The Pyramid to Contain Five Millions of Individuals Designed for the Centre Of The General Cemetry [Sic] of the Metropolis
More information
Title
The Pyramid to Contain Five Millions of Individuals Designed for the Centre Of The General Cemetry [Sic] of the Metropolis
The Pyramid to Contain Five Millions of Individuals Designed for the Centre Of The General Cemetry [Sic] of the Metropolis
Reference
v8486120 (Collage 27301)
Date
Collection
London Metropolitan Archives: Main Print Collection
Description
This astonishing design was for a cemetery to be built on Primrose Hill. Each side of the pyramid base was 900 feet long (275 metres) and it would have covered 18.5 acres (7.5 hectares), towering over north London. Tens of thousands of alcoves would each contain 24 bodies. The design had ramps to move coffins between floors and a viewing gallery at the top. Given that the pyramid was planned to be 94 stories tall, approximately 290 metres in height including the obelisk, it would have been just 18 metres shorter than the Shard. The pyramid was not built but over 20 large cemeteries were constructed across London from 1832 onwards including Kensal Green, Nunhead, Highgate and Brompton. Most burials in central London ceased in the 1850s.
This astonishing design was for a cemetery to be built on Primrose Hill. Each side of the pyramid base was 900 feet long (275 metres) and it would
have covered 18.5 acres (7.5 hectares), towering over north London. Tens of thousands of alcoves would each contain 24 bodies. The design had ramps to move coffins between floors and a viewing gallery at the top. Given that the pyramid was planned to be 94 stories tall, approximately 290 metres in height including the obelisk, it would have been just 18 metres shorter than the Shard. The pyramid was not built but over 20 large cemeteries were constructed across London from 1832 onwards including Kensal Green, Nunhead, Highgate and Brompton. Most burials in central London ceased in the 1850s.
<a href="view-item?i=24980" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">View this item on the London Picture Archive for further options including print and digital sales.</a>
View this item on the London Picture Archive for further options including print and digital sales.
License
Copyright London Metropolitan Archives, all rights reserved. Provided for research purposes only. For commercial and other uses please contact us via
support@londonpicturearchive.org.uk
Attribution
London Metropolitan Archives. Please cite document title, reference and collection.