Bunhill Fields is in the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London. It is a former burial ground that has now been transformed into a public garden and managed by the City of London Corporation. Currently it spans over 4 hectares, but historically it was much larger.
The grounds were used as a burial site from 1665 till 1885, there are estimated to be 123,000 graves on the site. There are still over 2,000 monuments/gravestones in place, some famous names are mentioned in them.
Site clearance and commercial waste removal near Bunhill Fields
The Bunhill Fields burial site closed on the 5th of January 1854, according to the 1852 Burial Act a cemetery could close once it was full. Occasional burials still took place in existing vaults and graves right up until 1860, the last burial was in February.
Waste removal and recycling Bunhill Fields EC1Y
When the cemetery closed, there was real concern as to the future of the site. The fears were that when the lease of the City of London Corporation ends in 1867 the site would be developed into buildings. To prevent the land from being developed at expiry of the lease, the Corporation formed the Special Bunhill Fields Burial Ground Committee in 1865, which became formally known as the Bunhill Fields Preservation Committee.
Bunhill Fields Rubbish Removal
In 1869 Bunhill Fields was opened as a public garden, seating was added and some of the more notable monuments were restored. During the 2nd World War the site was heavily damaged by German bombing. It is believed the site was also used to house and anti-aircraft gun.
Office clearance in EC1Y
Facts about Bunhill Fields
Year established: 1665
Location: London Borough of Islington
Owned by: City of London Corporation
Size: 4 hectares (9.9 acres)
Number of graves: 120,000