Identification and description | |||||||||||||
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Name | GROVE PARK CEMETERY | ||||||||||||
Location |
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Localisation | Latitude: 51.425121 Longitude: 0.036432092 National Grid Reference: TQ 41680 71535 Map: Download a full scale map (PDF) |
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Overview | Heritage Category: Park and Garden Grade: II List Entry Number: 1001681 Date first listed: 07-Nov-2003 |
An unusual, if not unique, example of 1930s municipal cemetery design combining formal
and informal elements which show Moderne and Art Deco influences. The cemetery retains
most of its original buildings and structures, together with much of its structural
planting.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
The parishes of Deptford and Lewisham had opened contiguous cemeteries in 1858 on
land c 1km south-west of the centre of Lewisham. As new residential areas were developed
in the parishes during the later-C19, these cemeteries, known today as Brockley Cemetery
and Ladywell Cemetery, filled rapidly. By 1889 it was calculated that some 50,000
bodies had been interred in the two cemeteries (Inspector's Report 1999), while by
the early-C20, despite extension, they were effectively full.
In 1934 the Borough of Deptford acquired undeveloped land for a new cemetery at Grove
Park in the south of the borough, adjacent to new, large residential estates built
to re-house those moved from slums cleared elsewhere in the borough (Cherry and Pevsner
1994). The sloping site, bordered to the east by woodland, was laid out to an ambitious
scheme by the Borough Surveyor, H Morley Lawson, incorporating formal elements including
a monumental central drive and entrance, with more informal terraced garden areas
partly conceived in 'moderne style' (ibid). The cemetery was provided with a lodge,
office, chapel, toilets, a drinking fountain, and nursery and service yard reflecting
Deptford's civic pride in the project. These features of the 1930s layout survive
today (2003). The cemetery was opened by the Mayor of Deptford on 1 June 1935.
Initially, the ground on the summit of the hill and the upper south-facing slope were
laid out for cemetery purposes. During the mid and late-C20, the level ground below
the terraced garden has been appropriated for burials; these areas are not included
in the registered site.
Grove Park Cemetery remains (2003) in municipal ownership.
DESCRIPTION
LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING Grove Park Cemetery is situated to the
south-east of the Grove Park Estate in the London Borough of Lewisham, to the east
of Marvels Lane. The c 6.5ha registered site is bounded to the west by brick walls
which separate the cemetery from Marvels Lane, while to the north the site is separated
from domestic properties on the south side of Charminster Road by C20 metal fences.
To the east similar fences enclose the site from Marvels Wood and Elmstead Wood. The
southern boundary of the registered site is formed by a slightly curving tarmac walk
which extends across the site from east to west, separating the early-C20 burial areas
and terraced gardens from mid and late-C20 burial areas to the south which are excluded
from the registered site.
The cemetery occupies a level plateau of high ground which falls away to the south
allowing views across the railway line to Sundridge Park (qv) and golf course beyond.
ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES Grove Park Cemetery is entered from Marvels Lane to the west,
at a point adjacent to the junction of that road and Riddons Road. The entrance comprises
a pair of 1930s wrought-iron carriage gates supported by a pair of tall, rusticated
brick piers under square caps. To each side of the carriage entrance a matching single
pedestrian gate is supported by matching brick piers. The entrance is flanked by low
brick and stone quadrant walls which support 1930s wrought-iron railings. The railings
terminate in brick piers matching those supporting the entrance gates, which in turn
terminate the western boundary wall fronting Marvels Lane. To the south-east of the
entrance a two-storey brick and tile-roofed lodge (altered mid and late-C20) stands
in an area of lawns, while in a symmetrical position to the north-east there is a
single-storey office with a verandah on the south-west and west facades supported
by simple concrete columns. The lodge and office form part of the original scheme
for the cemetery.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING The cemetery chapel stands c 100m east-south-east of the entrance,
to the north of the principal drive extending from west-north-west to east-south-east
through the cemetery. It is a simple rustic or Vernacular-style building of timber
construction under a tiled roof with dark-painted ornamental timbers set against the
pale-painted external walls. The chapel is lit by narrow Gothic-style lancet windows
set in groups of three within rectangular openings. A gabled porch on the west facade
is approached from the drive to the south by stone steps, while a flat-roofed porch
adjacent to the south-east corner of the building on a level with the drive was presumably
intended for the use of officiating clergy and the bier. The chapel dates from the
formation of the cemetery in 1935, although its prefabricated construction suggests
that it may have been intended to construct a more elaborate place of worship more
in keeping with the scale and quality of the 1930s scheme when funds permitted.
