The site is DDA compliant. Disabled toilets are to the west of the office / chapel, with access by movable ramp. Please contact the office at Hanwell if you are disabled to ensure staff are available to help when you arrive.
Originally named City of Westminster Cemetery, this cemetery was owned and managed by the original City of Westminster before local government reorganisation in 1965. The name was then changed in line with the other two cemeteries after it was re-acquired in the early 1990s.
The cemetery is managed by the City of Westminster's Parks Service which comprises the City of Westminster client officers and Continental Landscapes Ltd.
In the late 1840's the St. George's Hanover Square Burial Board was confronted by complaints about the condition of the burial grounds in Bayswater Road and St. Mark's, North Audley Street. They were finally able to take action after the Metropolitan Interment Act of 1850 became law. There are over 16,000 private graves and in excess of 100,000 interments have taking place throughout the cemetery.
Chronology
Chronology
1853
Purchase of 12 acres in Hanwell, Ealing that were to provide a new cemetery initially for the exclusive use of St. George's Hanover Square. They appointed Robert Jerrard as architect. The cost to design the cemetery and it's buildings was £14,741 17s 11d.
Chronology
6 July 1854
The cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of London.
Chronology
2 August 1854
The first interment took place.
Chronology
1883
An additional 11 acres of land was purchased making a total of 23 acres.
Chronology
1889
The cemetery was transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of the City of Westminster.
Chronology
1945
The south stained glass windows were a memorial gift to the City Council and depict a miscellany of some 30 biblical emblems.
Chronology
1994
The building making up the office and Chapel were the subject of an extensive scheme of restoration.
Chronology
2001
Completion of works to Office and Chapel which was in the main the replacement of the roof to the Chapel and the cleaning of the exterior of the office and chapel complex. Implementation of the works required under the Disability Discrimination Act including movable access to the Chapel and Offices and a Disable toilet to the West of the Office.
Buildings
The chapels and offices are in the Victorian Gothic style and were constructed of course pitched faced stone. The freestone door and window surrounds may be Bath or Portland stone. The chapel has a fine hammer beam roof incorporating arched bracing and central carved stone corbels.
War Graves
There is a Royal British Legion memorial cross in the centre of the cemetery, and throughout the site there are a number of graves administered by The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Civilian War Memorial
The civilian memorial to the 200 dead of the Second World War, near the centre of the cemetery, was unveiled in 1950. Here Lies, amongst others, Al Bowlly the popular singer who was killed in an air raid (lasting 10 hours) at his flat in Jermyn Street on 17 April 1941. Bowlly was said to have been "Britain's answer to Bing Crosby". His age was recorded as 42, but some believe he had tried to hide his true date of birth (1890) for theatrical reasons.
Famous names and memorials of special interest
Name
Date
Name
Freddie Frinton - comedian
Date
1916 to 1968
Name
Sir John Ackerman K.C.M.G - Mayor of Pietermaritzsburg
Date
1825 to 1905
Name
Richard Bullen Newton - Paleontologist at the British Museum
Date
1854 to 1926
Name
Col. Sir David Semple - First Director of Research India. Founder of the Pasteur Institute at Kasauli India.
Date
1856 to 1937
Name
Sir John Hunt OBE - First Town Clerk of the City of Westminster
Date
1900 to 1928
Name
William Charles Retford - Bow maker
Date
1875 to 1970
Name
William E Hill - London violin maker and founder of the firm W. E. Hill & Sons
