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Public appeal launched to restore resting place of Emmeline Pankhurst Public appeal launched to restore resting place of Emmeline Pankhurst
(35 minutes later)
An appeal is being launched for a £6.2m project to restore a beautiful Victorian cemetery where among the decaying tombstones admirers of the English suffragette movement and the work of Beatrix Potter may spot some familiar names. An appeal is being launched for a £6.2m project to restore a beautiful Victorian cemetery where, among the decaying tombstones, admirers of the English suffragette movement and the work of Beatrix Potter may spot some familiar names.
As well as being the burial place of Emmeline Pankhurst, Mr Nutkins, Mr McGregor, Mr Brock, Mr Tod, a gentleman called Jeremiah Fisher, and even one Peter Rabbett all have memorials, or are known to have been buried, in Brompton cemetery, which Potter knew well as her childhood home in London was nearby in the The Boltons. Mr Nutkins, Mr McGregor, Mr Brock, Mr Tod, a gentleman called Jeremiah Fisher and even one Peter Rabbett all have memorials or are known to have been buried in Brompton cemetery, which is also the last resting place of Emmeline Pankhurst. Potter’s childhood home in London was nearby in The Boltons.
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The appeal was launched on Tuesday, the eve of Armistice Day, because 12 Victoria Cross holders and 2,625 former Chelsea Pensioners are also among the 205,000 people buried there. Part of the cemetery, with 289 first world war and 79 second world war Commonwealth service personnel, is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.The appeal was launched on Tuesday, the eve of Armistice Day, because 12 Victoria Cross holders and 2,625 former Chelsea Pensioners are also among the 205,000 people buried there. Part of the cemetery, with 289 first world war and 79 second world war Commonwealth service personnel, is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Although the gentle decay and lush growth are a romantic vision that has attracted many film-makers, many of the buildings and structures are in urgent need of conservation work, including the domed central chapel, colonnades and the catacombs below them – the niches did not sell as well as the Victorian private developers had hoped and the cemetery, which opened in 1840, quickly got into financial difficulties. Although the gentle decay and lush growth are a romantic vision that has attracted many film-makers, many of the buildings and structures are in urgent need of conservation work, including the domed central chapel, colonnades and the catacombs below them. The niches did not sell as well as the Victorian private developers had hoped, and the cemetery, which opened in 1840, quickly got into financial difficulties.
Related: Why the suffragettes still matter: 'they dared to act as the equals of men'Related: Why the suffragettes still matter: 'they dared to act as the equals of men'
The cemetery is unique in being run by the Royal Parks for the past 60 years, which took over almost a century after the government bought it from the private shareholders. Brompton was one of the “magnificent seven” giant cemeteries built in what were then London’s outer suburbs, when the medieval churchyards were full and seen as a major health hazard. It was one of the earliest garden cemeteries, designed as a place for the public to stroll, on what had been market gardens in Kensington. The cemetery is unique in having been run for the past 60 years by the Royal Parks, which took it over almost a century after the government bought it from the private shareholders. Brompton was one of the “magnificent seven” giant cemeteries built in what were then London’s outer suburbs, when the medieval churchyards were full and seen as a health hazard. It was one of the earliest garden cemeteries, designed as a place for the public to stroll.
The Royal Parks hopes to raise £500,000 from the public and acquire most of the rest from Heritage Lottery grants. Without the conservation work, Sara Lom, chief executive of Royal Parks said, “we will lose vital connections to the past and the stories of the people buried there”. The Royal Parks hopes to raise £500,000 from the public and acquire most of the rest from Heritage Lottery grants. Sara Lom, chief executive of Royal Parks, said that without the conservation work, “we will lose vital connections to the past and the stories of the people buried there”.
The cemetery features in many films including GoldenEye starring Pierce Brosnan as James Bond and Rowan Atkinson’s 007 spoof Johnny English, as well as Stormbreaker, the screen adaptation of the Bond-esque boy spy Alex Rider. The cemetery features in many films including GoldenEye starring Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, and Rowan Atkinson’s 007 spoof Johnny English, as well as Stormbreaker, the screen adaptation of the Bond-esque boy spy Alex Rider.
Other notable burials include Fanny Brawne, the beloved of the poet John Keats before his death from TB aged 25; and a more recent muse, Henrietta Moraes, who was painted by Francis Bacon and Maggi Hambling.Other notable burials include Fanny Brawne, the beloved of the poet John Keats before his death from TB aged 25; and a more recent muse, Henrietta Moraes, who was painted by Francis Bacon and Maggi Hambling.