Description
By the early C18th there was a small Sephardic Jewish community in Hackney, and in 1786 a group of Ashkenazim, on behalf of the Hambro Synagogue, purchased land on the east of Grove Street, the former name of what is now Lauriston Road. The Jews Burial Ground opened in 1788, then called Grove Street Cemetery. In 1870 both the grounds and buildings were improved, including new entrance gates, renovation of tombs and planting of trees and shrubs. It was closed to burials in 1886. Little changed in intervening years, the cemetery retaining its C19th lodge, iron gates and railings, and numerous headstones and chest tombs set in grass among trees. There are plans to build a new synagogue here on the former carriage drive next to the lodge.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Hackney Cemetery; Grove Street Cemetery |
|---|---|
| Site location | Lauriston Road |
| Postcode | E9 7HJ |
| What3Words | ///couple.elbow.safety |
| Type of Site | Cemetery |
| Borough | Hackney |
| Open to Public | By appointment only |
| Opening Times | Open by appointment only, please contact: 020 8950 7767 |
| Public Transport | Tube: Mile End (Central/Hammersmith & City/District) then bus. Bus: 277 |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
By the early C18th a small Sephardic Jewish community had grown up in Hackney; in 1786 a group of Ashkenazim on behalf of the Hambro Synagogue, purchased land on the east of Grove Street for the Jews Burial Ground, which opened in 1788, with the first burial on 11 February of that year. The area was largely undeveloped prior to the 1850s but by 1865 it was built up around the burial ground. Until 1877 Lauriston Road had been called Grove Street, hence the old name of the burial ground, Grove Street Cemetery. It was possibly so-called due to a grove that stretched west to Shoreditch; Grove Street was realigned west of the church of St John of Jerusalem. By the mid-C19th the cemetery had become somewhat run down and in 1870 both grounds and buildings were improved, the works paid for by a Mrs Flatou in memory of her husband Louis Victor Flatou. A report in The Jewish Chronicle on 18 March 1870 described the improvement works, which included partial rebuilding of the Mortuary Hall, repairs to the boundary walls, large iron railings and gates at the entrance, new paths, trees and shrubs, and renovations to the tombs. The burial ground was closed to burials by 1886, shortly after which the C18th prayer hall appears to have been demolished. One last burial took place in 2002 when the keeper of the cemetery grounds was permitted to be buried here. In the intervening years the burial ground remained largely unchanged with its C19th Lodge, entrance gates and railings on a brick parapet wall, and the original round carriage sweep that provided a turning circle.
There are notable plane, and other semi-mature trees in the grounds, and numerous headstones and chest tombs set in grass. There are plans for a new synagogue to be built adjacent to the lodge on the turning circle.
Just beyond the cemetery gates are Lauriston Road Strips, a series of raised beds with mature plane trees and grass, which are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931, and which were acquired by Hackney District Board in 1884.
There are notable plane, and other semi-mature trees in the grounds, and numerous headstones and chest tombs set in grass. There are plans for a new synagogue to be built adjacent to the lodge on the turning circle.
Just beyond the cemetery gates are Lauriston Road Strips, a series of raised beds with mature plane trees and grass, which are protected under the London Squares Preservation Act 1931, and which were acquired by Hackney District Board in 1884.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ357838 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.9 |
| Site Ownership | The United Synagogue |
| Site Management | The United Synagogue |
| Dates | 1788 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Victoria Park |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
The church of St John of Jerusalem was built in 1848, replacing a chapel-of-ease of 1806-10 on the north side of Well Street that had become parish church for South Hackney in 1825 when the parish was divided into three. The original spire was lost during WWII, replaced by a new slender spire. The church is surrounded by its churchyard on a large island site with an alley of C19th plane trees, railed graveyard with C20th railings, headstones, and 2 handsome C19th monuments dedicated to the Hopewell and the Framington families. In 1904 footpaths and lighting were provided through the churchyard.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Victoria Park was created as part of a government initiative to provide public parks for London's expanding suburbs. It officially opened in 1845, laid out with a perimeter carriage drive, belts of trees and formal bedding displays. The lake in the western section originally had 3 islands, a cascade, ornamental footbridge and a pagoda, and was popular for bathing. Another bathing lake was later formed in the eastern section and was for a time divided into 3. Over the years new facilities have been added, and the park underwent major restoration in 2012.
Victoria Park was created as part of a government initiative to provide public parks for London's expanding suburbs. It officially opened in 1845, laid out with a perimeter carriage drive, belts of trees and formal bedding displays. The lake in the western section originally had 3 islands, a cascade, ornamental footbridge and a pagoda, and was popular for bathing. Another bathing lake was later formed in the eastern section and was for a time divided into 3. Over the years new facilities have been added, and the park underwent major restoration in 2012.
Well Street gets its name from a spring that was once here. Well Street Common was previously part of South Hackney Common, which was owned by the Lord of the Manor of Hackney and used for agriculture. As the area was becoming built over, 180 acres of Hackney's common land was saved from development following a local petition and campaign in the 1860s, which led to its preservation for public use. All these lands were transferred to the MBW although it wasn't until the 1880s that the rights were purchased from the Lord of the Manor. Common rights were extinguished by an Act of Parliament 1884. Well Street Common was laid out with paths, seating and some planting and has mature horse chestnut and plane trees.