Tired of London, Tired of Life - A website about things to do in London

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17 October 2011

Go for a walk in Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery

Until a few weeks ago, your author had only been aware of Brockwell and Ladywell Cemetery as an empty space on a map. A dark space which loomed in peripheral vision during late cycle rides across South East London, but during the daytime it is a beautiful place to get away from it all, and immerse yourself in a mixture of death and nature.


Opened in 1858, originally as two cemeteries serving the parishes of Lewisham & Deptford, we are told that the total area is 37 acres. The cemeteries are rich with wildlife, including sycamore, horse-chestnut, hybrid black poplar and lime trees, which are now showing a lot of autumnal colour, and inevitable squirrels dart to and fro.

For specific information from the Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries, click here, of for a great overview, see click here.

4 comments:

  1. Although I dislike London, I applaud your mission to showcase facets of the city that are usually "off the radar" for residents and visitors alike. Maintaining a childlike sense of curiosity about the places where we live is to me an eminently healthy trait to possess so I hope you'll keep exploring and reporting.

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  2. Thanks Yorkshire Pudding, and I completely agree it is important to maintain a curiosity. I'm pleased to see you are doing the same.

    I have always said that it isn't necessarily London in particular that motivates me, and I would do the same wherever I was in the country. It's great to know there are others out there with a similar mission.

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  3. It's worth going on one of the guided walks organised by the Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries if you get a chance. I went on one in August and it was fascinating to hear the stories behind some of the graves.

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  4. The walk this Saturday,22nd, starts at 2.30pm at the Ladywell Road gate, and will last between one and a half and two hours. It will be a circular walk taking in both Cemeteries, looking at notable graves and memorials, as well as plants and trees. Hopefully the sparrowhawk we saw in August will still be around.

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