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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Surrey Lookup Requests => Surrey => England => Surrey Completed Look up Requests => Topic started by: Byron Emu on Tuesday 30 January 07 05:03 GMT (UK)
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Please could someone have a look at grave number 16021/58 in Camberwell Old Cemetery, Forest Hill Road, London, SE22. My ancestor Elizabeth Martha Sykes was buried there on 23 June 1898.
I am hoping there is a gravestone or memorial that could be photographed.
Byron
Melbourne, Australia
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Hi Byron
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/ParksSection/Cemeteries/CamberwellOldCemetery.html
is a link to the local authority that looks after this old cemetery.
Is it possibe for you to send them an email asking if there is a memorial on this plot, they should tell you as you have all the details and a date of interment.
Explain that you are 'down under' and would like a photo of the plot if there is a memorial.
If there is a memorial and they tell you so, post another message on this thread and maybe someone will go for you knowing that they are actually looking for something.
At this time of year it's a bit chilly and muddy to be hunting around old cemeteries that may be in a state of disrepair and there's nothing to see. The plot may also be a public plot not private in which case there won't be any markings.
Hope this helps.
Dawn
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Hi Byron,
I have had great service from the Southwark council people who, a couple of years ago, sent me details of the location within Camberwell Old Cem of an ancestor's grave, including a map of the entire cemetery and a detailed one of the section showing all the numbered plots. They were also able to advise me that the grave was in a "conservation area" (although I thought this meant it was being "conserved", it really means that the graves are allowed to rot while the bush grows over and around everything!!) They couldn't say whether any monument was still standing.
At the time, I was staying in London for a few months and was able to go down to the Cem and check it out for myself. Found the plot, cleared the brambles and bushes, and with two of my cousins we lifted the stone and took pictures.
I recommend contacting the Council and getting as much info as you can about the location of the grave - then Rootschatters can determine whether or not it will be possible to go and have a look for it.
Cheers
Prue
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Thanks Dawn and Prue
I have sent an email to Southwark, and will see what I can find out before sending anyone on a wild goose chase.
Byron
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Hello Byron
I'm going to London this weekend & will be passing
Camberwell Old Cemetery.
If I have time I will look for the grave of Elizabeth Sykes.
Do you have a map of the cemetery as to where the grave is?
Sue
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Hello Sue
I didn't get your message before the weekend, as I was away for a week. I have had no reply from Southwark yet, so I don't have a map of the cemetery, but I hope you had some success anyway?
Byron
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Hi Bryron
I didn't check the cemetery for Elizabeth Sykes grave.
(Did think of it as I passed )
Let me know when you get a copy map of the cemetery. I will see what I can do.
Sue
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Just an observation following my brief visit 20-12-24.
I was specifically interested in Square 7 and 23, these are at the Langton Road end running along the Woodvale perimeter. Where 2 ancestors were interred 1873 and 1877, so relatively early in the cemetery use. There was no indication that stones if any have survived for .Jacob and Sophia WELLS.
Square 1/2+6/7+15 +28 appear to have very modern graves, and are at a higher level. I understand this was empty, and what appeared to be waste ground 1970-80, suggesting it had been overfilled pre 1970 perhaps in readiness for new graves.
Square 8 +16+24 and some of 23 have some Victorian era stones.
I did take a few images of head stones in this area, and will make a list and submit it in the next week.
There must be a more comprehensive survey somewhere, especially if the old headstones were possibly removed prior to any preparation forcre-use.
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My great-grand-father was buried in that part in 1923, under the newer mound. He was in a common grave so no headstone.
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A very apt description, it is a mound indeed, along a 50 m stretch.
I wonder if there are any images of it before the mound was created.
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If the section was full of common graves then it be be an expanse of grass. Any municipal cemetery will have sections for common graves.
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I have photos of 10-20 miniature headstones, as used on common graves, now laid flat alongside the mound and around trunks of trees in squares 8, 16 & 24 and which may have come from the mounded area. I won't have time to look up where each of them came from this side of Christmas, but I can check the surnames if anyone cares to ask. Sorry, no Wells there.
The office (at Camberwell New Cemetery) might have photos of the original area and any headstones that were removed. They photographed those from squares 100-108 (mainly) alongside Underhill Road which have just been relandscaped for reuse. They published a list of plot numbers and names (which I have) and would even let you take away your ancestors' headstone :)