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
Record No
27301
Title
The Pyramid to Contain Five Millions of Individuals Designed for the Centre Of The General Cemetry [Sic] of the Metropolis
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.
Date of execution
c1829
Section
London Metropolitan Archives
Collection
Main Print Collection
Artist
Willson, T.
Engraver
Whiting, C.
Medium
engraving
Support
paper
Longest dimension
52cms
Shortest dimension
39cms
Catalogue No
v8486120
Subjects
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