The Catacombs And Terrace In Highgate (Western) Cemetery

The Catacombs and Terrace in Highgate (Western) Cemetery are catacombs located beneath a terrace that has been cut into the hillside, dating from around 1838 to 1839. They were possibly designed by JB Bunning, who utilized and extended the existing terrace that was originally part of the garden of Ashurst House, which has since been demolished. The structure is made of brick with stone entrances, featuring five central bays that form a canted projection. Piers rise from the ground to create dies, topped with gabled stone trefoil caps, leading to a cast-iron traceried terrace balustrade, with polygonal piers at the corners. The terrace is accessed by flights of stone steps at both ends.

The central entrance features a pointed arch with a hoodmould and cast-iron gates, flanked by square-headed architraved doorways that display coats of arms on the keystones and cast-iron panelled doors. Above these doorways are escutcheons with four small light openings.

Inside, the catacombs are brick vaulted and were originally illuminated by oculi set in the terrace above. The gallery stretches over 80 yards and is lined with separate recesses, each large enough to accommodate a single coffin end on, totaling 840 recesses down both sides. The openings are sealed with inscribed slabs or small glass inspection windows.

Historically, the catacombs could serve as a permanent resting place or as a temporary option while a burial plot was selected. The terrace is likely the earliest surviving asphalted building in the country, originally surfaced by Claridge and later resurfaced in the late 20th century.