Sunday September 24th, 7.15pm for 7:30pm
Daniel Hall, Long Garden Walk, Farnham, GU9 7HX.
Speaker : John Clarke
This talk will be followed up by a guided visit to Brookwood Cemetery at a later date to be arranged.
This presentation gives an overview of the foundation and development of Brookwood Cemetery as a private cemetery company down to its current management by Woking Borough Council. It includes reference to the cemetery railway, the chapels and other buildings, along with some notable burials which include that of Charles Bradlaugh, the first atheist MP.
John Clarke has been researching the history of Brookwood Cemetery for many years and has written the standard history of the cemetery railway (The Brookwood Necropolis Railway, 1983, 1988, 1995 & 2006 and of the cemetery itself (London’s Necropolis 2004 & 2018)
Brookwood Cemetery, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookwood_Cemetery), also known as the London Necropolis, is a burial ground in Brookwood, Surrey, England. It is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in Europe. The cemetery is listed a Grade I site in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[9]
Charles Bradlaugh – National Secular Society founder
“Bradlaugh founded the NSS in 1866 and faced a prolonged struggle to enter parliament as an MP in the 1880s, as he was barred from taking his seat because of his atheist beliefs.
He finally took his place in parliament in 1886 and was instrumental in bringing about a change in the law, giving all MPs the right to affirm rather than swear a religious oath.
He was prosecuted after publishing rudimentary information about birth control and he also argued for the end of the monarchy.
His funeral on 3 February 1891 was attended by several thousand mourners who arrived by special trains from Waterloo on the ‘Necropolis railway’.”
Do come and join in. All are welcome!!
Donation of £2 to help hire costs and free tea/coffee welcome drink.
Drinks available also from the Hop Blossom Pub, close by.
Map of location below – Daniel Hall, Long Garden Walk, Farnham, GU9 7HX
also known as “3rd Farnham Scouts / Dynamic Performing Arts, Daniel Hall, 1 Long Garden Walk, Farnham, GU9 7HX “
