Lesser known than some of London's other "Magnificent Seven" Victorian era park-cemeteries, West Norwood holds some of the city's most beautiful memorial monuments and some of its oldest trees.
Once also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery, the Gothic Revival burial ground is now part of English Heritage's National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The cemetery was built in 1836-37 during the establishment of new park-like burial grounds outside of the city limits. The site selected had once been the Great North Forest, by this time with only a few tress standing. Some of these ancient trees were left standing in the new cemetery, and some have recently been dated back as far as the 16th century.
Comprised of Kensal Green, Highgate, West Norwood, Abney Park, Nunhead, Brompton and Tower Hamlets cemeteries, the Magnificent Seven were created in 1832 as part of an effort to move burials out of the City of London in response to twin pressure of health concerns about overcrowded church yard cemeteries as well as desires for buildable land in the rapidly expanding city.
Like many of the city's other cemeteries, it was damaged by bombings during WWII, causing the total destruction of the Episcopal chapel, an damage to other buildings and monuments. Today, iongoing restoration and stewardship work is done by the Friends of the Norwood Cemetery, who also host regular tours of the cemetery.