Islington & St Pancras Cemetery - photo request

[Chris Doran]

To complicate it further, there is a small rectangular Z3C section between Z7 and Z12 on the corner of High View Road and St Lukes Path (sic; their apostrophe key must be stuck). However on what I think is the earliest map I've seen (from the CWGC site), it's labelled Z9, so this may not be applicable to early 1900s burials. Worth checking, though, if all else fails, as also is Section 3Z in the St Pancras part of the combined cemetery.

I avoided giving detailed location information before, partly because of the complications, partly out of laziness, and partly because on previous occasions I've been pipped at the post by someone else (once after I'd spent some time weeding a grave for its photograph). But if anyone who's close enough to get there in the brief sunny intervals between the deluges wishes to do so, please let me know. Rain is currently predicted for this weekend too.

[theirchild]

Quote from Chris Doran:

“…there is a small rectangular Z3C section between Z7 and Z12…”

Well spotted, Chris! I missed that.


Quote from Chris Doran:

“…their apostrophe key must be stuck…”

It certainly looks that way…


Quote from Chris Doran:

“I avoided giving detailed location information before…partly because on previous occasions I've been pipped at the post by someone else (once after I’d spent some time weeding a grave for its photograph).”

My apologies, Chris; I didn’t intend to undermine your efforts; I was just trying to help WestOz and thought my post would serve to complement yours. I didn’t realise that, for good reason, your post was a little cautious – otherwise I would have held back from posting. Someone else jumping in and stealing your thunder, after you’ve done all the groundwork, is completely out of order and so inconsiderate. I had no idea that another Rootschatter would stoop that low.

Best wishes,

theirchild

[Chris Doran]

It wasn't done deliberately, as neither of us knew the other was going to the cemetery on the same day (and maybe if we had, neither of us would have gone). Just one of the hazards with requests made on public forums.

[theirchild]

I'm glad it wasn't deliberate, Chris...still frustrating, though, I imagine. Hence your cautiousness this time.

I'm sorry for inadvertently letting the cat out of the bag.

All the best,

theirchild

[WestOz]

Well, thanks to info posted here so far, I went onto Google maps and found a lot of the roads within I&SP have been mapped! (In 2018 only). I went to street view and actually found the headstone for Daniel's nephew Sidney Charles Harper and his wife Florence Rosa Harper by overlaying the cemetery map over the google map to pinpoint Z3C in High View Rd, west side . Burials for each were in 1939 and 1974 respectively; I can only just make out the names but not the whole inscriptions. 2nd photo shows facing west.

Still no luck for Daniel or Josiah, though... as it seems the gravestone plot sections are roughly in date order, I'm guessing they may be in the overgrown bush (that Chris mentioned) immediately south of, and behind the roadside graves in Z3a where Parkers and Raleigh Rds meet at the hairpin corner, if they still exist.

[Chris Doran]

A preliminary report; more to follow: I had about an hour before the rain started (fortunately not a deluge, only a slight misting). The situation is as WestOz found it on his drive-by. I have better photos of Sidney & Florence's grave, but that's all. The whole of Z3B, opposite, has been cleared of old monuments and is now just ashes plots, renumbered, so no use in finding previous grave positions. Some new graves have appeared further along the lefthand side of St Paul's Path in Z3C. Likewise along the roadside in Z3A with a couple of older gravestones left behind them, but not for Daniel or Josiah, and impenetrably dense undergrowth behind that.

[WestOz]

Chris, thanks ever so much for your unselfish efforts... I look forward to better pics of Sidney/Florence's headstone and transcription, at least it is a partial win. Even the 2018 Google pics from 6 years ago show heavy overgrowth as you mentioned and I'm guessing you need to be careful as there are probably by-laws in place preventing people from doing excessive gardening or anything else, especially in an inner city cemetery such as this one with what I imagine to have heritage considerations and protection laws so close to London CBD.

[WestOz]

Hi Chris... My sincere thanks for the quality photos you have taken; I have only just realised that you posted them up on the FindaGrave memorial for Sidney and Florence   I have taken down my Street View screenshot in lieu of your much better ones.

If ever you are in Western Australia down Bunbury way, look me up and I'll shout you a pint!