Highgate Cemetery Then and Now

[Leiene7]

I would love to visit that cemetery. Incredible.

[HattieLovesCattie]

Its nice that its been cleaned up.Americans take very good care of our cemeteries,esp.the ones in cities and towns.There are many rurual graveyards for families on private land.The best kept American cemeteries are our military ones,esp.Arlington and the one at the beach in Normandy.The one in Honolulu is also nice.

[futurebabe8001]

I'm addicted to this song ! Who is it?

[fbllxl5]

@futurebabe8001 Wow by Kate Bush

[futurebabe8001]

@fbllxl5 thank you for saying.. I watched her video.. not exactly what I expected!  but thought provoking. ^.^ blessings..!

[doedeedum]

man graveyards in europe are a lot different then america.

[fbllxl5]

@doedeedum Amen to that

[thewhisperingeagle]

@doedeedum

[thewhisperingeagle]

It's great to know the city of London keeps up with the place. Must cost a fortune.

[fbllxl5]

@thewhisperingeagle The city of london has nothing to do with the cemetery. It is looked after and owned by the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, a completely voluntary organisation, not subsidised either.

[thewhisperingeagle]

@fbllxl5 That is even more impressive and in other ways distressing. Considering the historic value alone, one would think that the crown could trickle a little poundage in that direction. I'm glad it's there by whatever means.

[MatlockJack]

@thewhisperingeagle

If you want the whole story of the cemetery, from building through neglect and restoration, then get a copy of HIGHGATE CEMETERY: VICTORIAN VALHALLA by Felix Barker and featuring the gothic photography of the late John Gay. You might obtain a copy at your local library or on Amazon; trust me it's worth the purchase. I've had mine since 1984 and it's still read regularly.

[fbllxl5]

@MatlockJack Victorian Valhalla is not the whole story, as it was written in 1981 it does not contain any of the amazing work and restorarion that has happened in the intervening years, nor does it document the unrelenting and dedication of the work of volunteers, without whom the cemetery would have been completely destroyed by nature and vandals

[MatlockJack]

@fbllxl5

It tells the whole history of neglect that provoked the restoration process. It refers to the ideals and architectural/horticultural intentions/embryonic activities of the team responsible for same, under the headings: "The Old Cemetery finds New Friends and "Highgate faces the Future" . It refers to historic cases of vandalism and mentions one of the photos being unrepeatable on that basis I was intrigued to read of the book being written in 1981: my (original) copy says 1984.

[fbllxl5]

@MatlockJack I don't dispute what you say, just that VV cannot now 30 years after publication be the whole story. You're quite right about the publication date, I refer to 1981 because I was with John Gay when he took some of the photographs and my diary records 1981. And I have just realised it is now 30 years since I took the original photographs of my vid so perhaps I should update with a now and then 30 years on!

[MatlockJack]

@fbllxl5

Victorian Valhalla is emphatic of the love, dedication and involvement of volunteers (from at least 1981 onwards) and documents this indicatively. It mentions the determination of these people to prevent the Cemetery (Western side initially it would seem), from dismantling unto vandal's paradise (page 20).

[lillylou11]

half way through when you show the stone coffin is a ghost she is as clear as anything,she is sitting upright withlong brown hair aged about 20 can anyone else see her

[MatlockJack]

@lillylou11

Highgate does have a haunted history and tombs were broken into during 1970 (for which at least one person went to prison), but (and I've scanned this film 5-6 times), I didn't see the ghost you describe (or any kind of spectre TBH).

I'm assuming you're referring to 2:29-2:39 on the counter? If it's other, please advise, as I love ghost stories.

[lillylou11]

@lillylou11 if you look on 2.31/3.46 on the counterbar you can definatly see a woman

[fbllxl5]

@lillylou11 nope ur seeing things

[trimas3]

fbllxl5 Well, i'm seeing things too, because i see the woman and other faces, too. In fact cemeteries are full of spirits, but our eyesd just can't see them. But pics are totally different, as they can sometimes catch what i call spiritual magma. Lilly is probably a sensitive, you are not.

[fbllxl5]

@trimas3 "I'm seeing things too.." damn right there! You and Lily are probably psychotic and need to seek help

[TrueGoth1]

They cant leave anything alone, all the romanticism has gone, still beautiful though!! When I was a kid in the 70s there was an old empty house around the corner from us, it was heavily fenced off, anyway one day us kids broke in, my memory is still vivid from the experience. Its as if the owners just walked out one day and left it. A few years later I read in the local rag it had been vacant since the 1890s. It has now been demolished and a block of flats now stand there.

[JustinsVideoCorner]

My how time changes and affects things..

