Inventory Site Record

Willesden Local Board purchased this land in 1888 for Willesden New Cemetery. The cemetery opened 1891 and was so-named to distinguish it from the burial ground at St Mary's Willesden, which then became known as Willesden Old Cemetery. The cemetery was simply laid out with straight paths and originally had a pair of chapels, now demolished. It has an unusually sylvan character with its many trees. Willesden Civilian War Memorial, was erected to commemorate local people who died in WWII.

Site location:

Franklyn Road, Willesden

Postcode:

NW10 9TE

What 3 Words:

trials.school.frogs

Type of site:

Cemetery

Borough:

Brent

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

9am - 4pm (Jan/Feb/Nov/Dec) - 5pm (Oct) - 6pm (Mar) - 7pm (April, Sept) - 8pm (May - August)..

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Toilets

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Dollis Hill (Jubilee). Bus: 260, 266, 297.

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/07/2009

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.brent.gov.uk

Willesden Local Board purchased c.10.5 hectares of land in 1888 for Willesden New Cemetery, which opened 1891, so called to distinguish it from the burial ground at St Mary's Willesden (q.v.) which then became known as Willesden Old Cemetery. £20,000 was spent on the purchase and laying out of the ground and a pair of 'unique Pont Street Dutch' chapels was erected, designed by Mr C H Worley, now demolished. The layout of paths in the cemetery is simple and straight, but it has an unusually sylvan character deriving from the preponderance and density of deciduous planting. Among the trees are horse chestnut, Lombardy and hybrid poplar, willow and a circus of horse chestnut. There was once a lime walk to the Willesden Civilian War Memorial, which was erected in tribute to local people who died in WWII.

Sources consulted:

Hugh Meller & Brian Parsons, 'London Cemeteries, An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer', 4th edition (The History Press, 2008); Victoria County History; Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England London 3: North West' (Penguin, 1999 ed); LB Brent Cemeteries web page

Grid ref:

TQ217844 (521837,184381)

Size in hectares:

10.53

Site ownership:

LB Brent

Site management:

Cemeteries and Mortuaries Service

Date(s):

1891

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Borough Importance II - see note

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Nature Conservation Area: included with Roundwood Park, Willesden New Cemetery and Liberal Jewish Cemetery

Willesden New Cemetery, March 2001. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.