Description
St Mary's Burial Ground was established here in 1863 on 1 acre of land that was purchased by the Acton Vestry to provide additional burial land for the parish church of St Mary. The land had been part of a field called Conduit Close that had a number of springs, providing the village with water. By 1929 the cemetery was almost full. In 1979 it converted into a public garden laid out with a paved area, raised planters and seating along the Churchfield Road boundary. It was partly cleared, with headstones largely set against the perimeter walls although some remain scattered among the grass.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Acton Old Cemetery; Churchfield Road Old Burial Ground |
|---|---|
| Site location | Churchfield Road/Grove Place, Acton |
| Postcode | W3 |
| What3Words | ///hoot.theme.since |
| Type of Site | Cemetery |
| Borough | Ealing |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | ?locked |
| Public Transport | London Overground: Acton Central. Bus: 207, 266, 70. |
| Research Updated | 1 September 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
St Mary's Burial Ground was established here in 1863 on 1 acre of land that was purchased for the purpose by the Vestry of Acton Parish Church (although one monument dates from 1814). It was used as a relief burial ground to the parish churchyard of St Mary's (q.v.), and also later relieved pressure on the municipal Acton Cemetery (q.v.) at North Acton. The land had been part of a field called Conduit Close that had a number of springs, providing the village with water. Churchfield Road existed as an ancient track across the Church Field from Acton to East Acton Lane, and was not paved until 1860. The 1865 OS map shows planting around the north and east boundaries of the burial ground with a horseshoe shaped path from the main entrance on Churchfield Road. By 1929 the cemetery was almost full. In 1979 it was partly cleared to make a public garden laid out with a paved area, raised planters and seating along the Churchfield Road boundary; headstones largely against the perimeter walls although some remain scattered among the grass in which there are also various trees and a number of flower beds; a tarmac path between the two entrances. The site is bounded by iron railings along Churchfield Road and part of the east boundary, with an iron entrance gate from Churchfield Road; brick walls predominantly around rest of the site.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ201802 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.41 |
| Site Ownership | Parish Church Council |
| Site Management | LB Ealing Leisure & Parks Service |
| Dates | 1863 |
| 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 | Ealing |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Interest Area |
| Other LA Designation | Green/environmental Project (1408) |
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
Acton was part of the Manor of Fulham at the time of the Domesday Survey and a church had stood at the old centre of the village from at least 1228. An important stop on the London to Oxford coaching road, Acton developed into a market town and was later popular as a rural retreat. A larger parish church was erected in 1837 to serve the growing population, reconstructed in 1865-67. St Mary's Churchyard served as the main parish burial ground until 1863 when Churchfield Road Burial Ground was opened as a relief ground. It was used for burials under family rights until the 1920s, and contains some interesting monuments. In front of the church what was once the village green is now a pedestrian precinct.
The Woodlands Park was created on part of the grounds of an C18th villa 'The Woodlands', which was purchased in 1903 by Acton UDC, largely for educational purposes, the remainder for a small public park. The existing layout of the grounds was retained in part, which had significant numbers of trees planted in belts and as specimen trees with a network of paths around the perimeter and through the shrubberies. There was a large circular pool on lower ground to the east and an ice-house. Municipal layout included retention of some paths, use of the ice-house as a gardener's hut but the pool eventually ceased retaining water and disappeared. A restoration project in 2006 enabled the ice-house to be restored and the round pool to be recreated.
The land was originally part of the estate of Springfields House, probably so-called due to a natural spring arising nearby. The estate was sold in 1877 and part of the land built over. Acton UDC purchased this site in 1920 when carrying out a large sewage scheme and used it to deposit excavated material from 1920-33. The decision was then taken to turn the 'disgraceful patch of land' into ornamental public gardens, which were laid out and opened in 1935. Facilities for both old and young visitors were created, including an open-air theatre, although this was subsequently pulled down.