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It's six years since I went to Woodgrange Park, and I don't mind admitting I trudged along Romford Road with a certain amount of trepidation. Was it even still there, or had Badgehurst finally succeeded in selling it off? There was a moment of panic when I saw a Tesco Express that was surely new... but then, no, there was the sign pointing into the cemetery. All was well.
Well, no it isn't. The chapel has gone, demolished in 2006. It's been replaced with a pile of debris, containing the smashed-up remains of several gravestones: you'd've thought after the Emmerdale fiasco, they'd have been more careful. But it's not all bad. Maybe it's the time of year, maybe it's the loss of the chapel, but the drive into the cemetery did seem a little less overgrown to me.
Further back, it seems that everything's been given a very strong dose of weed-killer. This is immediately noticeable in the older section to the right of where the chapel was, and in the larger section to the left and back which is now the Muslim burial section. I've said many times, if anything is to save Woodgrange Park, it will be the Muslim community. There are many, many more graves now than in 2005, and I really hope that this signals the beginning of a new era for this long and badly neglected cemetery.
Visiting: Woodgrange Park station and turn left. Watch out for the little sign pointing into the cemetery; it looks more like a car park from outside. Few livings about, even in the recently used parts. Someone possibly official was clearing some of the older graves when I was there. No one objects to photography.
I have just found out that both my Great Grandmother and Grandfather were buried in this cemetery. My Father tried to find his Father's grave shortly before he died in 1978 and was devastated at the state the cemetery was in then so much so he never found his father's grave. Having the informatio as to where their graves were I wonder if I will ever find out what appened to them.
This is so sad, and should stand as a real reminder to those managing cemeteries that they're dealing with much more than an economic asset.
However, this thread
http://newhamstory.com/forums/index.php?topic=134.0
might offer some help for those trying to find relatives in the cemetery. If you, or anyone else, has an update on what it's like trying to trace a grave in Woodgrange Park, please do leave another comment.
I really hope you find the people and the peace you're looking for.
My grandparents Alice Ellen Cornford and Henry Cornford are interred at Woodgrange cemetery (in the area on the right, a grave of a young girl with an angels statue stands in front of it).Until my father died due to an accident in his 78th year (2007) he never missed a visit I was taken there with my sisters from when we were very young children I am now 57.The condition of the cemetary caused my father great distress at that time and it became impossible to reach the grave of his parents over time we could only look from afar.Are the graves of our loved ones accessible now so that we can continue our pilgrimage to pay respects to a couple who were dearly love and held with great affection.
Hi Barbara,
Guessing by your description of the position of the plot, I think you may still be able to visit the area. Assuming "on the right" from the gate, the area to the right of the drive is reasonably overgrown but you may still be able to see the grave. If it's further back, to the back-right of where the chapel was, this area looks to have been given a hefty dose of weed killer, so it should be quite easy to find what you're looking for.
Fingers crossed for you!
I am 73 and my son is trying to build our family tree on using burial cards of my Mothers parents Harry Ward, Selina Ward and their son Henry Harry Ward all buried
at Woodgrange Park Cemetery I thought I could get some information. I was informed that they did not have any records of the three persons even though I have the grave plot numbers.
I can only assume that graves after a period of time are just written off, if so it is
criminal in my opinion
Woodgrange Park Cemetery was desictrated back in the early 2000's so that flats could be built on the site. The graves of people who had died in the Blitz were dug up and the bones thrown into a communal pit. would be sincerely surprised if anyone could locate the graves of their loved ones now.
My grandparents Emma and James Streeting are buried on the right side of the demolished chapel. Sometime ago a nearby grave was opened and a metal sheet was placed on their gravestone and loaded up with soil. We have tried to dislodge this in the past and discovered that the weight of the soil over a period of time had cracked their headstone. I last visited their grave Christmas 2011. The area was so overgrown with brambles that only my brother could just about reach it to place the holly wreath. Unfortunately I was in hospital prior to Christmas 2012 and was unable to visit. I have been informed today that the sight has possibly been cleared!! If so I would like to know what as happened to their gravestone. I am hoping to visit in the near future.
Hi there,
I've just found the details of my Grandparent's burials at Woodgrange Cemetery and having read your comments, am wondering if someone could tell me if there's a map to graves in area C7 and C18? That or have any of you visited that area and found it inaccessible? I live in Somerset now so it's a long way to travel if I'm not going to be able to reach their graves so was wondering if any of you could advise me?
And might I just add how disappointed I am in Badgehurst. They were quite willing to help me but at a cost of £30 per enquiry, even though I knew both the grave squares, their numbers, interrment dates etc. Flatly unwilling to help me or advise me without £60.00 downpayment.
Can't something in the way of a preservation order be done for this cemetary like has been done for similar period Arnos Vale in Bristol?
Many, many thanks for your time and any information anyone could provide.
Regards, Elaine Howard
My grandmother died at the age of 32 and was buried in Woodgrange Park Cemetery in 1938. I have the grave number from a memorial card.
I am visiting the cemetery at the end of this week with my father who hasn't been here for many many years.
I will let you know what we find.
I visited my mothers and my grandmothers grave September 2012. The cemetery is in certain areas is a complete mess, however I was expecting this as my father who was a member of The Friends of Woodgrange (look up their webpage0 pre warned me. More of the cementery has been cleared to make way for further Muslim burials at the back. This should be expected as land is short in London due to it being one of the most populated cities in the world now and time moves on. We spoke to the Superintendent of the cemetery who was very helpful. The cemetery has been allocated money to help clean and tidy up what is left of it. There were in fact nearly half a million peoples' remains in the part of the cemetery that was excavated for housing, therefore the land should not technically have been built on. FofW Cemetery did take this case as far as the House of Lords, but lack of support could not prevent the envitable. I was suprised that there is a Muslim area that is now fenced off and only Muslims are allowed to enter the area. I feel that this does nothing to assist with race relations!! Historically Woodgrange has a wealth of history and artistic content with the beautiful headstones that not many could afford to place. I am amazed that it was allowed and has been allowed to deteriorate to such a level. Oh and remember that if you do not visit your family grave for one year and a day Badgehurst have the right to reuse the ground for further burials.
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