MASTERPLAN experience plan BROOKWOOD CEMETERY

Allies and Morrison February 2020 Time, which antiquates antiquities, and hath an art to make dust of all things, hath yet spared these minor monuments.

Sir Thomas Browne (1658) Urne-Buriall Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 1 This Experience Plan prepared by Barker Langham supports the wider Masterplan for Brookwood cemetery developed by a team led by Allies and 2. APPROACH 8 Morrison comprising: 3. AUDIENCES 14 3. THEMES 21 Allies and Morrison Barker Langham 4. MEDIA 36 Bradley-Hole Schoeniach Landscape 5. PROGRAMMING 42 Dr Roger Bowdler 7. PHASING 52 This Experience Plan should be read with the two other documents setting out the proposals - the Masterplan and the Outline Business Plan.

1 INTRODUCTION

iv 1.1 Brookwood Cemetery

165 years of history

Local, national, and global significance Monuments Commission), and the largest is recognised as a climactic example of Victorian Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery garden cemetery design. Opened in November 1854 having been established in the UK. It is also the hub of a busy calendar of by special Act of Parliament in 1852 and built by commemorations linked to various nations’ war The London Necropolis Railway, which linked the London Necropolis & National Mausoleum efforts, with ties to nearby contemporary military Brookwood with Waterloo station in London, is Company, Brookwood Cemetery is the largest communities: and is a place where officers in unique in British history. Though it was closed in cemetery in Britain, and was at the time of its training come to learn about the realities of death 1941, with its London terminus having incurred founding the largest in the world. Created to answer before engaging in active combat. damage in the blitz, the path of the former the need for additional burial space for overcrowded railway line can still be traced in the cemetery’s London cemeteries in the mid-19th century, today In December 1914 the cemetery became the the contemporary landscape, and the fact of its former it represents a remarkable survival of a landscaped site of the first burial of an Indian Muslim soldier existence speaks powerfully both to parkland cemetery. in this country; and, more broadly, as the oldest the complex relationship between living human Muslim burial ground in the country dating to 1884, societies and their dead, and to an increasingly Listed as Grade 1 by English Heritage, Brookwood and thought to be the final resting place of a direct global history of industrialisation, urbanisation, and and its history are are of outstanding cultural and English descendent of the Prophet Muhammad, the social atomisation in modernity. historical significance. The thousands of funerary cemetery remains an important part of the cultural monuments at the site (many of which are separately landscape of British Islamic society today. It is ‘As a site of extreme importance […] as a listed) constitute a formidable and extraordinarily also an expression of a powerful global interfaith cultural, historical, and architectural record diverse record of the varying burial traditions of a movement (embodied in the story of Gottlieb […] the site has the potential to become a range of different communities, classes, cultures and Leitner) that is a force for peace in a world torn by World Heritage Site.’ faith groups as these have evolved across the past conflict. century and a half.

Environmentally, the cemetery’s distinctive Surrey Brenda Wilson, Home Office report on the From a military perspective, the site incorporates Heathland setting is protected by SSSI, Special significance of Brookwood Cemetery both the main US First World War cemetery in Area of Conservation, BAP Priority Habitats and Britain (administered by the American Battle Green Belt designations; meanwhile its landscape

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 1 1.1 Brookwood Cemetery

A boundless future A boundless future

Restoration andR renewalestoration and renewal

Having been in private ownership since its foundation, and having suffered significant Having been in private ownership since its dilapidation from the 1970s onwards, Brookwood foundation, and having suffered significant Cemetery was acquireddilapidation by Woking from Borough the 1970s Council onwards, in 2014. Brookwood Cemetery was acquired by Woking Borough Council in 2014.

In the five years sinceIn that the fiveacquisition, years since the that acquisition, the Council’s efforts have,Council’s of necessity, efforts been have, centred of necessity, been on the completion of emergencycentred on the conservation completion ofand emergency conservation and maintenance works, maintenance works, seeking toto repair repair the the damage damage caused caused variously by thevariously unchecked by the growthunchecked of growth of rhododendron and otherrhododendron aggressive and plant other species, aggressive plant species, by the significant failure of the by the significant failure of the cemetery’s drainage cemetery's drainage systems (a cause of systems (a cause of seriousserious floodingflooding whichwhich imperils imperils both graves both graves and mausoleums),and mausoleums), and by theand dumpingby the dumping of of waste at various pointswaste across at various the pointssite. across the site.

Today, with the site’s management Today, with the site’ssignificantly management improved, significantly the Council is able to improved, the Councillook is ableforward to look to the forward next ten to years, the and to consider how Brookwood might be further next ten years, and torestored, consider and how re-established Brookwood and expanded might be further restored,as a public and re-established amenity. and expanded as a public amenity.

