is a different site, opened in 1893.

Are there war graves? Yes, from both world wars, including Commonwealth service personnel.