St Mary Cray Cemetery

St Mary Cray Cemetery is a municipal burial ground in Orpington, on the south-eastern edge of London in the Borough of Bromley. Locals have long called it Star Lane Cemetery. It is a quiet, tree-lined site of modest size, with a history that will interest anyone looking for traces of the Second World War in the London landscape.

Where is St Mary Cray Cemetery?

The cemetery sits in St Mary Cray, a former market town in Kent that is now a suburb of Orpington within the London Borough of Bromley. The grounds cover roughly 6.5 acres. Immediately to the west lies the churchyard of St Mary's parish. The surroundings are residential and far from central London's tourist trail, so a visit means a dedicated trip to the outskirts.

How did the cemetery begin?

The cemetery opened in the 1880s, most commonly given as 1881. It was created because older churchyards, at St Mary's and at St Paulinus, had filled up. Bromley Council later renamed it officially, yet the name Star Lane, taken from the road it stands on, remains in everyday local use.

What is there to see?

A cemetery chapel stands near the entrance, surrounded by mature trees. The old lodge at the gate has been demolished. The layout is typical of Victorian and later municipal cemeteries: lawns, headstones and paths.

The main point of interest is the war graves plot to the left of the entrance. It holds 59 Commonwealth service burials from the Second World War, 50 of them in this plot. Most are airmen, because the cemetery served the nearby Royal Air Force station at Biggin Hill, one of the key bases during the Battle of Britain. Women of the auxiliary air services who served at Biggin Hill are also buried here.

Polish graves

For Polish visitors, the cemetery also contains the graves of three Polish airmen. Polish squadrons flew from Biggin Hill and neighbouring airfields, so the site is a natural stop for anyone tracing Polish connections in south-east England. The war graves are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which keeps detailed records for them.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee? No. It is an ordinary municipal cemetery open to visitors. Please keep quiet and show respect, as it is still an active place of burial.

How do I get there? From central London the easiest route is a train to St Mary Cray or Orpington station, then a short walk or local bus. Check the current timetable before you travel.

How long should I allow? A relaxed walk and a look at the war plot usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Can I find a specific grave? Yes. CWGC records let you look up names and plot numbers before you arrive, which makes searching much easier.

Who is it for? Aviation history enthusiasts, family-history researchers, fans of local London history, and anyone who wants to pay respects to the people of the Battle of Britain and the later war years.

Practical tips

Visit in daylight and dry weather, when the lawns are firm and the paths easy to walk. Bring a printout from the CWGC register or a note of plot numbers. Take photographs with consideration for other mourners. If you are combining stops, the church of St Mary and the old market-town streets are nearby, and Biggin Hill, with its aviation-related chapel and museum, is not far away.