Inventory Site Record

Kingston Cemetery was set up in 1855 on a hilly site bordered to the south by the Hogsmill River. It was simply laid out on formal lines and has two gothic chapels linked by a porte-cochère. The cemetery was extended in the south and in 1952 a brick Crematorium was built, with landscaping around the building completed in 1958. Throughout the cemetery are mature trees including various exotic species, and the cemetery has a war memorial.

Previous / Other name:

Bonner Hill Cemetery

Site location:

Bonner Hill Road, Kingston

Postcode:

KT1 3EZ

What 3 Words:

gown.fever.wizard

Type of site:

Cemetery

Borough:

Kingston

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm (Nov-Jan)/ - 5pm (Feb & Oct)/ - 6pm (Mar, Apr, Sept)/ - 7pm (May-Aug). Sat/Sun BH 10am - 4pm (Nov - Jan) - 5pm (Feb-Oct)

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Kingston then bus/walk. Bus: K1, 131, 726 (then walk)

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Research updated:

01/04/2012

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.kingston.gov.uk/bereavement_services/kingston_cemetery

Kingston Cemetery was set up by Kingston Municipal Burial Board in 1855, prior to which all burials had been in Kingston's parish churchyard of All Saints and its overflow burial ground at Union Street (q.q.v.) The cemetery is on hilly land previously known as Bonner Hill Fields, with the Hogsmill River forming its southern boundary. Some of the native trees, which include oak, birch, ash, holly, hawthorn and yew, may predate the cemetery. It was simply laid out on formal lines; at the highest point and directly in front of the main entrance are two gothic chapels designed by Aickin and Capes, a symmetrical pair linked by a porte-cochère with a belfry and spire over it. One of these is now redundant and contains the Book of Remembrance. In 1877 the memorials in the cemetery were praised in Chapman's guidebook on Kingston, nearly all erected by resident artists and displaying 'much merit and skilful execution'.

The cemetery was extended in the south and in 1952 a brick Crematorium was built designed by the Borough Surveyor. The area around the crematorium was landscaped, with gardens with brick cloisters, a pergola, rose beds, pond and rockery, which were completed in 1958. Among the historically significant tombs is that of Dorothy Frances Victoria Burton (d. 1908), which was sculpted by Richard Goulden and cast by her father. A metal founder at Thames Ditton he was responsible for the Queen Alexandra Fountain outside Marlborough House (q.v.). Others buried here include Arthur Ranyard (d.1894) whose fine memorial has a female figure; Ranyard was Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Association and editor of 'Knowledge' from 1888-1894; Thomas Hansard (d.1891) who was the proprietor and editor of Hansard's Parliamentary Debates from 1833-1888; Joseph Moloney (d.1896), an explorer in the African Congo; William Young (d.1901), one-time Governor of the Gold Coast; and Alfred Lord Webb-Johnson of Stoke on Trent (d.1958) an eminent surgeon and the longest serving president of the Royal College of Surgeons from 1941-49 and President of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1950-52.

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England: London 2: South (Penguin) 1999; Hugh Meller & Brian Parsons, 'London Cemeteries, An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer', 4th edition (The History Press, 2008); Sue Swales, Ian Yarham, Bob Britton, 'Nature Conservation in Kingston upon Thames', Ecology Handbook 18 (London Ecology Unit) 1992

Grid ref:

TQ191688 (519094,168780)

Size in hectares:

13

Site ownership:

RB Kingston

Site management:

Cemeteries; Grounds maintenance contractor: Quadron Services Ltd

Date(s):

1855; 1955-8

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Chapels, Burton Tomb

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 - Local Importance

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None