Further to our stories in November 2021, we write to update on further progress with the National Heritage Lottery Funded (HLF) project at West Norwood Cemetery.

Paths – completed worksThe laying of new drains and kerbs and tarmac surface along the 400 metre plus length of the St. Mary at Hill Path has been completed. Some nine seats are now available for use along the path. Doulton Path with a new gravel top layer has been reopened as has Beaton Path with its reinforced grass surface. The works to these paths have made access much easier to many parts of the cemetery.

Paths – ongoing works and new diversion
Works continue on the drains/kerbs/path works at Lower Road, Narrow Road, Reddins Hill and Crematorium Road. A new access route for motorists and pedestrians from the main entrance to the Rose Garden and Greek Cemetery (the north east corner of the Cemetery) is now in place (see map below). The new granite steps with handrail at Reddins Hill are well underway, with the contractor working over the Christmas holiday period. Most of these works should be completed by mid-February.

Monuments
Works are all but completed on the William C Auffray and Edith O'Gorman “Escaped Nun” monument; the lower plaque has yet to be reinstated. The restoration of the terracotta James Baldwin Brown monument has been fully completed. Both look magnificent are a good enough reason alone to visit the Cemetery. Both monuments can be found just to the south west of the Greek Cemetery. Following a competitive tendering process, the Council is about to let the contract for restoration of St. Stephens Chapel in the Greek Cemetery and 14 further monuments (38 weeks) to the same contractor: Sally Strachey Historic Conservation Ltd.