Other people are a bit dismissive about East London Cemetery, but I really rather like it. Sure, it's a bit crowded and the blanket of rose bushes at the front are succeeded by a blanket of marble further in, but people here really like to celebrate their dead. The arched gravestone with the family name on the top, a huge bunch of flowers beneath, and a marble slab on which many family memorials can be left (just like the French do it), is standard in East London. But there are plenty of non-standard monuments here too: Billy Gill's enormous dartboard and Signora Vassallo's lifesize statue must be the two most spectacular.
East London Cemetery is on my 'hitlist' as I work my way through Newham's places of worship.
Lovely photos and information. Cemeteries are generally tougher to research than churches, so keep up the good work
The East London chapels are gorgeous, Peter: you'll love them.