The Magnificent Seven Part III: Brompton to Kensal Green (11km or 7mi) Introduction The Magnificent Seven are seven beautiful landscaped cemeteries built between 1832 and 1840 to respond to the overcrowded local parish cemeteries and to move the associated health hazards further away from the city centre. The cemeteries are not only burial grounds but also beautiful gardens, some of them are classified as nature reserves. This walk is the third part in a series of seven. This walk starts at Brompton Cemetery and ends at Kensal Green Cemetery. This walk mainly follows the roads. The walk goes from West London to North West London and shows the transformation of West London from a very affluent area with parks only accessible to local residents into a rather industrial and less well kept area. Most of the cemeteries offer guided tours. It's really worth doing one guided visit (especially if you would like to visit the catacombs). I personally really enjoyed the guided tour of Highgate West Cemetery. On the website of Nunhead Cemetery, you can find an overview of common Victorian grave symbols. Brompton cemetery holds a map of its most notable persons. If you are interested in the history and the hall of fame of the seven cemeteries, I can recommend downloading the book: The Magnificent Seven, London's first landscaped cemeteries from John Turpin and Derrick Knight (Amberley Publishing). Overview of the seven walks:

1. Nunhead Cemetery to West Norwood Cemetery: 12.6km or 6.2mi 2. West Norwood Cemetery to Brompton Cemetery: 16km or 10mi 3. Bromtpon Cemetery to Kensal Green Cemetery: 11km or 7mi 4. Kensal Green Cemetery to Highgate Cemetery 5. Highgate Cemetery to Abney Park Cemetery 6. Abney Park Cemetery to Tower Hamlets Cemetery 7. Tower Hamlets Cemetery to Nunhead Cemetery Getting There Start: West Brompton or Earl's Court (District Line) Transport along the way: Holland Park (Central Line) or Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith & City Line) End: Kensal Green (Bakerloo Line) or follow the Paddington Branch (canal) about 1 mile eastwards to Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City Line)

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Map and Directions 1. West Brompton Cemetery: As a woman of course, I have to point out the grave of Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the suffragette movement, formed in 1903, who fought for women's right to vote. They were known as political activists and not afraid to damage properties, attack police men and chain themselves to railings. A memorial can be found at Victoria Gardens. Maureen Freely dedicated a walk with an inspiring story to the Suffragette Movement in The Time Out London Walks: Volume 2.

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2. Holland Park, Holland House and the Kyoto Gardens.

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3. Pottery Lane: Now a very scenic quiet little road in a very affluent area, it used to be a slum and was named the 'Potteries and Piggeries' and had as it name suggest a source of thick clay for bricks and many pig keepers. (Source: Wikipedia). It is from this point on you will see West London transform into a less well kept and industrial area with busy roads and many rail tracks.

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4. Carmelite Monastery Gardens and St Charles Hospital: The Carmelite Monastery is a monastery for sisters who lead a secluded life right next to St Charles Hospital. It is said the sisters only leave the monastery for the doctor or the dentist. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the gardens but it is well fenced by high walls and even through the gate nothing can be seen from the outside. Michael Whyte, a film director who lives nearby, got so intrigued by what was going on beyond the walls that he tried to persuade the nuns to make a film about their lives. Besides from priest, no men where allowed on the premises and it took the filmmaker 10 years to finally get their agreement, resulting in the film 'No Greater Love' (2010).

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5. We end our walk via Wormwood Scrubs onto Paddington Branch, keeping Kensal Green cemetery on the other side of the canal. The west side of the cemetery is the active part of the cemetery so it is more appropriate to use the main entrance on the east side leading straight into the old part of the Cemetery.

Links and Drinks

http://www.brompton-cemetery.org/ http://www.kensalgreencemetery.com/ Holland Park Carmelite Monastery Gardens Film of Michael Whyte about the Carmelite Monastery: Michael Whyte, 'No Greater Love' (Film; 2010) Book of the Magnificent Seven: BookTurpin, John and Knight, Derrick. The Magnificent Seven, London's first landscaped cemeteries (Amberley Publishing). 'The Suffragette City' Walk, narrated by Maureen Freely The Time Out London Walks: Volume 2. (Time Out)

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