Description

TQ2887SW SWAIN'S LANE
798-1/5/1563 The Egyptian Avenue and Lebanon Circle
14-MAY-74 (inner and outer circles),Highgate We
stern Cemetery

(Formerly listed as:
SWAIN'S LANE
THE EGYPTIAN AVENUE AND COLUMBARIUM IN
HIGHGATE (WESTERN) CEMETERY)
(Formerly listed as:
HIGHGATE (WESTERN) CEMETERY THE COLUMB
ARIUM AND EGYPTIAN AVENUE)

GV I

Terraced catacombs. Egyptian Avenue and inner ring c 1838-9 probably by J.B.Bunning; outer ring by Thomas Porter,c.1870. Circular plan of 2 concentric rings below ground level, gained by steps on opposing sides, and approached by an avenue of catacombs cut into the hillside with a false perspective giving the appearance of greater length (Egyptian Avenue). Stuccoed brick, stone steps, granite and marble dressings.
Egyptian Avenue: portal with flanking piers each having paired, partly reeded Egyptianate half columns with lotus bud capitals supporting a coved cornice with relief Greek crosses. Gateway of stepped pointed arch outlined by double roll moulding with a scored design; cast iron gates. Flanked by obelisks, that to left part missing. Avenue has eight chambers to each side. Each with similar roll moulded architrave to gateway, some with inscribed pedimented panel, each with pair of cast iron doors with inverted torchere. Brick- lined vaults with shelves to accommodate 12 coffins. Projecting continuous cornice. Inner portal arch treated as outer arch, coved cornice above. Flanking battered piers, screen retaining wall , terminating in square piers with lotus capitals, surmounted by eagle with ball.
Inner ring: 20 chambers, built into and around a circular island with a Cedar of Lebanon tree that predates the cemetery being a feature of the original garden to Ashurst House (demolished). Egyptianate style. Chamber entrances with reeded coved friezes, architraves stuccoed or in marble, some incised, and bearing inscription or inscribed panel above. Each with pair of iron doors as Egyptian avenue, signed Hervey Burnett, London. Continuous coved cornice and plain parapet.
Outer ring: heavily rusticated retaining wall, with Doric cornice. 16 chambers in Graeco-Egyptian style, each designed to accommodate 15 coffins. Entrances with trapezoidal eared surrounds, some in red granite, supporting pediments with cornices continuing as moulded band along retaining wall. Inscribed reveals and panels. Cast and wrought iron gates mostly as inner ring. Final chamber designated columbarium after 1888 licence to cremate. Includes the catacomb of Radclyffe Hall poet and novelist, shared with her partner Mabel Veronica Batten whose name appears above the entrance. The inscription 'And if God choose I shall but love thee better after death - Una' refers to Una, Lady Troubridge, Hall's partner for 28 years following Batten's death, who planned to be buried here but died in Rome and was buried before her wish was known. Pair of mausolea, that to right to Carl Rosa (qv).
The Egyptian Avenue and inner ring of the Circle of Lebanon formed part of the original cemetery layout. The proved so popular that the outer ring was added some forty years later.
Restored 1991 - 97
Winner of Europa Nostra award 1998

Listing NGR: TQ2834887135

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Highgate Cemetery at Wikipedia
• Highgate Cemetery official website
• Wikidata Q533697

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas