About Highgate
When burial conditions in London, England became intolerable in the early 19th Century, Parliament allowed the creation of seven private cemeteries just outside inner London. Highgate was one of these seven[all together they were called the Magnificent Seven because of their grandness and beauty] and the the West part of the cemetery was opened in 1839. It was extended in 1854 with the addition of the East Cemetery. The cemetery proved to be a hit and Victorian families would even come and picknick on the hills. It was a place to see and be seen and earned distinction for the fine Romantic-Gothic architecture and Egyptian style catacombs. Yet as time went on, both sides gradually became full and when cremation became popular in 1888, the profits slowly declined. The army of gardeners who looked after the cemetery were fired in the 1950's and gradually, nature reclaimed the ground. By the start of the 1970's the cemetery was overgrown, vandalised and running at a loss. Easter 1975, the cemetery was finally closed and its vast iron gates locked...but not forever.The Friends of Highgate Cemetery, a group of local supporters, was formed in October 1975 to keep the cemetery alive according to this motto:
"To promote for the benefit of the public as an environmental amenity the conservation of the Cemetery, its monuments, buildings, wild life and the natural beauty of its setting, and to secure its repair, restoration and preservation"
To this day they look after Highgate and give tours.