OTHER LAND From the entrance to the cemetery, a broad tarmac drive extends c 150m
east-south-east to reach a rondpoint comprising a large circular lawn planted with
a centrally placed group of mature ornamental standard Malus. The drive is flanked
to north-east and south-west by wide grass verges, that to the north-east supporting
a series of geometrical beds for seasonal planting. Each verge is backed by mature
specimen trees and mixed shrubbery which serve to screen burial areas to the north-east
and the nursery to the south-west. The verges continue around the outer side of the
rondpoint, with the screening shrubbery being replaced by low privet hedges and further
specimen trees. To the north-east of the rondpoint, an Art Deco-style stone drinking
fountain stands on a wide, stepped circular stone-flagged base. The fountain bears
carved inscriptions commemorating the opening of the cemetery by the Mayor of Deptford,
Cllr J E Pearson JP, on 1 June 1935, its design by the Borough Surveyor, H Morley
Lawson, and the membership of the Cemetery Committee, 1934-5. The design of the drive
and rondpoint, and the associated planting, provide a monumental axial vista extending
from the cemetery entrance to the heart of the site. Graves are excluded from this
vista, although some late-C20 burials have begun to intrude on the eastern end of
the south-west verge. The rondpoint serves as the focal point of the cemetery scheme,
with further drives and walks leading from it to provide access to burial areas.
A narrower tarmac drive leads east-south-east from the central rondpoint, extending
the axis of the principal drive, to reach a further, smaller rondpoint planted with
a mature specimen weeping willow. This drive is adjoined to north-east and south-west
by narrow grass verges and burial areas which are laid to grass and planted with specimen
trees and conifers. A group of Second World War Commonwealth War Graves are situated
to the south-west of this drive, while c 15m east of the smaller rondpoint, a Portland
stone excedra standing on a stepped base commemorates those civilians killed in Deptford
during the Second World War who are buried in mass graves to the west of the monument.
The axial south-east drive continues c 100m beyond the smaller rondpoint to join a
walk extending parallel to the eastern boundary of the cemetery.
From both the central rondpoint, and the smaller rondpoint to the south-east, drives
lead north-east to give access to burial areas which are laid out to a grid pattern
on level ground. The intersection of paths dividing the burial areas are marked by
specimen trees, while there is a further rondpoint at the intersection of wider drives
leading south-east and north-east through the north-east quarter of the cemetery.
A boundary walk extends parallel to the eastern and northern boundaries of the cemetery,
with two further rondpoints marking the junction of the northern boundary walk with
the drive leading north-east from the central rondpoint and a drive leading north-east
from the principal drive at a point immediately west of the chapel. The northern boundary
walk is bordered to the north by evergreen shrubbery and specimen trees, while the
north-west quarter of the cemetery is relatively densely planted with trees and conifers.
A drive extending north-east from the principal drive at a point c 25m east of the
cemetery entrance provides access to the early-C20 toilet block, constructed in Vernacular
style under a hipped tiled roof, and, at the north-west corner of the cemetery, the
service yard with 1930s sheds and brick-built bothies.
A wide tarmac walk leads south from the central rondpoint to a wide, slightly concave
flight of stone steps. The steps are bordered by rusticated stone retaining walls
with flat stone coping which terminate in scrolled-back piers. The steps descend to
a wide tarmac walk which sweeps west and north-west to gain access to further burial
areas, and east and north-east to reach an area of ornamental garden. To the south-west
and south-east of the stone steps, further flights of narrower, but similar stone
steps descend to a stone-flagged circular terrace. To the north this terrace is backed
by a retaining wall constructed in painted concrete with stone coping, the reeded
effect of the wall surface having been achieved by using corrugated iron shuttering
in construction. The centre of the terrace is taken up by a circular feature comprising,
to the north a narrow stone-edged bed terminating to south-west and south-east in
circular, drum-like beds constructed in concrete with stone coping, and to the south
a large, approximately circular planting bed. This bed was originally designed as
a pool. Curvilinear walks lead west and east from the south side of the pool terrace,
with further, similar flights of stone steps descending c 20m west and c 40m east
to reach a broad tarmac drive, lined with an avenue of flowering trees, which extends
along the lower edge of the south-facing slope on which the gardens are disposed,
and which forms the southern boundary of the registered site.
