Mitcham Road Cemetery
cemetery in south London
Mitcham Road Cemetery, previously called Croydon Cemetery, is a cemetery located next to Mitcham Common near Croydon, which is part of the London Borough of Croydon, London. Croydon Crematorium is located inside the cemetery, and are both managed by Croydon Cemeteries and Crematoriums. The cemetery is much larger than other ones in London. There is also a chapel located inside the cemetery.
History
The cemetery was opened in 1897, and extended twice, in 1935 and again in 1937. A tree-lined drive leads to a modern chapel and crematorium block with paved landscaping, which gradually gives way to the Victorian original, with its own chapel and a number of angels. The crematorium was built in 1937, and extended in 1962.
Notable burials and cremations
Derek Bentley (1933–1953), controversially hanged in 1953 (remains moved from Wandsworth Prison in 1966). His family successfully fought for "A Victim of British Justice" to be inscribed on his gravestone
Ronnie Corbett (1930–2016), comedian (cremated)
Frederick George Creed (1871–1957), inventor of the teleprinter
Sir Charles Flynn, Deputy Chairman of HM Customs and Excise 1936–1938
William Hurlstone (1876–1906), composer
Sally Anne Bowman (1987–2005), murdered model
Meredith Kercher (1985–2007), murdered student
Tom Norman (1860–1930), businessman and showman, manager of Joseph Merrick, the "Elephant Man"
Sandra Rivett (1945–1974), children's nanny, murder victim (according to inquest) of her employer's estranged husband Lord Lucan, was cremated here in 1974.
The cemetery has a memorial to 34 boys and 2 masters from The Archbishop Lanfranc School, who were killed in an aircraft crash near Stavanger Airport, Sola, in 1961.
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