The Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London — Kensal Green, West Norwood, Highgate, Abney Park, Brompton, Nunhead, and Tower Hamlets - were established in the 19th century to alleviate overcrowding in already existing burial grounds. They provide a blend of Gothic architecture and natural beauty symbolising and preserving the Victorian era’s fascination with death and the sublime.
In today’s world, these green spaces act as urban lungs, mitigating the heat island effect and offering habitats for wildlife. For myself, these spaces are a glimpse into a world where human civilisation ultimately fails and returns to a place unhaunted by our bipedal selves.
"And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything."
— William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act 2, Scene 1.