[JackRussellTerrier2]

Very atmospheric and dramatic the way the music fit the photo-presentation. It would seem that they removed much of the vines and trees during the intervening quarter century.

Is that early Kate Bush?

[odalyful]

Went to both sides of this lovely, old place in the eighties. Have never forgot the experience. Our guide was funny and informative. We were the only two on the tour which you paid what you could. I hit the stinging nettles (only bad experience). Love the song with the video.

[appletree253]

Lovely film. I visited in the early 1970's and again yesterday 2010. Thank you for sharing this film.

[Glitterbomb222]

great stuff - loved the video!

[MegaCapulet]

great video and music would love to visit some time

[BritishHorrorQueen]

I go to hIghgate Cemetery every summer and write my film scripts there. It's so peaceful and the energy is lovely. I'm planning on going on the tour of the West Cemetery this summer too. Although, the last time I went further into the east side of the cemetery, I had a terrible migraine, as the energy was so powerful, and that time it wasn't positive... Definitely still the home of spirits

[Custhydo]

I just loved your video's, the comparison was very good. I visited way back in early seventies with my mother who just loved exploring old cemeteries...I believe we was looking for Oscar Wilde's grave.....

[fbllxl5]

@Custhydo thank you for your comments. I hope you and your mother got to see Oscar's grave eventually! :-)

[ybot1983]

@fbllxl5 in Paris!!!

[atheist4all2see]

@Custhydo

You'll never find it.... you're looking in the wrong country. Oscar Wilde's tomb is in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, France.

[fbllxl5]

@atheist4all2see

Yes we know!!

[chocolatcats]

@Custhydo been here in 2005; saw the scary grave of sheila gish and her daughter; ...sheila is wife of Denis Lawson of the Star Wars films as Wedge Antille.

Its a scary but magnificent cemetery

[massivley]

after seeing the excellent video hope to visit in near future

[whouster]

Visited Highgate cemetery two weeks ago, incredible experience. Shame the west cemetery can only be seen as part of a tour. By the way, absolutely inspired choice of song!!

[fbllxl5]

thank you, I am a huge Kate Bush fan........ :-)

[whouster]

@fbllxl5, I'm a huge Kate Bush fan also - and 'Wow' is such a mysterious and haunting song, which compliments the video perfectly. Congratulations to yourself and others for doing such a great job maintaining this wonderful place of heritage!

[MatlockJack]

I was at Highgate in 1984 for my Grandmother's funeral; roughly coinciding with the comencement of the restoration, still ongoing (by various means) as we speak. I'm in the friendship league of this famous old London graveyard and I can recomend seeing it; really and truly.

[dec222222]

as death will come to us all in the end . it will forever hold a great morbid seduction to us . and the only  way we can look at death is through our final resting places and cemeterys like the magnificent high gate excempifie this perfectly .

[toycityworld]

i study materials from robert monroe when i was around 19 and through that had a number of out of body experiences, i also have shared a few dreams with father and im quite good at reading the matrix since i did spend quite a fews studying remote viewing. My first proper lucid out of body was very nice to start with smooth and pleasant but then I started to move off after doing one sweep around, in short I was very very fearfull at that moment and closed up like a clam, kind of. death is not end

[soistshalt]

thank you for the pics from the 80s and now. Like to visit highgate next year, hoping to see newgrown plants.

[Italblessings]

Been to Highgate on a guided tour. The old cemetery. Was amazing, highly recommended to all history fans.

[pauljannone123]

I really enjoy watching this video, and the song fits the video perfectly, something very special about highgate cemetery.

[BarneyFlart]

Interesting how a place to dispose of the dead can be so facinating. Looks like there has been a lot of clean over the years.

[MatlockJack]

@BarneyFlart

Correct; the clean-up of Highgate got underway in 1984 and it's still being renovated and redeveloped.

[Johnmartine63]

Excellent video.

[91SDW]

where abouts in London is this cemetary?

[dean11081988]

highgate the clues in the name

[MatlockJack]

@ 91SDW

The Cemetery office has a postcode of N6 6PJ. Key that into 'Multimap' and you'll see exactly where it is; the overhead views are very impressive.

[Blacksilkcrow]

WOW! - Thats not only a vid...its a dream from the history...

Very great pics and the perfect music, too!!!

[sgibso1]

what is the music? its nice

[bigfoot159]

Kate Bush, WOW. Enjoy her immensley..

[eclectic9eel]

Simply gorgeous.

[RICFAN1]

Very beautiful and visually stunning. Looks like a very peaceful and tranquil spot. I definately plan on seeing it up close in person when I come to London in May.

[captain0389]

Wow, this is probably the most beautiful cemetery I've in a long time.

