Grove Park Cemetery

Grove Park Cemetery is a municipal cemetery in south-east London, in the London Borough of Lewisham. It lies in the Chinbrook area of Grove Park, on Marvels Lane, and opened in 1935. That makes it one of the capital's younger burial grounds, and its layout reflects interwar planning. It is owned by Lewisham Council.

Where is Grove Park Cemetery?

The cemetery sits between Chinbrook Meadows and Marvels Wood. It occupies a level plateau of high ground that falls away to the south towards the railway, with views across to Sundridge Park. The Chinbrook name comes from "Chin Brook", an alternative name for the River Quaggy around the turn of the twentieth century. The neighbouring Chinbrook Meadows was begun in 1929 as a playground for residents of the London County Council's new Grove Park Estate.

What is its history?

The cemetery opened in 1935. A local historical inventory records that the first person buried here was Charles Terry, on 17 September 1935. It was founded while the surrounding district was being built up quickly, when residents of the new estates needed a burial ground close to home.

How is the cemetery laid out?

The original design included a brick and tile lodge, a timber-framed chapel, an office, toilets and a central drinking fountain. These features have largely remained in place. The hillside to the west was landscaped with paved terraces, which gives that part of the site a garden-like character.

The entrance dates from the 1930s. It consists of a pair of wrought-iron carriage gates of the same period, hung between two tall brick piers with a rusticated finish.

Is the cemetery a protected site?

Yes. Historic England lists Grove Park Cemetery as a registered site of about 6.5 hectares. The early twentieth-century burial areas and the terraced gardens fall within the registered boundary. The later mid- and late-twentieth-century burial areas to the south are excluded.

Who is it for?

This is not a typical tourist attraction. It will appeal mostly to people interested in landscape design and the history of London's suburbs, and to anyone looking for a quiet corner away from the centre. A visit can be combined with a walk through neighbouring Chinbrook Meadows and Marvels Wood. Because it is a working cemetery, visitors should keep quiet and be respectful of people tending family graves.

Frequently asked questions

When did Grove Park Cemetery open? In 1935.

Who owns it? Lewisham Council.

Is it a protected site? Yes, it is on the Historic England register. About 6.5 hectares are covered, including the early burial areas and terraced gardens.

Where exactly is it? On Marvels Lane in the Chinbrook area of Grove Park, in the London Borough of Lewisham.

What is nearby? Chinbrook Meadows park and Marvels Wood.