Brookwood Cemetery

During the HS2 development, a team of over 200 archaeologist began the excavation process at St James’s Gardens to the west of Euston station, an 18th & 19th century burial ground, home to over 50,000 of London's deceased. In collaboration with the Archbishop's Council of the Church of England the reinterment of the exhumed remains to Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey was agreed. Brookwood has played a historical role as the reburial site for London’s deceased since 1852 as London's cemeteries became overcrowded and the city developed.
Over 22 m3 of Jordan’s Whitbed was used for the memorial monument at the centre of the newly landscaped garden to honour those reinterred and a low level Portland Stone curved wall that surrounds the memorial garden which serves as seating for those wanting to sit and reflect.
The sensitive design of the monument drew inspiration from the gravestones and ledgers found at St James’s Gardens. The form reflects the historical shape of St James’s Garden being cut into two interlocking pieces, by the extension of Euston Station in the late 19th century. The thoughtful positioning of the monument has the axis of the Garden at Brookwood pointing along a linear path back to St James’s Gardens in London.
The subtle leaf pattern carving on the stone echoes the tree’s from St James’s Garden and a poem of Christian remembrance was created my Mei Loci is inscribed on the face of the monument.

After production and before transportation, we put together the project in the form of a ‘Dry Lay’ at our Portland factory.
This ensures that all the stones are accurate before transport and assembly on-site.
These pictures from the dry lay at our Portland Factory.

Photography by Mei Loci