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.
History of Hanwell Cemetery
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 |
|
| 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. |
| 6 July 1854 |
The cemetery was consecrated by the Bishop of London. |
| 2 August 1854 |
The first interment took place. |
| 1883 |
An additional 11 acres of land was purchased making a total of 23 acres. |
| 1889 |
The cemetery was transferred to the Metropolitan Borough of the City of Westminster. |
| 1945 |
The south stained glass windows were a memorial gift to the City Council and depict a miscellany of some 30 biblical emblems. |
| 1994 |
The building making up the office and Chapel were the subject of an extensive scheme of restoration.
|
| 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 |
|
Freddie Frinton - comedian
|
1916 to 1968
|
|
Sir John Ackerman K.C.M.G - Mayor of Pietermaritzsburg
|
1825 to 1905
|
| Richard Bullen Newton - Paleontologist at the British Museum |
1854 to 1926 |
|
Col. Sir David Semple - First Director of Research India. Founder of the Pasteur Institute at Kasauli India.
|
1856 to 1937
|
|
Sir John Hunt OBE - First Town Clerk of the City of Westminster
|
1900 to 1928
|
| William Charles Retford - Bow maker |
1875 to 1970 |
| William E Hill - London violin maker and founder of the firm W. E. Hill & Sons |
1817 to 1895 |
