Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium

Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium is one of the largest cemeteries in East London, set in Forest Gate in the borough of Newham. Founded in the 1870s, it has always been a privately run business, and today it combines a Victorian burial ground with a working crematorium.

How did Manor Park Cemetery begin?

The land once belonged to Hamfrith Farm. It was sold to Samuel Gurney in 1851, and in 1874 the Manor Park Cemetery Company bought it. The first burial took place in March 1875, when William Nesbitt, a 19-year-old local, was laid to rest. At first the site offered burial only, with no buildings for funeral services. A chapel and entrance gates were added in 1877.

What happened during the Second World War?

On 23 July 1944 the cemetery was hit by enemy action. Of the chapels, only the tower survived. The buildings were reconstructed, and the new design included cremation facilities. The rebuilt chapels opened on 2 November 1955, and the site has served for both burial and cremation ever since.

Who is buried here?

Alongside thousands of ordinary East Enders, a few figures from history rest here:

• Annie Chapman, the second victim of Jack the Ripper, buried in September 1888.
• John Travers Cornwell, the youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross, honoured for his conduct at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

How big is the cemetery?

It covers about 43 acres (roughly 17 hectares) and holds nearly 387,000 interments, which makes it one of the biggest burial grounds in the east of the capital.

Who runs it?

Unlike many London cemeteries managed by local councils, Manor Park is a private, profit-making company. The Jeffreys family has been involved since 1874 and remains among its owners. Such continuity across almost 150 years is unusual in the funeral trade.

Is it worth visiting as a tourist?

First and foremost this is a place of mourning and should be visited respectfully. For anyone interested in London's past, though, it has real documentary value. Victorian headstones, the surviving chapel tower and graves tied to criminal and wartime history show a side of the city far from the centre. A walk along its avenues pairs well with exploring other parts of Forest Gate and Newham.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Manor Park Cemetery? In Forest Gate, in the London Borough of Newham, in the east of the city.

When was it founded? The company bought the land in 1874, and the first burial took place in March 1875.

Is there a crematorium? Yes. The chapels rebuilt after wartime destruction opened in 1955 with cremation facilities.

Who is buried here? Among others, Annie Chapman, a victim of Jack the Ripper, and John Travers Cornwell, the youngest Victoria Cross recipient.

Is it a council cemetery? No, it is a private business run for generations by the Jeffreys family.

How many people are buried here? Nearly 387,000, across about 43 acres.