- Gary Taylor-Green
- Jul 25, 2023
- 8 min read
Hidden within the heart of London, Highgate Cemetery stands as a peculiar and haunting historical
destination. With its consecration on the ominous date of 20th May 1839, the cemetery's ancient, Western section emerged, a testament to a grand initiative. London's inner-city graveyards, once overflowing and viewed as both a health hazard and a disgraceful treatment of the deceased, required replacement.
Amidst the smoke and filth of the city, Highgate Cemetery perches upon a desolate hill, its presence ethereal and foreboding. It swiftly became a fashionable resting place, captivating the minds of the elite and drawing countless visitors. The Victorian era's fascination with death and its romantic allure birthed a labyrinth of Egyptian sepulchers, ornate Gothic tombs, and captivating structures. Rows of silent stone angels bear witness to both grandiose ceremonies and the unspeakable horrors that lurk in the shadows.
In 1854, the cemetery expanded across Swains Lane with the opening of its eerie eastern section, further entwining the living and the dead in a chilling dance of existence.
Within these haunting avenues lie poets, painters, princes, and paupers—850 notable souls who found their eternal solace within Highgate's spectral embrace. Among them rest 18 Royal Academicians, 6 Lord Mayors of London, and 48 Fellows of the Royal Society. Yet, it is the monumental presence of Karl Marx that looms most prominently, casting an otherworldly pall over this hallowed ground. But he is not the sole figure deserving of mention in this macabre tale of terror.
Edward Hodges Baily, a sculptor of renowned skill, left his mark upon the cemetery's history. Born in Bristol on a fateful day, 10th March 1788, Edward's talent blossomed early, capturing the attention of J. Flaxman, a master sculptor who would become his mentor. His works, including the famed sculpture of Nelson in Trafalgar Square, echoed throughout time, leaving an indelible mark on the artistic world.
Rowland Hill, the visionary originator of the modern postal service, also found his eternal rest within Highgate's chilling embrace. Born in Kidderminster on the ominous date of 3rd December 1795, Hill's groundbreaking pamphlet, "Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability," revolutionized communication. His call for pre-printed envelopes, adhesive postage stamps, and a uniform low rate of one penny per letter reshaped the world's postal systems, making communication accessible to the masses.
The ghostly presence of John Singleton Copley, an American artist known for his haunting portraits, adds to Highgate Cemetery's phantasmal atmosphere. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Copley ventured to England in 1774, where he found solace in painting historical themes.
His brushes captured the essence of New England society, depicting his subjects amidst artifacts that represented their lives. It was in London, on 9th September 1815, that Copley took his final breath, forever leaving his spectral mark upon the artistic realm.
George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, emerges from the depths of Highgate's spectral
tapestry. Born on 22nd November 1819, Mary defied societal conventions by writing under a man's name, using her experiences to craft powerful novels. Her unconventional life, marked by a partnership with fellow writer George Henry Lewes, challenged societal norms. Even after Lewes's death, Mary found love again, marrying John Cross, an American banker, in 1880. Her poignant works, including "Middlemarch" and "The Mill on the Floss," echo through the ages, testaments to her literary prowess.
Highgate Cemetery's ghostly congregation also includes the legendary Michael Faraday, a British engineer who delved into the mysteries of electromagnetism and invented the iconic Bunsen burner. Born near the Elephant & Castle on 22nd September 1791, Faraday's journey from apprentice book-binder to scientific pioneer is marked by his revolutionary discoveries. His experiments with electricity and electromagnetic induction paved the way for modern technology, forever etching his name in the annals of scientific history.
William Friese-Greene, the pioneering photographer and inventor, weaves his spectral presence into the cemetery's fabric. Born as William Edward Green on 7th September 1855, Friese-Greene's insatiable curiosity led him to the realm of motion pictures. His early experiments with celluloid and oiled paper birthed the foundations of cinematography. In 1889, armed with his camera, he ventured into Hyde Park, capturing the world's first moving pictures. Though his contributions to the art form were overshadowed by subsequent inventors, his tragic demise served as a poignant reminder of the fragility of artistic ambition.
Henry Moore, a Yorkshireman known for his seascapes, remains forever linked to Highgate's ethereal aura. Born in York in 1831, Moore's artistry blossomed under the tutelage of his father before entering the Royal Academy. His landscapes transformed into haunting seascapes, capturing the power and beauty of the English Channel. Moore's legacy, though belatedly recognized, resonates through time, a testament to his uncompromising talent.
And finally, the restless spirit of Karl Marx hovers over Highgate Cemetery, his intellectual prowess forever etched in history. Born into a progressive Jewish family in Trier, Prussia, on 5th May 1818, Marx's revolutionary ideas shaped the world's political landscape. Collaborating with Friedrich Engels, Marx penned "The
Communist Manifesto," a work that would ignite global transformations. His magnum opus, "Das Kapital," delved into the complexities of political economy. Marx's spirit, interred within this haunting necropolis, witnessed the rise of Leninism, the Russian Revolution, and Mao Zedong's communist revolution in China—echoes of his ideological legacy reverberating through the ages.
Within Highgate Cemetery's grounds, amidst the sprawling trees, shrubbery, and wildflowers that provide solace to birds and small creatures, a sense of lingering dread pervades the air. The Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon, adorned with tombs and vaults, beckon the curious to traverse winding paths that snake through the hillside. While the oldest section, adorned with Victorian mausoleums and elaborately carved tombs, grants admission only in tour groups, the newer section invites unescorted exploration, its angelic statuary standing as silent sentinels of the macabre.
