'Mind the Gap - The People of Wimbledon Cemetery' Guided Walk

Overlooked for too long, located unobtrusively on the edge of the Wandle Valley not far from its better known neighbours; Lambeth and Streatham, its surely time to focus a bit of attention on Wimbledon’s ‘Gap Road’ Cemetery. Its been the.resting place of so many notable people since its twenty acres of tranquility featuring three chapels was opened in 1876. Despite its association with one of the most salubrious parts of London, its out-of-town location next to a vast railway yard and an industrial site has perhaps inhibited potential visitors. Built next to the site of an isolation hospital it was laid out by Sir Banister Fletcher and has been extended at various times. Geoff's Walk takes you on a circuit of this unique location stopping at various points to tell the story of some of its residents.

There are some stunning memorials, most celebrated is perhaps the pink and grey granite Cooke Mausoleum of 1885. A stone tablet commemorating the Belgian WW1 refugees who died in Wimbledon tells a fascinating story. There is an extensive Roman Catholic area, a nod to the Jesuit presence in the area and how it became home to so many Irish people. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records 129 headstones to both world wars, also other conlicts, from the Irish War of Independence to South Africa. There are many headstones indicating some kind of colonial service or connection. Amongst other interesting burials are actress Imogen Hassall, Nile engineer Sir Colin Scott-Moncrieff, Chartist poet Eliza Cook, Hope Hope-Clark founder of the Silver Thimble charity, illustator Fred Barnard who helped popularise the works of Charles Dickens, author and celtic scholar Eleanor Hull who wrote the words to the hymn ‘Be thou my vision’, prolific Transylvanian-born artist Edith Jeanette Soterius von Sachsenheim and Sir Herbert Hope Risley, architect of the caste system in India. Sports fans won't be disappointed; there's footballer Jack Curtis who scored the first ever Spurs goal against Arsenal and Tommy Woodrooffe, the FA Cup Final football commentator who ate his own hat. More stories are sure to emerge and one of the reasons for doing this Walk is to stimulate interest and ensure that people are aware of this special place and future generations will continue to cherish it and find peace there.

Geoff has done many local cemetery walks along the Wandle Valley over the past ten years, often in collaboration with Tracey Gregory. Follow him on Eventbrite to get notification of upcoming events.He runs a community history project in south west London called Summerstown182 alongside his job as a graphic designer. This involves Guided Walks and Talks, working with schools and putting up plaques. Over the last ten years a trail of these have emerged along the Wandle Valley, shining a light on some of the lesser-known history in this area. They range from the youngest soldier to serve this country in the First World War to a ground-breaking plaque acknowledging Romany Gypsy and Traveller heritage in Wandsworth. 'Planet Tooting' is an ongoing initiative championing the outstanding migrant contribution to our neighbourhood which resulted in a blue plaque on Tooting Market. Have a look on Geoff's blog for more details or follow @summerstown182 on social media. Many thanks to Seamus who showed us the Belgian graves and ignited the idea for this Walk.