Caring for London’s Cemeteries: Investing in our Precious Urban Oases

From Stoke Newington to Nunhead, Kensal Green and Wimbledon, Historic England is supporting the repair and re-use of London’s historic cemetery architecture for the public.

Sadly, many chapels and monuments had ended up on the Heritage at Risk Register, but help is at hand.

More than £684,000 has been invested by Historic England since 2023 in the repair of precious buildings and monuments found within the urban oases of London’s cemeteries.

Recent funding from Historic England and partners has secured the future of beautiful listed structures in cemeteries including Kensal Green, Nunhead, Richmond Old Cemetery, Abney Park and West Norwood; West Norwood Cemetery can now be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register, 190 years since it was established in 1836.

Historic England uses the Heritage at Risk Register as a tool to raise awareness of the challenges facing some of our country’s most significant places and focuses efforts to safeguard them for the future.

Historic England funding is often the springboard for further investment and action to improve the condition of these important monuments and their beautiful landscape settings.

Tom Foxall, Regional Director at Historic England, comments: “Our specialists offer support, guidance and advice to cemetery guardians to bring these special places back from the brink, guiding partners through the process from planning to fundraising, repairs, community engagement and ultimately greater use.

“While ruined chapels may seem romantic, an uncared-for cemetery can attract anti-social behaviour and mean that vital green spaces in the city are not accessible to all people. Repaired and maintained historic buildings in well-managed old cemeteries benefit both visitors and wildlife alike, often also providing much-needed community facilities. We’re all a lot more alive to the fact that beautiful green spaces in urban areas provide important cool, quiet spaces to recharge and reflect, and keeping on top of repairs to the architecture within cemeteries only adds to our wellbeing.”

By working in partnership with charities, local authorities, generous funders and specialist craftspeople, Historic England is delivering meaningful results for our vulnerable cemetery architecture.

Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "London’s historic cemeteries are some of the capital’s most valuable urban green spaces. They offer a place for nature to thrive, for people to reflect and for the community to learn about their historic significance. We’re proud to be supporting the transformation of many of these much-loved spaces thanks to National Lottery players. These projects are helping to conserve these important landscapes and make them more accessible for local people and visitors alike.”

West Norwood

In West Norwood Cemetery, extensive conservation works have been completed across the memorial landscape including to the Grade II* listed St Stephen’s Chapel which is now available as a venue for hire.

A major restoration programme totalling £7.2 million funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Lambeth Council means the whole West Norwood Cemetery Conservation Area, including the Chapel, is no longer at risk and can be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register this year – a huge achievement which also marks 190 years since the cemetery was established under the South Metropolitan Cemetery Act of 1836.

Stuart McLeod from the Heritage Fund, continues: “We are delighted that West Norwood Cemetery has now been removed from Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register. It is a fantastic achievement made possible through the commitment of many partners, including Historic England and Lambeth Council. This milestone demonstrates the impact that long-term investment and collaborative working can have in securing the future of our historic spaces for generations to come."

Cllr Natalie Kane, Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council, and Cabinet Member for Inclusion, Democracy and Culture, said: “West Norwood Cemetery is a beautiful place, with historic, cultural and archaeological significance for the whole of our borough. Removing it from the at-risk register is a testament to the hard work and commitment of many people over many years, including at the council and our partners in the community, who refused to let it fall into disrepair. I am delighted that this huge restoration project has preserved and protected West Norwood Cemetery – and returned this valued space to its former glory.”

Kensal Green

Historic England funding of £402,900 paid for urgent repairs to roof of the grand Anglican Chapel at Kensal Green Cemetery. The Grade I listed building dates back to 1835 and was built to a design by John Griffith for the General Cemetery Company. Weather damage and decay to the colonnades, catacombs and atmospheric chapel had been a real threat to its survival. The temple-like building is now better protected, standing proudly in its lush setting ready for a new use.

Good work continues – a new Act of Parliament, focused specifically on Kensal Green, was passed in October 2025. It allows the formation of a new charity which will make it simpler to care for the many historic structures within the cemetery that are still at risk – the largest collection of heritage at risk entries in London.

Nunhead

A grant of £163,375 from Historic England to Southwark Council has gone towards the restoration of the Grade II listed East Lodge at Nunhead Cemetery, which is nearing completion.

The building dates back to around 1840 but had become a roofless ruin, obscured by scaffolding. The project, run with the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery, is being majority funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and is set to deliver better facilities, a café and a lively programme of events.

Wimbledon, Mortlake and Richmond

Historic England is funding the work of two people at the charity Habitats & Heritage, who have overseen the repair of the Bazalgette Mausoleum in Wimbledon, which commemorates the pioneering engineer of London's sewer system, and the ongoing work to conserve the striking stone tent-shaped Burton Memorial in Mortlake containing the tombs of the Victorian explorers Sir Richard and Lady Isabel Burton. Both repair projects have also been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

A further £24,630 from Historic England has funded work to enable the reuse of the Grade II listed Grove Gardens Chapel in Richmond Old Cemetery, following an earlier grant of £8,872 to develop the best approach to repairs. The chapel was built in 1877 to designs by architect Sir Arthur Blomfield and one of the most striking features is a colourful mosaic around the altar. It has now been brought back into use as the Fixery – a circular economy hub – with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Habitats & Heritage continues to work with local people to tend the surrounding graveyard, improving biodiversity.

In addition, Historic England-funded training for Habitats & Heritage staff has led the charity to teach volunteers about safe vegetation clearance and how to accurately record the condition of historic monuments.

Hackney

Abney Park Cemetery, including its mortuary chapel, had been on the Heritage at Risk Register since the register began in 1998. The landscape and chapel were finally restored and removed from the at-risk list in 2024 following restoration work costing more than £5million - funded by The National Lottery alongside Hackney Council. A £200,000 grant from Historic England aided the repair of the chapel roof along with expert advice throughout the restoration journey.

This green oasis continues to play an important role in the local community, boosted by a new café, community room and workshop spaces. Passionate volunteers are actively involved in the Park’s ongoing care. The beautifully restored chapel now hosts events and has held its first ever wedding.