Description
The land for St John's Churchyard North Extension was acquired in 1811 to provide additional burial space for the parish church of St John-at-Hampstead directly to the south. The Additional Burial Ground, consecrated by the Bishop of London in 1812, was laid out in a grid marked A-Q west to east and 1-110 south to north. There are a few chest tombs, and several graves have the form of miniature gardens. Among those buried here are Sir Walter Besant, George du Maurier, Hugh Gaitskill and George Gilbert Scott Jnr. There are two fine Cedars of Lebanon and other mature trees including oak, yew, copper beech.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Additional Burial Ground of Hampstead Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | Church Row |
| Postcode | NW3 |
| What3Words | ///slang.prom.item |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Camden |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | locked at night, otherwise unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Tube: Hampstead. Bus: 46, 268. |
| Research Updated | 1 August 2002 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The site was acquired in 1811 to provide an extension to the churchyard of St John-at-Hampstead (q.v.) directly to the south, and was consecrated by the Bishop of London in 1812. Known as the Additional Burial Ground, it was laid out in a grid marked A-Q west to east and 1-110 south to north. In the north-east corner the Columbarium or cloister was added by the 1930s, with a memorial garden nearby. The burial ground has two fine Cedars of Lebanon and other mature trees including oak, yew, copper beech, and contains monuments in rows, and on Church Row has good C19th gate piers and railings of c.1811. The site is bounded to the east by a hedge consisting of hawthorn, elder, holly and wild roses.
Among those buried here is Sir Walter Besant (d.1901), novelist, antiquarian, social reformer who lived in Hampstead. His socially-conscious novels prompted the establishment of the People's Palace in Mile End; he also wrote a 10 volume survey of London. The headstone has a quotation from Leigh Hunt, 'Write as one who loves his fellow-men'. Also Arthur Llewelyn Davies (d.1907), barrister, who married the 2nd daughter of George du Maurier, 'Punch' cartoonist and novelist who lived in Hampstead 1870-1895. Davies and his wife's five sons were the inspiration for 'Peter Pan' (1903), having met JM Barrie in Hyde Park in 1897; Barrie adopted the boys after their parents' death, who both died young. George du Maurier and his wife Emma are also buried in the churchyard, their wooden memorial, c1896, having a quotation from 'Trilby', his most successful novel, "A little trust that, when we die, we reap our sowing - and so, goodbye!". George Gilbert Scott Jnr (1839-97), son of Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-78) and father of renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, as well as a significant architect in his own right. Eve Hammersley (d.1902) was the young daughter of an artistic/literary family who lived at Admiral's House; her tomb of 1903 has sculptured bronze figures on a podium, including an over lifesize winged angel cradling and kissing a young sleeping girl by Harry Furse. Temple Moore, who enlarged St John-at-Hampstead Church is also buried here, his headstone tomb, c1920 designed by his son-in-law, the architect Leslie T Moore. There are several graves in the form of miniature gardens, such as that of Amy Mount (d.1936), which has a bench, paths and a sundial.
Among those buried here is Sir Walter Besant (d.1901), novelist, antiquarian, social reformer who lived in Hampstead. His socially-conscious novels prompted the establishment of the People's Palace in Mile End; he also wrote a 10 volume survey of London. The headstone has a quotation from Leigh Hunt, 'Write as one who loves his fellow-men'. Also Arthur Llewelyn Davies (d.1907), barrister, who married the 2nd daughter of George du Maurier, 'Punch' cartoonist and novelist who lived in Hampstead 1870-1895. Davies and his wife's five sons were the inspiration for 'Peter Pan' (1903), having met JM Barrie in Hyde Park in 1897; Barrie adopted the boys after their parents' death, who both died young. George du Maurier and his wife Emma are also buried in the churchyard, their wooden memorial, c1896, having a quotation from 'Trilby', his most successful novel, "A little trust that, when we die, we reap our sowing - and so, goodbye!". George Gilbert Scott Jnr (1839-97), son of Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-78) and father of renowned architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, as well as a significant architect in his own right. Eve Hammersley (d.1902) was the young daughter of an artistic/literary family who lived at Admiral's House; her tomb of 1903 has sculptured bronze figures on a podium, including an over lifesize winged angel cradling and kissing a young sleeping girl by Harry Furse. Temple Moore, who enlarged St John-at-Hampstead Church is also buried here, his headstone tomb, c1920 designed by his son-in-law, the architect Leslie T Moore. There are several graves in the form of miniature gardens, such as that of Amy Mount (d.1936), which has a bench, paths and a sundial.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ262856 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Diocese of London |
| Site Management | St John's Parish Church Management Committee |
| Dates | 1812 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: St John's Churchyard Extension gates and railings; Tombs of: Sir Walter Besant and family, A L Davies and family, George Gilbert Scott Jnr, Eve Hammersley, Temple Moore, George du Maurier & his wife. |
| 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 | Camden |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Hampstead Village |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Character: Hampstead & Highgate Ridge |
Gallery
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Nearby parks and gardens
There has been a church and burial ground here for around 1,000 years, although the present church dates from the C18th. St John-at-Hampstead Churchyard is enclosed by wrought iron railings, the fine C18th wrought-iron gates to the western entrance acquired at the sale of Canons, the Duke of Chandos' mansion in Edgware. There are many C18th and C19th tombs, including those of well-known people such as painter John Constable, inventor of the marine chronometer John Harrison, and architect Norman Shaw. Since 1978 Camden History Society has recorded the monuments and memorials in the Church, Churchyard and the Additional Burial Ground. The picturesque churchyard has long grass, shrubbery and mature trees including yew, holly, horse chestnut and Cedar.
Holly Bush Hill has two small areas of green space that since the late C19th/early C20th have been maintained by Hampstead Borough Council, now by LB Camden, a narrow strip of land on Holly Bush Hill was laid out as a shrubbery and a small triangular green bounded by post and chain. A number of fine houses face Holly Bush Hill, including Romney's House named after artist George Romney. This was later converted for Assembly Rooms where the first Hampstead Heath Protection meeting took place in 1829, chaired by James Fenton who lived nearby at Fenton House.
Along Hampstead High Street and Heath Street are a number of landscaped areas with grass, shrubs and some trees, such as the central enclosure between The Mount and Heath Street, which have been maintained as public open space by Hampstead Borough Council since at least the late C19th/early C20th. They are now maintained by LB Camden. These green spaces are of interest in providing green banks to the busy high street.
