Description
Following the establishment of Croydon Burial Board in 1859, Queen's Road Cemetery was the first cemetery in Croydon. It was founded in 1861 and much remains of the original layout, which had a central walk heavily planted with trees, including those planted amongst the graves. Symmetrical curving paths lead off the central path. Buildings include a pair of linked chapels linked, a lodge, stone gate piers and fine railings on Queen's Road. The older part of the cemetery east of the chapels contains the more interesting monuments, with memorials to important local people.
Practical Information
| Site location | Queen's Road, Selhurst |
|---|---|
| Postcode | CR0 2PR |
| What3Words | ///tiger.shop.horns |
| Type of Site | Cemetery |
| Borough | Croydon |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk (October - March 5pm/ April - September 7pm) |
| Public Transport | Rail: Selhurst, Thornton Heath then walk. Bus: 50, 468 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2018 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Following the establishment of Croydon Burial Board in 1859, Queen's Road Cemetery was the first cemetery in Croydon, founded in 1861. Mitcham Road Cemetery (q.v.) was later opened in 1897 to cater for the overspill from Queen's Road. Much remains of the original layout shown on the 1st edition OS of 1863, which has a central walk heavily planted with cedars, holly and yew, and other notable trees include limes, yews, horse chestnuts and cedars planted amongst the graves. Symmetrical curving paths lead off the central path, again largely surviving from the original layout, some are now asphalted and others are traceable in the grass. The cemetery buildings included a pair of linked chapels by E C Robins whose designs were selected following a competition; Robins was responsible for building Coombe Cliff House for John Horniman, whose gardens now form part of Park Hill Recreation Ground (q.v.). Also remaining are the cemetery lodge, now privately owned, and the stone gate piers and fine railings on Queen's Road.
The older part of the cemetery east of the chapels contains the more interesting monuments. Portions of the cemetery were set aside for different denominations. Notable people buried here include members of the Austin family, including Isabella Saward (died at 105 in 1950), whose memorial is in a rare cast iron 'gothic style' design and is very ornate and surrounded by cast iron railings. Buried in Grave No. 4, Section C3 is local dentist Samuel Lee Rymer (1832-1909), who was instrumental in improving the state of the dental profession, a member of Croydon Board of Health and elected Alderman of the new Croydon Borough Council in June 1883 and later Mayor (1893/4). Other monuments include four unusual slate headstones of the Couch family. Also buried here are the author, artist and historian John Anderson (d.1907); Sir Reuben Barrow (d.1917), Liberal MP for Bermondsey; Edmund Duff (d.1928), Vera Sydney and Violet Sydney (both d. 1929) who all died of arsenic poisoning in the unsolved case known as the Croydon Poisoning Mystery; Admiral Sir Stephen Lushington (1803-1877), Crimean war veteran and governor of Greenwich Hospital. There is also a memorial shaped like Cleopatra's needle to Joshua Allder, one of Croydon's best known businessmen and founder of Allders in 1862, a department store in Croydon. There are a number of information boards within the cemetery on those buried there and the location of the graves.
The older part of the cemetery east of the chapels contains the more interesting monuments. Portions of the cemetery were set aside for different denominations. Notable people buried here include members of the Austin family, including Isabella Saward (died at 105 in 1950), whose memorial is in a rare cast iron 'gothic style' design and is very ornate and surrounded by cast iron railings. Buried in Grave No. 4, Section C3 is local dentist Samuel Lee Rymer (1832-1909), who was instrumental in improving the state of the dental profession, a member of Croydon Board of Health and elected Alderman of the new Croydon Borough Council in June 1883 and later Mayor (1893/4). Other monuments include four unusual slate headstones of the Couch family. Also buried here are the author, artist and historian John Anderson (d.1907); Sir Reuben Barrow (d.1917), Liberal MP for Bermondsey; Edmund Duff (d.1928), Vera Sydney and Violet Sydney (both d. 1929) who all died of arsenic poisoning in the unsolved case known as the Croydon Poisoning Mystery; Admiral Sir Stephen Lushington (1803-1877), Crimean war veteran and governor of Greenwich Hospital. There is also a memorial shaped like Cleopatra's needle to Joshua Allder, one of Croydon's best known businessmen and founder of Allders in 1862, a department store in Croydon. There are a number of information boards within the cemetery on those buried there and the location of the graves.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ322673 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 10.53 |
| Site Ownership | LB Croydon |
| Site Management | Croydon Cemeteries and Crematorium Office |
| Dates | 1861 |
| Designers | EC Robins (chapels) |
| Listed Structures | Local list: Cemetery Chapel, gatepiers, railings |
| 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 | Croydon |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Open Land |
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 site of Whitehorse Road Recreation Ground was acquired by Croydon Corporation in 1888 as an informal play area for local children in a densely populated district and work was completed by 1891. It was laid out with a perimeter gravel path, 250 trees and grass, and a clump of trees, seat and drinking fountain were moved. In 1936 an enclosed rest garden was created for the elderly, which had circular raised areas of planting and a shelter, the latter later removed. Opposite the recreation ground there used to be a large fishpond, now grassed over as Boulogne Road Playground.
Trumble Gardens were laid out on the site of three houses in Brigstock Road that were destroyed by bombing in WWII. The site was purchased by Croydon Corporation in 1947/8 and cleared of rubble, the new gardens' boundary walls built from the bricks of the houses. A series of different character gardens were laid out including a rose garden and an Italian-style garden. As well as quiet seating areas and ornamental gardens, the public were provided with tennis courts and a children's playground. Originally called Brigstock Road Gardens, the garden was later renamed to commemorate the late Alderman Trumble.
St James's Church was built in 1828 on the last area of open space here, once extensive commonland. From 1890-1920 half an acre of the churchyard became the responsibility of Croydon Corporation to provide much-needed public open space. Finally, in 1959, it was agreed that the whole churchyard should become a public garden, although this was not laid out until 1966. The old churchyard walls remain and gravestones were laid as a paved area adjacent to the church.