Highgate - a cemetery in London, where the spirit of the Victorian era still reigns
Highgate - a cemetery in London, where the spirit of the Victorian era still reigns

Video: Highgate - a cemetery in London, where the spirit of the Victorian era still reigns

Video: Highgate - a cemetery in London, where the spirit of the Victorian era still reigns
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Highgate cemetery
Highgate cemetery

Highgate cemetery - one of the most famous cemeteries of the Victorian era in England. Built in 1839, it still remains partially operational. The cemetery is popular with tourists, because it is not just a burial place for people, but a magnificent park with unique flora and fauna, Gothic crypts and tombs.

Antique headstones at Highgate Cemetery
Antique headstones at Highgate Cemetery

Highgate Cemetery is known to many for the legendary novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker. It was it that was chosen as the main scene of the action. The cemetery was built as an alternative to the small burials at London churches, which in the 19th century became too small for a large city. There was a critical lack of space, in addition, dysentery progressed, so small cemeteries were closed and a decision was made to build a huge new cemetery. The project was led by Stephen Geary.

Ancient crypts at Highgate Cemetery
Ancient crypts at Highgate Cemetery

In total, it was planned to place more than 53 thousand graves at the Highgate Cemetery on an area exceeding 150 thousand square meters. Until now, 170 thousand burials have been carried out here. As conceived by the architect, seven modern cemeteries were built that surrounded the city (the complex was unofficially called the Magic Seven).

Highgate Cemetery - The largest cemetery of the Victorian era
Highgate Cemetery - The largest cemetery of the Victorian era

Highgate Cemetery became the largest of these. The most picturesque parts of the cemetery rightfully include Egyptian Street and the Gothic Catacombs designed by Giri (by the way, the architect was one of the sponsors of the construction). Over the decades, the cemetery has turned into a picturesque park, wild plants have appeared here, and animals have settled. The whole territory is kept in exemplary order today, so it is interesting and informative to walk alive in this city of the dead.

Circle of Lebanon. Eastern part of the cemetery
Circle of Lebanon. Eastern part of the cemetery
Egyptian street
Egyptian street

The old part of the cemetery is now open to the public only as part of tourist groups. This allows you to keep order and protect the cemetery from vandals and destroyers. One of the most famous burials is considered the grave of the "father of socialism" Karl Marx, and there is a known case when they tried to blow it up. Other famous personalities, such as Douglas Adams, Ellen Wood, John Galsworthy, Henry Moore, and George Eliot, were also buried at Highgate Cemetery. But the first burial in the cemetery was made on May 26, 1839. Then they buried Elizabeth Jackson, who died at the age of 36, which for the Victorian era was quite a respectable age.

Statue on the grave of Elizabeth Jackson. First burial at Highgate Cemetery. May 26, 1839
Statue on the grave of Elizabeth Jackson. First burial at Highgate Cemetery. May 26, 1839
Tomb of Karl Marx
Tomb of Karl Marx

Highgate Cemetery is one of the most famous and beautiful cemeteries in the world … Learn about six more cemeteries that have become true open-air museums from our overview …

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