Teddington Cemetery


Teddington Cemetery is a Grade II listed municipal cemetery in the north of Teddington in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Opened in 1879 it has many tall, eclectic trees and its nucleus was the outcome of a competition for designs by Richmond Burial Board.
It includes the war graves of 70 Commonwealth service personnel, 42 from World War I and 28 from World War II.

Above ground

Richmond Burial Board origins

Using the 1852 Burial Act, Richmond was enabled to form a burial board, and to buy and let out new burial grounds. In 1877 it bought the first parcel of land, a former orchard, of in the south-west from Mr Travers Smith. A competition was announced to design the layout of the burial ground, with a first prize of 15 guineas and a second prize of 5 guineas

Landscaping and plants

The park has mature trees, some pre-dating 1880. The whole of the old cemetery is covered with mature trees such as cedar, weeping beech, holly, yew, cypresses, giant redwood, and a fine large monkey puzzle. Several cherry trees, probably the remains of the former orchard, are scattered in the lawns of the cemetery.
Most of the small roundabouts are planted with single cypresses surrounded by heather and lawn, as is the junction of the main and central east/west axes north of the chapels. The south-west has been partially cleared. The main path gives a view north to the two chapels, planted with a semi-mature deodar cedar to each side. Among southern trees and shrubbery is the ornate medieval style mortuary of 1879.
The former western limit remains lined by trees. The perimeter path, lined with trees, was extended westwards by two paths linking the zone to the north-west added in 1950.

Paired chapels

The chapels, designed by T Goodchild in the Decorated Style, have crocketed spires linked by a great entrance arch. Built in 1878, their main material is dark honey-coloured Bargate ragstone with Bathstone dressings.

Notable burials