Golders Green Jewish Cemetery

Golders Green Jewish Cemetery, almost always called Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery, is a burial ground in Golders Green, in the London Borough of Barnet (NW11). It is run jointly by two congregations and holds the graves of several well-known figures of British Jewish life.

Where is it and who runs it?

The cemetery lies along Hoop Lane in north-west London, at roughly 51.58 N, 0.19 W. It is maintained by a joint burial committee that represents members of the West London Synagogue and the S&P Sephardi Community. Two communities with different traditions therefore share one site.

How did the cemetery come about?

By the late nineteenth century the West London Synagogue needed more space for its burials. It bought the land at Hoop Lane in December 1894 for £3,000. In April 1896 the congregation sold eight acres of it to the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, which created the shared arrangement that still exists. For the Sephardi community, Hoop Lane became the main burial place and replaced its older cemeteries in the East End.

Sources disagree on the exact opening date. Some give 1895, while others say the first burials took place in 1897. If you cite a date, it is safest to say the cemetery dates from the mid-1890s.

What does it look like?

The site is divided between the two communities. The north-eastern part belongs to the Sephardic community and is known for flat grave slabs. The south-western part is used by West London Synagogue members and has upright monuments. The difference is easy to see when you walk between the two areas.

Who is buried here?

Among the people laid to rest at Hoop Lane are Rabbi Leo Baeck, Rabbi Hugo Gryn and Rabbi Albert Friedlander, all prominent religious leaders. The cellist Jacqueline du Pré is also buried here. A JewishGen record additionally mentions Stanley Setty, a car dealer murdered by Donald Hume.

What else is on Hoop Lane?

In 1902 London's first crematorium was established on the south side of Hoop Lane, so the street has a long association with funerary sites. The cemetery itself is still open for new burials, mostly in reserved plots.

Frequently asked questions

Is Golders Green Jewish Cemetery the same as Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery? Yes. Hoop Lane is the name most people use for it.

Who looks after the cemetery? A joint burial committee of the West London Synagogue and the S&P Sephardi Community.

Can people still be buried here? Yes, the cemetery remains open for new burials, mainly in reserved plots.

Which famous people are buried here? Rabbis Leo Baeck, Hugo Gryn and Albert Friedlander, and the cellist Jacqueline du Pré, among others.

Is it a tourist attraction? It is a working cemetery, not a visitor attraction. Anyone who goes should keep to a quiet, respectful manner and follow any rules posted on site.