In the depths of Highgate Cemetery, the veil between the living and the dead is thin, where haunting tales intertwine with history, and terror lurks in the shadows. For those brave enough to venture into its hallowed grounds, Highgate Cemetery offers an immersive encounter with the haunting specters of the past—a chilling
reminder of our mortality and the secrets that lie buried, waiting to be unearthed.
Among the notable inhabitants of this spectral landscape lies Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal, the epitome of aesthetic womanhood. Her mournful beauty graced the portraits of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, immortalized in iconic works like William Holman Hunt's 'Valentine Rescuing Sylvia from Proteus' and John Everett Millais's 'Ophelia,' where she rests amongst the grassy water plants.
But it is with Gabriel Dante Rossetti, the enigmatic poet and painter, that Elizabeth's name echoes most vividly. Discovered by Walter Deverall, the honorary artist of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Elizabeth's striking looks and auburn hair captured the attention of Rossetti and his fellow artists, Millais and Hunt.
She became their muse, the inspiration behind their haunting creations. Tragically, the demands placed on Elizabeth as a model nearly cost her life. In 1852, while posing for Millais's iconic painting 'Ophelia,' she was required to lay for days in a bath of lukewarm water, ultimately succumbing to pneumonia. Her premature death left a profound impact on Rossetti, who mourned her passing and turned to his art to immortalize their love.
Elisabeth Siddal's tale, however, took a macabre turn after her burial. As Rossetti's literary agent
sought to rejuvenate his fading reputation, he proposed the exhumation of Elizabeth's grave to retrieve a collection of love poems the artist had placed against her cheek. Under the cover of darkness, her casket was opened, revealing her features perfectly preserved, as though she had merely slept for the past seven years.
The manuscripts were carefully removed, and the grave was resealed. Although the love poems were published, their reception was not the literary triumph expected. The eerie episode haunted Rossetti for the remainder of his life, leaving an indelible mark on the legacy of Highgate Cemetery.
As the sun sets on Highgate Cemetery, the spirits of the illustrious and the forgotten continue their ethereal existence, their tales of passion, genius, and tragedy lingering in the twilight. The ghosts of the past wander among the Gothic tombs and silent stone angels, and the chill in the air whispers secrets from beyond the grave
Highgate Cemetery, a chilling portal to the past, stands as a testament to the eternal dance between life and death, haunting the dreams of those who dare to venture into its spectral embrace.
In the eerie shadows of Highgate Cemetery, the spirits of the restless dead were not the only phantoms to haunt the souls of Londoners. In March 1969, reports of a tall black apparition began
to surface, stalking the tombs and crypts of the ancient graveyard. The British Psychic and Occult Society received these unsettling accounts, some of which were mere echoes of local gossip. But as the investigators delved deeper, they stumbled upon a man who claimed a firsthand encounter with what soon became infamous as "The Highgate Vampire."
This witness recounted a chilling tale of being hypnotized by an unseen force lurking in the darkness. As he tried to escape, he found himself lost and disoriented, with an unnerving presence following him. When he turned around, he beheld a towering black figure that vanished into thin air.
Soon after, reports of spectral activity escalated. Two teenage girls claimed to witness the spirits of the dead rising from their graves along Swain Lane, while an elderly woman recounted a terrifying encounter with a tall, dark man with glaring eyes while walking her dog within the cemetery gates. But the most sinister twist came with the mysterious deaths of foxes found with deep lacerations to their throats, leading to ominous speculation that a vampire was at large.
The local newspapers, such as the Hampstead and Highgate Express, fueled the rumors, publishing articles about the "Highgate Vampire" and suggesting occult activities in the cemetery. Among those intrigued was David Farrant, a British Occult Society Investigator, who embarked on a thorough investigation of the sightings. Farrant believed that the foxes might have been used as sacrifices in Black Magic rituals, but he dismissed the idea of a vampire.
However, the story took a darker turn when Sean Manchester, a self-proclaimed exorcist, vampire hunter, and bishop of the Old Catholic Church, claimed that the creature was indeed a vampire of Bram Stoker's tradition. He vowed to put an end to the menace, garnering extensive publicity and attracting hundreds of people to participate in a "vampire hunt" armed with wooden stakes and shovels.
One night, following a TV broadcast about the vampire hunt, the cemetery was stormed by the eager hunters. Amidst the commotion, some witnesses claimed to have seen something crawling in the darkness, instilling terror in their hearts. The hysteria reached its peak, and belief in the Highgate Vampire surged.
Yet, Farrant remained skeptical, attributing the sightings to mass hysteria perpetuated by the press. However, a startling discovery shook his certainty. In August 1970, two schoolgirls stumbled upon a century-old corpse of a woman desecrated and left on the pathway, staked through the heart and decapitated. This gruesome event triggered police investigations and a resurgence of vampire sightings.
Troubled by this act of aggression, the British Psychic and Occult Society agreed to conduct a psychic seance in Highgate Cemetery, hoping to banish the entity from the earthly plane. With protective symbols, salt, and holy water, they formed a circle around the site of the initial sighting. Candles and incense adorned the second circle, where the demon was expected to appear.
As they began the seance, voices in the distance disrupted the ritual - the police were approaching. The occult paraphernalia was hastily gathered, and Farrant attempted to flee but was quickly arrested.
The belief in the Highgate Vampire fluctuated over the years, and the animosity between Farrant and Manchester simmered until the former's passing in 2019. Despite their dramatic "magical duel" attempt, both channeled their energies into writing, contemplation, and even political projects.
Beyond the veil of the cemetery's eerie quietude, the legend of the Highgate Vampire continued to cast its spectral shadow over London, a chilling tale that blurred the line between the realm of the living and the domain of the undead.
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