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FRIENDS OF NUNHEAD CEMETERY

Nunhead Cemetery is perhaps the least known, but most attractive, of the great Victorian Cemeteries of London. Consecrated in 1840, it is one of the seven great Victorian cemeteries established in a ring around the outskirts of London. It contains examples of the magnificent monuments erected in memory of the most eminent citizens of the day, which contrast sharply with the small, simple headstones marking common, or public, burials. It's formal avenue of towering limes and the Gothic gloom of the original Victorian planting gives way to paths which recall the country lanes of a bygone era.

The Friends of Nunhead Cemetery (FONC) exists to represent all those with an interest in the cemetery. The group seeks to promote the conservation and appreciation of the cemetery as a place of remembrance, of historic importance and of natural beauty. There is a conducted tour of the cemetery, open to all, on the last Sunday of each month, starting from the Linden Grove gates at 2:15 p.m. Click here to see a map.

FONC Chairman
awarded MBE
Ron Woollacott, chairman of FONC and other local groups, has been awarded the MBE for “services to the community in the London Borough of Southwark”.

Members receive a multi-page quarterly newsletter containing news, features letters and adverts. Also listed are details of meetings, tours and open days organised for members and the general public.

Committee meetings are held at 7.45 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, (except August) at the Function Room of the Old Nun's Head pub, Nunhead Green, SE15. Committee meetings are open meetings and members are welcome to attend in a non-voting capacity.

Occasional open/public meetings take place when an invited speaker may give a slide presentation on a subject sympathetic to FONCs aims and activities such as cemetery conservation, cemeteries generally, local history, wildlife etc. These meetings are advertised in the newsletter.

Practical conservation work is carried out in the cemetery on the first Sunday of each month between 10.00 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Don't feel that you have to stay for the whole time though, even if you can only spare an hour or two, it will really help.
Volunteers must be FONC members for insurance purposes. Non-members can become a member on the day if they wish, by signing a membership application form and paying their first subscription at the same time.

Monumental inscription recording is carried out in the cemetery on the third Sunday of each month All volunteers are most welcome and should meet at the FONC portacabin by the main entrance in Linden Grove at 11.00 a.m.

Publications and information about FONC are available from the information and publications stall on Sunday workdays, and Sunday tour afternoons, unless bad weather or lack of volunteers. Publications are also available by mail order. Please see the publications list.

For information about gravesearch enquiries, please see the gravesearch page.

Membership applications and enquiries regarding other membership information should be addressed to the
FONC Membership, c/o 31 Normanby Road, Dollis Hill, London, NW10 1BU, England.
Please include an S.A.E. or 2 International Reply Coupons.
UK Membership costs only GBP 2.00 a year. International membership costs GBP 10.00 a year and includes air mail postage of newsletters. Cheques in sterling drawn on a UK bank only made payable to FONC.

The cemetery is open to the public daily (including weekends) from 08.30 am to 4:00 pm throughout the winter months and stays open slightly later in spring and summer. Please note these time are subject to alteration.

If you would like to see some pictures of Nunhead Cemetery taken by members, Odd Marthinussen, Andy Favell, Moyra & Rodger Peralta and Mark Blackman, please see the gallery page. If anyone else has some photographs that they would like published, please contact me at the webmaster address at the bottom of the page.

Members area. You will need a password to access this area. However, it is only in testing at the moment. When/if it goes live I will let you know. Click here to access the members area.

 

Links to other Friends of Cemetery Societies.


Friends of Nunhead Cemetery. Registered charity number 296413. Copyright FONC 07/2008


These web pages have been created by Simon Quill. FONC Member 1423
If you have any problems accessing them then please send a message to the Webmaster.