[noondot52]

a beautiful and sympathetic piece of work i hope to go there someday...............on a guided tour!!

[Kazaira]

this video was amazing...such beautiful pictures! <3 and i went there the 1 st of january this year and it was so beautiful..i went both to the west cemetery and to the east cemetery <3 and i think that both the cemetery's was beautiful in their own ways...but i took most photos in the east cemetery and i also catched some ghosts on at least 2 of my photo's from the east cemetery :O!

[ssdt73]

2.55 makes me so sad - it was made after the death of Julian Beer's daughter ( this is inside Julian Beer's Mousileam (sp?).) The face of the little girl is actually a death mask. How beautiful and how sad

[trippendale742]

I went to visit this place in September. It was a truly beautiful place. Especially the eastern part with its bust of Karl Marx. I recommend a guided walking tour around the western part too. The Egyptian avenue is truly stunning , along with the circle of Lebanon.

[fbllxl5]

Glad you enjoyed ur visit, it is an amazing place.

[semiramide1945]

I am American and have loved cemeteries since childhood. I have the book Highgate: Victorian Valhalla. I wish the friends would publish another showing these before/after photos, I for one would be ist in line to buy a copy. Here in Atlanta we have a victorian cemetery called Oakland (opened 1850) where I volunteer. Very beautiful too. I hope to visit Highgate one day, I don't care for all the tourist stuff, but this is serene, incomparable- Thank you so much. Michael Tanner

[fbllxl5]

Thank you for your comments, have you ever visited Highgate?

[kitjank]

very cool! I'm going to London in the Spring and Highgate is on the top of my list along with Kensal Green. This video really made me excited about my visit!

[fbllxl5]

I hope you'll find the cemetery much better than it is in my photos. And if you go to Kensal Green, try be there on the 1st or 3rd Sunday of the month as they do tours of the catacombs!!

[21gillian]

I went there two weeks ago, and it is a truely magical place. I will definatly be visiting again next time I am in London.

[romance123567]

I am pleased that others find it so great.. I used to go to college near ther and found great peace there, as i still do . i love Waterlow Park aswell. I feel very serenre in the area

[romance123567]

Where are you from and when are you visiting London, it is so nice to have a shared interest in this special place .

[21gillian]

Hi, me and my husband came down to London from Liverpool, and Highgate was the place I've always wanted to visit, we never got around to it on previous trips. It was definately worth it, and I wish that I lived nearer so I could donate some time helping out there. Don't know when we will be back, but I hope it won't be too long between visits.

[fbllxl5]

It is a wonderful place, only last week I was there an hour before I opened the cemetery and had the whole place to myself. Truly wonderful!!

[mysale3456]

I have been returning to Highgate for many years. Whenever i have to get my inner thoughs together i go to Highgate Cemetrey. I thought it was only me who really loves the peace and tranquoility of the place .

[Sciochick]

WOW is right! Beautiful shots! I can't wait to visit here. A friend of mine did years ago & loved the place!

[fbllxl5]

Thank you to all of you who have made comments about this video, it is very much appreciated!

[Cozytailmom]

I love that place!

[Antnicuk]

It's an amazing place - they do guided tours there. Lots of famous people buried there. Well worth a visit.

[fottuta]

tha rocky horor show's song?

[fbllxl5]

No, its a song by Kate Bush and has nothing to do with Rocky Horror.

[hectorslollol]

it is strange and confusing to feel and see the sun energy meanwhile you are seeing a cementery

[112OceanAvenue]

I love Kate Bush. :)

[fbllxl5]

I LOVE Kate Bush too! :-)

[univhearse]

Very interesting and nice video, I've been there twice and I love that cemetery. I painted the gate to the catacombs and painted a 1949 hearse in front of it. It reminds me good memories watching your video.

[cuervocorazon]

Does Highgate got any of those Polished Marble mausoleums?

[fbllxl5]

Yes, it has at least three, all sited by the entrance to the East Cemetery.

[TudorRose85]

I Love Cemeteries!

[Nebucanezzer]

Great video and site, I would love to film professionally there for the day for my own enjoyment on my own. The solitude is wonderful when surrounded by the bounty of nature. There should be more places like this all over the world.

[viperverona]

I watch this video and the changes just blow me away. I really must say the work that was done is just amazing. I worked for several years at an outdoor air museum that was set up to re-create life of early settlers. All the buildings on site were original and restored. Driving back and forth to work I would pass an old country cemetery and that's where my interest in restoring old cemetaries came from. The Friends did great!!

[Tazzman]

Those old cemeteries are so cool!