To the east of the pool terrace the serpentine walk extends c 150m through an area
of trees and predominantly evergreen shrubs planted on the south-facing slope, to
reach a recess to the north of the walk. Edged in rockwork, the recess contains a
central, slightly raised informally shaped border, also edged with rockwork, which
was formerly a further ornamental pool. The walk continues east beyond the recess
to reach a further flight of stone steps which descends south-west to the formal walk
at the bottom of the slope. Beyond the steps the walk sweeps north and north-west,
ascending to the slope to reach an area of level ground which is laid out as a formal
garden. As the walk sweeps westwards, it passes a seating recess, edged with low stone
walls which terminate either side of the entrance in scrolled-back piers matching
those on the steps descending to the pool terrace from the central rondpoint. The
seating recess is paved with random stone and contains a curved timber bench seat.
The recess is placed at the eastern end of the east to west axis of the formal garden,
from which it is separated by an area of lawn and a group of specimen conifers. The
formal garden comprises a rectangular lawn enclosed by a stone-flagged walk. The lawn
contains a group of geometrically shaped rose beds, while to the west it is adjoined
by circular stone-flagged area which surrounds a low, stone-walled circular bed which
formerly contained a fountain. A walk and flight of stone steps lead south-west from
the fountain to reach the lower walk, while a further stone-flagged walk leads west
from the fountain through an area of lawn bordered to the south by trees and shrubbery
and to the north by a group of specimen conifers which serve to screen the group of
Commonwealth War Graves Commission monuments south-east of the central rondpoint.
This walk is terminated to the west by the remains of a shelter. This structure, demolished
c 2001, was Art Deco in design and comprised stone wing walls and piers with a brick-lined
seating recess, beneath a flat roof which extended the full width of the wing walls
(photograph, 2000). Beyond the site of the shelter, the walk sweeps south-west to
pass above the pool terrace and below the steps descending from the central rondpoint
before continuing north-west and west to join a drive which leads north to join the
principal drive opposite the chapel.
The formal and informal gardens on the south-facing slope to the south-east of the
central rondpoint are an original feature of Lawson's scheme, providing a contrast
to the grandeur of the formal axis leading from the entrance as well as the opportunity
for southerly views across Sundridge Park.
A drive to the east of the lodge, c 20m south-east of the entrance, leads through
the belt of trees and shrubbery bordering the south-west side of the principal drive
to reach the site of the cemetery nursery. Established as part of the original scheme
for the cemetery and formerly provided with several glasshouses, this is no longer
in use (2003).
REFERENCES
Mellor H, London Cemeteries (3rd edn 1994), 138 Cherry B and Pevsner N, The Buildings
of England: London 2 South (revised edn 1994), 417 Inspector's Report: Brockley and
Ladywell Cemeteries, Lewisham, (English Heritage 1999)
Maps OS 6" to 1 mile: 2nd edition published 1914
Archival items Photographs of Grove Park Cemetery, June 2000 (English Heritage)
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION Grove Park Cemetery is designated at Grade II for the following
principal reasons: * Grove Park Cemetery is a highly unusual, if not unique, early
C20 cemetery (1935) laid out for a London Burial Board to a design showing Moderne
and Art Deco influences. * The cemetery and its associated structures were designed
by the Deptford Borough Surveyor, H Morley Lawson. * The design of the cemetery combines
formal and informal elements, the latter including garden areas with ponds, seating
and raised flower beds. * The design of the cemetery skilfully exploits its location
on a ridge of high ground overlooking Sundridge Park (qv). * The original structures
associated with the cemetery were executed to a particularly high standard, reflecting
civic pride in the undertaking; the timber, prefabricated chapel (1935) was probably
intended to be replaced when funds permitted. * The layout of the cemetery, including
its associated structures and much original planting survives essentially intact.
* The cemetery contains a memorial commemorating civilians killed in Deptford during
the Second World War, and who are buried in mass graves within the cemetery; it also
contains a group of Second World War Commonwealth War graves.
Description written: July 2003 Register Inspector: JML Edited: December 2009
This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England for its special historic interest.