Nunhead Cemetery

Nunhead Cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven Victorian cemeteries of London, set in Nunhead in the London Borough of Southwark. It is perhaps the least famous of the seven, which has helped it keep a quiet, almost woodland atmosphere. Today it combines a historic park, the ruins of a Gothic chapel and a local nature reserve in south-east London.

What are the Magnificent Seven?

The name refers to seven large cemeteries laid out around the edge of London in the first half of the 19th century, when churchyards in the centre were overflowing. Nunhead was consecrated in 1840 and opened by the London Cemetery Company, which had been incorporated by the London Cemetery Company Act 1836. It was originally called All Saints' Cemetery.

Who designed it?

James Bunstone Bunning designed the site as an airy, open space. Its winding paths and dense planting reflect the ideas of J C Loudon, who favoured curving routes and greenery in cemetery design. The Anglican chapel, completed around 1844, is a Decorated Gothic building by Thomas Little, built in brick and clad in Kentish ragstone. A second chapel for Nonconformists originally stood here too but was later demolished.

Why did it fall into decline?

Once a fashionable place of burial, the cemetery lost its standing. The new Crystal Palace railway blocked the approach, and a company secretary embezzled funds. The catacombs, now sealed and found north-east of the entrance drive, were raided for lead and valuables. The cemetery closed in 1969 in a neglected state, and the Anglican chapel was destroyed by arson in the mid-1970s. Southwark council took over the site, and an Act of Parliament allowed the borough to buy it for just £1.

How was it saved?

In 1981 a volunteer group, the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC), was formed. With Heritage Lottery Fund support, it renovated the ruined chapel, restored the gates, walls and railings, repaired 50 memorials, laid new paths and cleared much of the overgrown landscape. The cemetery reopened in 2001.

What can you see today?

The roughly 50-acre site is a conservation area and a grade II* registered historic park, and part of it is designated a local nature reserve. As you walk, you will pass ivy-draped monuments, the ruined chapel and tree-lined avenues. Almost 270,000 people are buried here, including some 700 Commonwealth servicemen.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Nunhead Cemetery? In Nunhead, in the London Borough of Southwark, in south-east London.

Can you go into the catacombs? No, the catacombs are sealed.

Is it still an active cemetery? It closed in 1969 and, after restoration, reopened in 2001 as a historic park and nature reserve open to visitors.

Is it worth visiting? Yes, if you enjoy less obvious places. It is a quiet alternative to London's better-known cemeteries, with rich history, Gothic ruins and abundant wildlife.

Who looks after it? The site is owned by Southwark council, and the volunteer Friends of Nunhead Cemetery support its restoration and upkeep.