[viperverona]

who did the restoration? I thought it was very nicely done more communities should take pride and show respect for their founders and keep cemetaries in great condition for future generations to visit.

[fbllxl5]

When the company who owned Highgate Cemetery decided the cemetery was full and running at a loss they decided to close it. This is when the Friends of Highgate Cemetery began, given access to the cemetery to do work. Eventually become the owners of the cemetery they are responsible for the cemetery and for all the work and restoration that has been done there.

[tilerman]

My favourite London 'attraction' Beautiful. When friends and family visit from abroad, forget Tower of London and Madam Tussauds, this is where i take them and they are amazed.

I have visited all the big Victorian cemeteries in London and they are all so beautiful and well worth exploring. Great vid, thanks a lot.......

[SidneyXda]

you take your friends and family to a creepy cemetery? i know i would run soon as i got there lol i guess its less noisy and crowded than the tower of london right? well its crowded with corpses

[tilerman]

Atmospheric,yes.Creepy,not really. Go on one of the guided tours and hear some fascinating stories of some of the 'residents'. Wildlife,peace and quiet,and some truly beutifull tombs and statues. Go along and give it a try if only to hear the story of Julius Beer or Thomas Sayer.

[SidneyXda]

i was just kidding really, i mean its good place to show people who will appreciate it ..they have done the place up, looks immaculate. Im just scared of graveyards lol..i mean highgate doesn't have that abandon creepy look ..i guess i could check it out with some friends one day, never on my own though..my own mind will play tricks on me lol. whats the story about Julius and Thomas?

[tilerman]

Hi SidneyXda, it no longer has the creepy abanoned look but about 20 years ago when the cemetery had been locked up and forgoten about for many many years myself and some friends got in there for a look and it was amazing. Nature had completely taken over and it was a truly special place. Very spooky. You MUST visit with your friends. Whats the story with Juliu's Beer and Thomas Sayer? Go along and find out! Very romantic. My favourite place. Peace.

[steinlager1488]

i love cemeteries its very poignant that we let them rot and forget them new zealand has some awesome ones i was in the masterton one the other week

[aylastarsaphire]

It is a shame than past events have made it such a restricted place to visit. It looks like some of your photos include the newer part of the cemetery, across the road.

[fbllxl5]

No, all photos are of the west cemetery. I do not have any photos from 1981 of the east to do modern day comparisons with.

[standingcorpse]

Great photography. And Kate Bush... Nice!

[Creolelady281]

LOve the video but who is buried in Highate Cemetery

[cuervocorazon]

Some of England's most famous and influential people like Karl Marx for example

[ssdt73]

i visited only last sunday - it was really really beautifull. The angel holding the little girl was my favourite part - we were told to look through this large tomb of julian beer and there it was this amazing sculpture! I was so impressed. It is based on his daughter who died and her face is a death mask of his daughters.

[neminiparco]

Absolutely amazing. Thanks for this video. I love cemeteries.

[madashelltoo]

Very nice video. So thankful someone came to their senses and fixed up the place. There is no place more peaceful and tranquil than a cemetery. I love cemeteries- strange, I know.

[fbllxl5]

Not strange at all. It used to be that way but now folk are discovering what amazing places some cemeteries are!

[panchodeeeee]

i really hate hustle and bustle of london or anywhere, there is not a place i know in london you can go without getting disturbed, especially by chavs,wanna be gangstas and just plain scum. i will go here tommorow and see if this place is peaceful!

[tilerman]

Hi, did you visit the cemetery. What do you think?

[cuervocorazon]

When was Highgate opened?

[fbllxl5]

Consecrated on May 20th 1839 by the Bishop of London, first burial, that of Elizabeth Jackson, took place 3 days later on May 23rd 1839.

[cuervocorazon]

Don't think that I'm a freak but I love cemeteries they are quiet and it is a nice place to just escape the hustle and hectic city noise when I was in Argentina visiting my family I would go to the Cemetery often and just look at grave stones or just sit down and relax

[fbllxl5]

I feel exactly the same about cemeteries. Especially when in Highgate, its amazing to think the hustle and bustle of London is all around and yet in that tranquil place one can escape!

[norgrav]

Thank you.

[valetony77]

very nice I didn't know this place until now thank you !

[twamley]

What a tranquil place to spend an afternoon

[CultofJ]

haunting!

[stefanomancino]

Non mi avevano permesso di filmare per cui grazie per questo video.

[Sinmara]

excellent, thank you! just been up there last weekend and shot a few videos (uploaded last night) :) it's an amazing cemetery!

[Jeanetrendhill]

Amazing video, thank you.

[mayr315]

Very nice to see that things are being looked after in this historic cemetery. Thanks for the wonderful video!