Mount Cemetery

Mount Cemetery in Guildford, Surrey, is a quiet hillside burial ground that doubles as one of the town's most atmospheric viewpoints and history walks. Also known as Guildford Cemetery, it occupies the Mount, a spur of the North Downs rising just above the town centre, and it sits right beside the eight-sided Victorian landmark known as Booker's Tower.

What is Mount Cemetery?

It is the municipal cemetery of Guildford, laid out on a steep chalk slope. Rows of weathered headstones, mature trees and winding paths give it the feel of a small park, and the elevated position means the surrounding Surrey countryside opens up in places between the monuments. Visitors come for the calm, for local history, and for the unusual neighbour next to the graves.

What is Booker's Tower?

The tower is the cemetery's best-known feature. Charles Booker, who served three times as Mayor of Guildford, had it built in 1839, partly as a memorial and partly to keep his own name alive. Local accounts say it commemorates his two sons, who both died aged fifteen. One, Charles Collyer Booker, died of smallpox in December 1824; the other, Henry, drowned after falling into the River Wey near the town wharf.

Booker leased a corner of Cradle Field from Dr James Stedman and put up the tower there. The builder was John Mason, although it is not clear whether Mason also designed it. The structure is eight-sided and built of Bargate stone, a local sandstone that gives many older Surrey buildings their warm brown colour. When the tower was opened in 1840, the celebrations dedicated it to the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Some locals call it Booker's Folly.

What has the tower been used for?

Its life since has been varied:

• After Booker's death, J. Rand Capron, who ran a neighbouring observatory, used the tower for experiments on atmospheric electricity, fixing a "corona" of platinum points to a staff on the roof.
• The staircase later crumbled and the tower became inaccessible.
• During the Second World War it served as a lookout post for spotting enemy aircraft.
• Guildford Borough Council, its owner, restored it in 1985, and for a time it was used by CB radio enthusiasts.
• It has been a Grade II listed building since 15 March 1988.

Who is buried at Mount Cemetery?

The cemetery is the resting place of Lewis Carroll, author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, who is an important reason literary visitors make the climb. His grave is the one most people look for first.

Tips for visiting

• Wear sturdy shoes: the paths are steep in places and can be slippery after rain.
• Treat the site as a place of remembrance and keep voices low.
• Combine the visit with a walk through Guildford's old town, which lies a short distance downhill.
• The tower is best appreciated from the outside; it is a landmark to photograph rather than a building to enter.
• Clear days reward the effort with views over the town and the surrounding Surrey Hills.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mount Cemetery the same as Guildford Cemetery? Yes, they are two names for the same site.

Can you go inside Booker's Tower? The tower was restored in 1985, but it is best treated as an exterior landmark; it stands next to the cemetery rather than being part of a visitor attraction.

Who built Booker's Tower and why? Charles Booker, three-time Mayor of Guildford, had it built in 1839 as a memorial and to perpetuate his name. Local accounts link it to the early deaths of his two sons.

Is Lewis Carroll buried here? Yes, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is buried at Mount Cemetery.

Is the tower protected? Yes, it is Grade II listed, a status it has held since 1988.