One of several entrances to the catacombs, Brompton Cemetery

Image: © Marathon Taken: 29 Oct 2020

Brompton Cemetery is one of 'The Magnificent Seven' cemeteries and is the closest of the major cemeteries to the centre of London. Opened in 1836 on land owned by Lord Kensington, its original layout was based on the plan of a vast cathedral, with a chapel in the middle based on St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Underneath were catacombs for the burial of the dead. One of the entrances is seen here. The cemetery was extended in 1844 to make the plot a full rectangle. In 1850 the government agreed to purchase all the London cemeteries, which was fortunate for Brompton as the original plan had been ruinously expensive. That edict was repealed two years later, except in the case of Brompton which by this quirk remains the only public cemetery to stay under government control and is now managed by The Royal Parks. To see more about the catacombs visit http://www.independent.co.uk/news/catacombs-prove-a-lively-attraction-1601635.html and for more photographs see https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=brompton+cemetery+catacombs+tour&rlz=1C1DVCA_enGB324GB375&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=709&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cA1eVPvwLK6d7gaNzICwAg&ved=0CGkQsAQ

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0