Plumstead Cemetery

Plumstead Cemetery is a Victorian municipal burial ground on the south-eastern edge of London, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It spreads across a hillside beside the woodland of Bostall Wood, pairing quiet greenery with the local story of working-class Woolwich.

Where is Plumstead Cemetery?

The cemetery lies in Plumstead, south-east of Woolwich. Wickham Lane runs along its northern side, Lodge Hill rises to the east, and Bostall Wood sits to the south. The official address is Cemetery Road, off Wickham Lane, in the Abbey Wood area (postcode SE2 0NS). Its coordinates are roughly 51.4747 N, 0.1109 E. To the west lies a second, older burial ground, Woolwich Cemetery.

How did the cemetery come about?

It opened in 1890 under the Woolwich Burial Board, the local body responsible for burials. The site was former parkland, and the London Gardens Trust notes that in 1845 the land belonged to Old Park Farm. Surviving registers record around 56,400 burials between 1890 and 2000.

What is there to see?

• The entrance gateway and lodges. The entrance is imposing: a pair of lodges flank the gate, and a driveway climbs from there up the slope.
• Chapels at the top of the hill. The main drive ends at the chapels, set on the highest ground, which gives the grounds a clear central axis.
• Plumstead War Memorial. It commemorates local people who died in war.
• Royal Arsenal accident memorials. Woolwich was home to the vast Royal Arsenal, and the cemetery holds memorials to people killed in accidents at its works.
• Graves of locally notable people. Two Victoria Cross recipients, Thomas Flawn and Alfred Smith, are buried here, along with two former Mayors of Woolwich. Smith served in the Camel Corps sent to relieve General Gordon at Khartoum. Edwin Hughes (1832-1904), a Member of Parliament, also rests here.

Why visit?

It suits visitors interested in London's social history, the lives of Royal Arsenal workers, and British traditions of wartime remembrance. The hillside layout makes for a scenic walk, and the neighbouring Bostall Wood makes it easy to combine the visit with a woodland ramble.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Plumstead Cemetery? In south-east London, in Plumstead, on Cemetery Road off Wickham Lane, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

When did it open? In 1890, on former parkland, run by the Woolwich Burial Board.

Who is buried here? Among others, two Victoria Cross recipients, two former Mayors of Woolwich, and MP Edwin Hughes.

Is there woodland nearby? Yes, the cemetery borders Bostall Wood to its south.

Is it still in use? The cemetery is managed by Greenwich council. Check the council's website for current opening hours and access rules before you go.