Kensal Green Cemetery

Kensal Green Cemetery
Details
Established	1832
Location	Harrow Road, North Kensington, London, W10 4RA
Country	England
Coordinates	51°31′43″N 0°13′27″W / 51.5286°N 0.2241°W / 51.5286; -0.2241
Type	Private
Style	Neoclassical
Owned by	The General Cemetery Company
Size	29 hectares (72 acres)
No. of graves	65,000+
No. of interments	250,000
Website	The General Cemetery Company website
Find a Grave	Kensal Green Cemetery
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Kensal Green Cemetery
Designated	1 October 1987
Reference no.	1000817
National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
Official name	Kensal Green Cemetery
Designated	1 October 1987
Reference no.	1000817

Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of North Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick Carden.^[1] The cemetery opened in 1833 and comprises 72 acres (29 ha) of grounds, including two conservation areas, adjoining a canal. The cemetery is home to at least 33 species of bird and other wildlife. This distinctive cemetery has memorials ranging from large mausoleums housing the rich and famous to many distinctive smaller graves and includes special areas dedicated to the very young. It has three chapels and serves all faiths.^[2] It is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London.

The cemetery was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem "The Rolling English Road" from his book The Flying Inn:^[3]

For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen;
Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.

Despite its Grecian-style buildings, the cemetery is primarily Gothic in character, due to the high number of private Gothic monuments. Due to this atmosphere, the cemetery was the chosen location of several scenes in movies, notably in Theatre of Blood.^{[citation needed]}

The cemetery is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.^[4] It remains in use.