Perhaps the least known, but most attractive, of the great Victorian Cemeteries of London. Consecrated in 1840, it is one of the seven great Victorian cemeteries established in a ring around the outskirts of London. It contains examples of the magnificent monuments erected in memory of the most eminent citizens of the day, which contrast sharply with the small, simple headstones marking common, or public, burials. It’s formal avenue of towering limes and the Gothic gloom of the original Victorian planting gives way to paths which recall the country lanes of a bygone era. Click here to see a map.
The Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) exists to represent all those with an interest in the cemetery. The group seeks to promote the conservation and appreciation of the cemetery as a place of remembrance, of historic importance and of natural beauty. There is a conducted tour of the cemetery, open to all, on the last Sunday of each month, starting from the Linden Grove gates at 2:00 p.m.
Members receive a multi-page quarterly newsletter containing news, features, letters and adverts. Also listed are details of meetings, tours and open days organised for members and the general public.
Click here to join.
Click here for more information and a map.
£3.7m funding for the East Lodge project at Nunhead Cemetery
Southwark Council and Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) are awarded a £3.7m grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver the Nunhead Cemetery East Lodge: From Ruin to Revival project.
The Big Help Out 2024
Introduction to practical work at Nunhead Cemetery – 9th June 2024, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
FONC regularly carries out a variety of practical work to management the heritage and natural environment of Nunhead Cemetery. This event will be a short session to introduce new volunteers to two activities. The first is woodland management concentrating on logging up recently wind blown trees, opening up glades for butterfly conservation and other seasonal work. The second is participating in the ongoing monument inscription recording project which aims to capture the inscriptions on headstones before they disappear forever.
For more information, please contact our Volunteer Organsier by email or phone on 07764 600693.
Forthcoming Events
Committee meetings are held at 7.00 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month by Zoom. Committee meetings are open meetings and members are welcome to ‘attend’ in a non-voting capacity. Please contact Jeff Hart if you would like to attend.
Occasional open/public meetings take place when an invited speaker may give a slide presentation on a subject sympathetic to FONCs aims and activities such as cemetery conservation, cemeteries generally, local history, wildlife etc. These meetings are advertised in the newsletter.
Practical conservation work is carried out in the cemetery on the first Sunday of each month. Meet at the FONC cabin by the main entrance in Linden Grove between 10.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Don’t feel that you have to stay for the whole time though. Even if you can only spare an hour or two, it will really help. Volunteers must be FONC members for insurance purposes. Non-members can become a member on the day if they wish, by signing a membership application form and paying their first subscription at the same time.
Monumental inscription recording is carried out in the cemetery twice monthly, generally on a Wednesday in the middle of each month and the last Sunday of each month. All volunteers are most welcome and should meet at the FONC cabin by the main entrance in Linden Grove, usually at 10.15 am. Please contact Garry Wiles, the Monument Inscriptions Recording Coordinator if you would like to join us.
Opening times – The cemetery is open to the public daily (including weekends) from 08.30 am to 4:00 pm throughout the winter months and stays open slightly later in spring and summer. Please note these times are subject to alteration.
Please see our information about visiting under “Gravesite search“.
Further information about opening times is available from Southwark Council.
Last Updated on 24th May 2024
