The ICCM Journal | Spring 2021 | V89 No. 1
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managed but not manicured Ensuring the sustainable future of the historic Highgate Cemetery Highgate Cemetery is one of the world’s finest examples of the picturesque garden cemetery. When it opened in 1839 it was in a semi-rural setting on what were then the outskirts of London. Walking its sinuous paths, the visitor would experience a constantly changing series of views of its various buildings and monuments and occasionally be captivated by longer vistas back towards the smoky metropolis. Before the days of public parks there were few other opportunities for people to stroll in such a beautifully designed landscape. Nowadays it is also famous as the resting place of many well-known people from Karl Marx to Lucian Freud, and whilst the cemetery retains its enchanting atmosphere, its monuments are under threat from long-term decay and maturing self-seeded trees. The trees themselves are Egyptian Avenue entrance. Courtesy of increasingly Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust stressed by climate change and afflicted by new pests and diseases. More extreme weather is eroding gravel paths and overwhelming the historic drainage systems. All this is undermining the historic landscape design and reducing biodiversity. Added to concerns related to sustainability and the climate emergency, the challenge for the cemetery is to find a way to adapt to the new demands of the twenty-first century. That’s why Highgate Cemetery has launched two open competitions to ensure the captivating site is conserved and enhanced for future generations.
and buildings will be better looked after, the cemetery will continue to function as an active burial ground and visiting will be easier and more rewarding.’ ‘This is important because Highgate is still a working cemetery with over 170,000 people buried here and in more usual times welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year from all over the world.’ Having saved the cemetery from dereliction in the 1970s, and secured the major monuments, the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust is now looking at how this world-famous resting place of so many distinguished people can be conserved and enhanced for future generations.’ ‘We are seeking the most imaginative practitioners to work with us in developing a new landscape vision that can sensitively respond to the history and character of Highgate cemetery. We will ensure that the cemetery remains the place of enchantment which so many people value, whose carefully-tended natural environment provides sanctuary for those buried here and their loved ones, as well as the thousands who visit.’ The landscape masterplan will guide the development of the cemetery over the next twenty-five years. It must preserve and enhance the qualities for which the cemetery has been appreciated over generations while enabling it to meet the varied demands and expectations of the twenty-first century, including providing a suitable environment for the bereaved. It will mark a step away from the pragmatic ‘managed neglect’ approach of more recent years to a programme of more active management to ensure that its special attraction is maintained. It will be an extremely difficult task. There is barely any ground not buried on. Space is at a premium. Naturally, many people are apprehensive about introducing change.
Both are now underway. The first is to find the best practitioners in landscape design to develop a landscape masterplan. The second is to find an architect-led multidisciplinary design team to investigate projects to preserve and enhance the historic structures and improve facilities for staff and visitors. A comprehensive conservation plan by Alan Baxter Ltd completed in 2019 forms the bedrock of these competitions. Martin Adeney, Chair of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, the charity which now owns the cemetery, said: ‘We will be working with the local community, cemetery volunteers and experts so that the trees, paths, monuments
Outer circle of Lebanon at Highgate. Courtesy of Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust
