Description
The Liberal Jewish Synagogue was founded in 1911, and opened this cemetery in 1914 as the Liberal Jewish and Belsize Square Cemetery. At the entrance are iron gates on brick piers and a brick lodge, now the Cemetery Keeper's house, has a roadway leading to the plain red brick chapel in front of which is a circular War Memorial surrounded by curving paths. There is good planting within the cemetery, privet hedges, lawns and shrubbery beds, and a Holocaust Memorial.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Liberal Jewish & Belsize Square Cemetery |
|---|---|
| Site location | Pound Lane, Harlesden Road, Willesden |
| Postcode | NW10 2HG |
| What3Words | ///rewarding.horns.bigger |
| Type of Site | Cemetery |
| Borough | Brent |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm, Sun and Bank Holidays 9am-4pm (closed Sats, Jewish holidays and 25 December) |
| Public Transport | Tube: Dollis Hill (Jubilee). London Overground/Tube (Bakerloo) Harlesden then bus. Bus: 6, 52, 98. |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2001 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues was established in 1910 by the Jewish Religious Union and the cemetery was opened in 1914 as the Liberal Jewish and Belsize Square Cemetery. At the entrance are iron gates on brick piers and a brick lodge now the Cemetery Keeper's house with roadway leading to the plain red brick chapel before which is a circular war memorial surrounded by curving paths. Between the lodge and chapel are Portland stone gate piers and fragments of wall suggesting this was once the original entrance of the cemetery, which has therefore been extended. There is good planting within the cemetery, privet hedges, lawns and shrubbery beds, and a Holocaust Memorial.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ223842 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Liberal Jewish Synagogue |
| Site Management | Liberal Jewish Synagogue |
| Dates | 1914 |
| 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 | Brent |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II - see note |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Nature Conservation Area: with Roundwood Park/Willisden New Cemetery/Jewish Cemetery |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Roundwood Park opened in May 1895 on land which was once known as Hunger Hill Common Field, formerly part of the Roundwood House Estate. Roundwood House was built in c.1836 to the south of the present park; it was owned by the Furness family from 1856-1936. In 1892 c.13 hectares of estate lands were sold to Willesden Local Board for a public park, in response to public pressure as the area became built up. Its design included path layout, planting of thousands of trees and shrubs, a mock-Tudor lodge, children's gymnasium, greenhouses and a bandstand and flagstaff at the highest point; at the entrance were fine wrought-iron gates and railings.
Roundwood Park opened in May 1895 on land which was once known as Hunger Hill Common Field, formerly part of the Roundwood House Estate. Roundwood House was built in c.1836 to the south of the present park; it was owned by the Furness family from 1856-1936. In 1892 c.13 hectares of estate lands were sold to Willesden Local Board for a public park, in response to public pressure as the area became built up. Its design included path layout, planting of thousands of trees and shrubs, a mock-Tudor lodge, children's gymnasium, greenhouses and a bandstand and flagstaff at the highest point; at the entrance were fine wrought-iron gates and railings.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
The United Synagogue Cemetery at Willesden was founded in 1873 and laid out to a design by Nathan Joseph. Originally a site of c.9 acres it has been extended subsequently and now covers c. 8.5 hectares. It is entered through imposing gates, with brick piers and a substantial lodge; within the cemetery is good planting of trees including horse chestnuts, poplars, cedar. Many distinguished Jews are buried here and some of the plots have railed enclosures with extravagant metalwork and fine marble and granite. In 2015 the cemetery was awarded Heritage Lottery Funding to undertake restoration works, and in 2017 it was listed Grade II on HE's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Interest.
The United Synagogue Cemetery at Willesden was founded in 1873 and laid out to a design by Nathan Joseph. Originally a site of c.9 acres it has been extended subsequently and now covers c. 8.5 hectares. It is entered through imposing gates, with brick piers and a substantial lodge; within the cemetery is good planting of trees including horse chestnuts, poplars, cedar. Many distinguished Jews are buried here and some of the plots have railed enclosures with extravagant metalwork and fine marble and granite. In 2015 the cemetery was awarded Heritage Lottery Funding to undertake restoration works, and in 2017 it was listed Grade II on HE's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Interest.
Willesden Local Board purchased this land in 1888 for Willesden New Cemetery. The cemetery opened 1891 and was so-named to distinguish it from the burial ground at St Mary's Willesden, which then became known as Willesden Old Cemetery. The cemetery was simply laid out with straight paths and originally had a pair of chapels, now demolished. It has an unusually sylvan character with its many trees. Willesden Civilian War Memorial, was erected to commemorate local people who died in WWII.
