Wanstead Quaker Burial Ground

The Quaker Burial Ground was established on land leased from Epping Forest in 1871, and the first burial took place in 1881. It was formerly the site of Becontree Archery, a C19th archery ground with lodge where Charles Dickens is reputed to have given readings. Becontree Archery Lodge was demolished in 1967 and replaced with the new Wanstead Quaker Meeting House, completed 1968 and designed by architect Norman Frith. The Meeting House is fronted by a largely tarmaced area for car parking, with shrubbery and some fine trees including cedar. The Burial Ground is behind the Meeting House, accessed via a gate to the right. Mid C19th red brick walls enclose the ground on its east, south and west sides. Wanstead Friends' Burial Ground opens into a meadow-like central green with plain, uniform headstones arranged in 2 or 3 neat rows each side. Among the many simple headstones is that of Elizabeth Fry whose headstone was transferred from the Quaker Burial Ground in Barking (q.v.) in c.1985 when it was converted to a public garden. Fine horse chestnut, ash and oak trees, with an understorey of holly and rhododendron, surround the central green. At the back of the site beyond the open grass the land is wooded with oaks and other trees and shrubs. The grounds are maintained to enhance plant and invertebrate habitats. Developments in the garden by 2010 include a copse, which is in the early stages of development, a snowdrop garden that commemorates children and a sensory garden is planned. In September the garden has a rare display of purple scabious grown naturally.