Woodgrange Park Cemetery, East London

[Biker]

I'm wondering if anybody knows much about this cemetery which is on Romford Road, East London.  One or more of my ancestors are buried there.  Apparently it is a private cemetery a part of which was quite recently cleared to make way to build housing.  The burial plot where my ancestors are appears to have been saved from the house building, thankfully.

I'm intending on visiting but not sure if private cemeteries are open to the public or what ...

I have looked on the net and found a few websites but little more information.  The only telephone number I have found, the line is dead.

Any info appreciated.

Regards
Jonathan

[ec]

Hi JohnathanW

I had a similar experience when trying to ring a number for Tottenham Park Cemetery, and eventually discovered that it was owned by a company called Badgehurst.  It appears Woodgrange Park is also owned by them.  When I called them they gave me a mobile number for the man on site and said they had removed the land line because the office kept getting broken into.

The bad news is that they wanted £15 to search the registers which are held in their offices in Orsett - this was even though I had a grave number - they wouldn't even tell me if it was a private grave.  As they said that they would be unlikely to tell me anything more than the location of the grave (which probably wouldn't still have a stone if any was originally erected) and the details I already have I decided not to bother.  The man on site, however, was very helpful.

The number from Badgehurst is 01375 891440 .

There is lots of helpful information re cemeteries in this area on the EOLFHS

http://www.eolfhs.org.uk/eolcem06.htm

having checked I see that more recent registers (1981 onwards) appear to be at the cemetery.

Good luck

[Biker]

Thanks for that ec.  Will give them a call after the holidays.
Do you know if such cemeteries are freely open to the public?  It is not that far from me, and I have the plot number etc.

Thanks
Jonathan

[ec]

Hi

I don't think there is any problem with visiting.  If you have the plot number and the square number then probably best to call Badgehurst and get the contact details for the on site man.  The one I spoke to at Tottenham Park was very helpful and said with both of these he would be able to point me in the right direction, however I didn't have the square number so thats when I hit against the fee from Badgehurst.  From the way they appear to work, I would suggest you call and make sure the on site man will be there when you visit or you will be on your own.  If its a very old grave it may no longer be marked or possibly reused, so best to check first.

Some other info here
http://www.derelictlondon.com/cemetery.htm

and here

http://www.interment.net/column/commentary/20001102/

seems to imply there is a 'Friends of Woodgrange' organisation - might be worth speaking with them

[Biker]

An update after cemetery visit ...

As I expected it is very neglected.  It was originally a private cemetery and most of those earlier burials were restricted to masons (which I hadn't known) but of latter years accepted 'common' burials too. Part of the cemetery (where the common graves were) has been developed and has a new housing development on it and the remains dug up and reburied unmarked amongst the remaining private plots.  Most of the recent burials appear to be for those of the muslim faith.

The plot where my ggg grandfather was buried is now a roadway of sorts (aparently after 50 years the plots are re-used) and the headstones stacked and many broken in a corner of the graveyard.  However, the caretaker fellow was really helpful and got out the plot burial card listing 6 family members in the family grave which was a surprise and useful information (also one child with a name I've never heard of - supposedly a relation of some sort) with their burial dates.

A sad trip though really.

Jonathan

[ec]

Glad to  hear you got something out of the visit.  I didn't realise they had the records on site except for more recent - wonder if this is also the case at Tottenham Park.  (may be worth a visit, I think)

[Biker]

ec, I too was surprised.  I did telephone the owners beforehand and they said to send a letter with a cheque, then they would provide the information. 

Perhaps I was just lucky that the caretaker fellow was around.  But I think actually going was useful and the chap gave me some background information and was really helpful.

Regards
Jonathan

[Kimi]

Hi Jonathan,

I used to live and work not many miles away from Woodgrange Park cemetery.  Some of my ancestors are also buried there, although it was re-developed long before I decided to research my family.  It was a beautiful cemetery and I remember that the locals were up in arms when they decided to re-develop the site.

Kimi

[Heidi]

I am a bit late on this one, but I was on holiday in London last week (from Switzerland) and paid a visit to the cemetary. We have (probably had) a family grave there containing 6, the last being my grandfather in 1960. I had a look around and found the place to be in a sorry state. The old chapel was set fire to and it was so unsafe it had to be demolished, so that has gone. A good half are muslim graves and it seems they were just planted on top of the other graves. The part of the cemetary that still has the original graves is in a very bad condition. You have to climb through weeds and undergrowth to see them. I don't know if my grave is still there. I had a conversation with the man at the gate who was very helpful. He gave me a tel. no. to ring and they told me that yes, they would do research if I was interested in finding what happened to our grave. Cost would be twenty-five pounds and of course no-one could guarantee that there would be anything to find. I found the whole thing a bit disrespectful. It seems that people living in the estate built on top of the old cemetary are even reporting sightings of poltergeists and ghosts where they live, but I take that with a pinch of salt.