Dearly departed

As the old saying goes, you’re a long time dead. You could do a lot worse than spending your eternity of rest in Brompton Cemetery, a captivating place to visit in the heart of west London.

Opened in 1840, this large plot is adorned with the grandeur of Victorian architecture, from a domed chapel to parallel sets of stone porticoes. Around the edges of this order are reams of wonderfully overgrown gravestones, transforming a place of solemnity into one bursting with the life of nature.

The cemetery still has space and around two burials a week take place there. Worth bearing in mind, but for the moment I’d prefer to enjoy walking around with my camera in the here and now…

Click first image to launch the gallery

Tags: angels, architecture, Brompton Cemetery, dearly departed, domed chapel, headstones, London, mausoleum, photography, portico, rest in peace, RIP, stonework, tombstones, Victorian, west London

19 thoughts on “Dearly departed”

Mark Simms on June 22, 2015 at 18:20 said:

So it was a cemetery then…….

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 22, 2015 at 20:09 said:
  
  Yes. A very architectural one :)
  
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First Night Design on June 22, 2015 at 12:45 said:

My favourite cemetery…which reminds me that I still haven’t organised the inscription for my mother on a family plot!

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 22, 2015 at 20:09 said:
  
  There’s an eternity to do that :)
  
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taphian on June 21, 2015 at 16:37 said:

Wonderful photos. Old cemeteries are beautiful places.

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 16:59 said:
  
  Thank you very much! I completely agree – they’re not in the least bit creepy.
  
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ckponderings on June 21, 2015 at 12:54 said:

A lovely, peaceful setting for a couple of hours taking photographs. :) Lovely images, Mike!

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 14:03 said:
  
  Thank you Richard, it certainly was. The edges of the plot are very lush at the moment – somehow adds to the mood.
  
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andy townend on June 21, 2015 at 12:41 said:

A good selection of images, I also have a fondness for cemeteries, they are captivating
http://belgianstreets.com/2015/04/06/walking-with-the-dead-again/
http://belgianstreets.com/2015/02/15/the-walking-with-the-dead/
and I have one in the pipeline ;-)
Have a great weekend Mike!

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 14:06 said:
  
  Thanks Andy. I quite agree. Oh yes, I recall your posts. The grand architecture of Brompton was the real draw – next it has to be the mighty Highgate. Enjoy what remains of the weekend too!
  
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  - andy townend on June 21, 2015 at 15:42 said:
    
    Excellent, will look forward to your shots of Highgate!
    
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Cos on June 21, 2015 at 09:30 said:

A beautiful place. I love the angels and the architecture.

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- mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 09:37 said:
  
  It’s a good place to rest here in west London. There’s also some other wordly activity of interest, but that’s another story!
  
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  - Cos on June 21, 2015 at 10:23 said:
    
    Hmmmm, now I’m curious…
    
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    - mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 10:34 said:
      
      I was quite disappointed. Just two older men walking round and round…
      
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      - Cos on June 21, 2015 at 10:38 said:
        
        Perhaps they were searching for a grave of a beloved one? ;-)
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 10:55 said:
        
        Yes, that would be it. There are several nice spots there for getting to know one another better…
        
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        Cos on June 21, 2015 at 11:25 said:
        
        I think there are better places to make friends ;-)
        
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        mikeosbornphoto on June 21, 2015 at 11:27 said:
        
        I couldn’t agree more!
        
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