ILLUSTRIOUS LADIES TOUR, SATURDAY 9th MARCH 2pm

The Illustrious Ladies Tour on Saturday 9th March, led by Jane Hart, ties in with International Women’s Day, and will explore the lives of some of the women commemorated in the two cemeteries.Meet 2pm at the Ladywell gate for this free tour which will be very informative.Josie Kennett Bletchley Park code-breaker

The 1924 Slade Green Factory Explosion

On Monday February the 18th 1924, 12 young women and girls and one male foreman, Edward Jones of Dalmain Road, Forest Hill, were killed while dismantling Verey Light cartridges on Slades Green Marshes. The factory of W V Gilbert had been contracted by the Government to dismantle and empty Verey Light cartridges, which were used during ...

2023 REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENT SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER 10.55am – 12.15pm approx

REMEMBRANCE DAY EVENT SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER  10.55am – 12.15pm approxMeet at the Ladywell Cemetery Cross of SacrificeFollowing the 2 minute silence: Wreath laying at the Cross of Sacrifice, Ladywell CemeteryWalk to the Brockley War Memorial via three relevant memorialsWreath laying at the Brockley Cemetery War Memorial.Join us for all or part of the event. All ...

Forthcoming Events including Cemetery Tour Sunday 22nd October at 2pm and Remembrance Sunday Event 12th November

Next Open Committee Meeting Saturday 21st October at 2pm. The next open committee meeting will be on Saturday 21st October at 2pm in the Chapel.  We still need members to join the committee, either as officers or committee members, for the group to function in accordance with the constitution. The tasks are not onerous and will ...

Heritage Open Day Saturday 16th September

This year the FoBLC will be taking part in the National Trust’s national heritage open days.   10am – 1pm:  Ladywell Chapel open with displays 10.30am General Tour starting at the Ladywell entrance 10.30am Tin Poppies and Tin Hats military history walk starting from the Ladywell Cross of Sacrifice Local artist Luisa Maria MacCormack has kindly agreed to show some of her ...

A Local Cemetery Historian’s Retrospective

I thought that I would depart from my usual pattern of offering historical vignettes of some of the illustrious deceased buried in the two cemeteries and instead present the reader with some of my more memorable personal recollections, out of many, that have charted my time as a member of the Friends group and former ...

Dr.Crippen murder trial witness buried in Ladywell cemetery

Located close to one of the inner pathways in Ladywell cemetery lies the final resting place of William James Spratling, sometimes referred to as W.J.Spratling. The cruciform headstone is often enveloped in shrubbery, so it needs a beady eye to spot it! Some while ago I discovered a fascinating link that W.J.Spratling had to Dr ...

Tragedy on the evening train from Epsom Races

Imposing photograph of Boxer Joe Bowker full name Joseph Lord BowkerSalford born Joe Bowker (1881-1955) was a British boxer who was world bantamweight champion from 1904 to 1905. In 51 professional fights, he compiled a career record of 40 wins, 8 losses and one draw with two no-decisions. Fourteen wins came by knockout.British boxing historian ...

Magdala and the downfall of the barefoot Emperor

In March 1866 a British envoy had been dispatched to secure the release of a group of missionaries who had first been seized and held hostage when a letter Tewodros II had sent to Queen Victoria requesting munitions and military experts from the British, delivered by an envoy, Captain Cameron, had gone unanswered. They were ...

The birth of the Ashes and a grave in Brockley Cemetery

On 29 August 1882 Australia defeated England in a cricket match played at the Kennington Oval.There was a great deal of dismay felt by the English about this loss and a few days later a mock obituary notice written by Reginald Shirley Brooks appeared in the Sporting Times which read:In Affectionate Remembrance of English Cricket ...