As I hinted at a couple of days ago, we did something a little different in London, relating to my book and dead people …
I recently learned that Joseph Greenwood’s remains are in a mausoleum at Highgate Cemetery, and not in St Pancras. So I contacted the trust that runs the cemetery and arranged (for a fee) to view the resting place. A lovely lady called Claire, who, like the other people we met there, was interested in Joseph’s story, took us up the steep hill to the vault. It was suitably overcast and drizzly when we reached it, and after struggling with the keys and a torch malfunction, she led us down the corridor to where he and, as it turns out, his mother Esther and aunt Suzannah were lying. Claire informed us that because of the lead-lined coffins the bodies are probably pretty well preserved and you could see other resting places nearby where the front stone was gone and the lead case inside the coffin was exposed.
After paying our respects and taking numerous photos, we emerged into sunlight, amazingly, and wandered down the slope, keeping to the paths while taking in the extent of the grounds with the prolific overgrowth and incredibly ornate graves. It’s a losing battle trying to maintain them and in fact the greenery and tree roots add positively to the overall effect. (The only grave in pristine condition was George Michael’s - the white one below).
Here are some examples but of course you had to be there to feel it.
Oh, and once again I was able to peddle my book - the trust has requested a copy and also a summary of Joseph’s life so they can add it to their records. The guidebook features interesting facts about the ‘residents’, so hopefully our Joseph will be added to it!
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