West Norwood Memorial Park Catacombs Beneth The Remembrance Garden

The following buildings shall be added:

TQ3272 (OFF) NORWOOD ROAD 963-0/32/1140 West Norwood Memorial Park Catacombs beneath the Remembrance Garden

GV II

Catacombs, formerly beneath the Anglican chapel now replaced with a Remembrance Garden. c1837 by Sir William Tite to accomodate some 2,000 coffins. Externally, only a flight of curving entrance steps and 6 semi-circular light shaft openings with grilles are visible. Internally, the entrance hall (altered), then a central axial hall with 3 long corridors leading off each side. Central hall arcaded on each side, each arch filled with a private vault resembling C15 chantry chapels with Gothic stone structure including blind arcading and badges; entered by "Tudor" cast iron grille doors with badges. Each corridor lined with recesses, screened off by fine Gothic style metal doors, and most containing coffin shelves. At the ends of each corridor are light shafts constructed of pale brick and having vaulted ceilings; circular light openings set in ceilings of outer corridors now blocked. Floors originally paved with stone slabs, now bare earth. Centrally situated hydraulic catafalque and hand-operated pump, manufactured by Messrs. Bramah and Robinson, 1839 (plaque attached to upright rail). This catafalque was used to silently lower coffins from the Anglican chapel into the vaults below and was considered somewhat of a novelty in its day being a remarkable instance of the marriage of industrial technology to the traditional business of undertaking and interment. The only other surviving catafalque machinery comparable is at Kensal Green. The Tite familily vaults are situated immediately to the right of the entrance. West Norwood has lost both its Anglican and Non-Conformist mortuary chapels which were demolished in 1960 and 1955 respectively following war damage.

Listing NGR: TQ3237972070