6 1.2 Brief

Developing a sustainable visitor experience at Brookwood Cemetery

In the wider context of Brookwood’s rehabilitation, Experience Plan addresses the following broad areas Interpretation Allies & Morrison (A&M), working together of concern highlighted in the overarching project •• Distilling key interpretative themes and messages, brief: with Barker Langham, Bradley-Hole Schoenaich and proposing the ways in which these may be

Landscape (BHSLA), and funerary heritage expert best communicated to audiences. Dr Roger Bowdler, were commissioned to produce Visitor Facilities a Masterplan for Brookwood Cemetery to guide its • In particular, the question of whether to build development over the period of the next 10 – 20 • Programming a visitor centre at Brookwood, as well as what years. •• Making recommendations as to the kinds purpose any such space or alternative spaces of cultural and/or community activities and should serve. Within the overall Masterplan are considered programming Brookwood can support, that will manifold aspects of Brookwood’s future, ranging be in keeping with its character, and that will from the conservation and rehabilitation of the Audiences help both to attract new audiences to the site and cemetery’s historic landscape, to the expansion of serve the existing community. •• Considering how Brookwood can be opened up the existing funerary business, and the creation of to attract and retain a wider range of audiences, new visitor facilities and interpretation on site. whilst continuing to serve existing communities. Operations Identifying opportunities to cement Brookwood as As a supporting document to the Masterplan, •• Providing for all the above by making a pivotal site within broader attempts to promote this Experience Plan presents detailed research recommendations on the future management and Woking and its surrounding area as a visitor and recommendations relating in particular to the staffing of the site. Here we also looked closely destination shaping of an enhanced visitor offer at Brookwood. at how Brookwood could develop its network of volunteers. Developed by Barker Langham in tandem with the accompanying Business Plan, and hence grounded in a concern to ensure the financial viability and sustainability of all proposed developments, the

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 3 1.3 Vision

A model future cemetery

Increased profile Increased usage Enhanced environment Central to our vision for Brookwood is enhanced As Brookwood’s profile grows, this will drive As Brookwood draws in new audiences, it will recognition of the cemetery in keeping with its increased usage of the cemetery in three distinct also generate increased revenue, supporting the historic importance. areas. enhanced upkeep and management of its grounds, building on the platform of works currently being Currently something of a hidden gem, there is scope Firstly, local residents will feel inspired to explore the undertaken. for greater involvement of surrounding communities cemetery’s grounds and to reclaim the site as part in appreciating and using the cemetery. Brookwood of their own cultural landscape. Facilities designed Rising in the public’s affections, the cemetery will come to be acknowledged as a site of regional, to meet local needs will establish the cemetery as a will become the centre of a busy community of national, and even international significance by valued public amenity. volunteers helping to keep it looking its best. audiences across the South East, in London, and further afield. Secondly, awareness of Brookwood’s significance, Finally, on a regional, national, and global level, allied to a growing reputation for high quality Brookwood will play a leading part in establishing Established in the public imagination as a key programming, will bring a steady stream of visitors green funerary practices, helping to steer the cultural and historical landmark, Brookwood will to the site from across South East England. The industry onto a more environmentally sustainable play a vital role in putting Woking on the map, and Cemetery will be established as a leading visitor path, and serving as a model for cemetery contributing to the growth of West Surrey as a destination in Surrey. development as we move deeper into the twenty- visitor destination. first century. Finally, Brookwood’s resurgence will lay a strong foundation for its funerary business to grow into the latter half of this century. Local residents and visitors who have enjoyed and made memories at the cemetery will return to be laid to rest there.

4 1.4 The Plan 1.3 Vision 1.4 The Plan

About this document About this document

Who is the plan for?

Who is the plan for • Finally, the plan, or the relevant sections of it, The ExperienceThe Experience Plan is Plan designed is designed to serve to a servevariety a •may Finally, usefully the be plan, shared or thewith relevant any number sections of future of purposes:variety of purposes: partners,of it, may whom usefully the cemetery’s be shared management with any number of future partners, whom the • For the cemetery’s managerial team and members identify as being suited to delivering on-site • For the cemetery’s managerial team and cemetery’s management identify as being of Woking Borough Council, the document is programming, or to collaborating in the production members of Woking Borough Council, suited to delivering on-site programming, intendedthe to document help guide is decision-making intended to help about guide the of exhibitionsor to collaborating and other in interpretativethe production materials. of shape ofdecision-making Brookwood’s future. about In the conjunction shape of with exhibitions and other interpretative the accompanyingBrookwood’s Business future. InPlan, conjunction which sets with out Importantly,materials. the plan should be treated as a detailedthe costing’s accompanying for each Businessof the developments Plan, which living document. Incorporating a clear set of sets out detailed costing's for each of the Importantly, the plan should be treated as a proposed, it summarises recommendations planning principles and a series of recommended developments proposed, it summarises living document. Incorporating a clear set of regarding the range of experiences and activities recommendations regarding the range of interpretativeplanning principles themes, and it establishes a series of both an open to be providedexperiences for current and activities and future to sitebe provided users frameworkrecommended and a consistentinterpretative reference themes, point, it on for current and future site users, the theestablishes basis of which both newan open interpretative framework content and a and • For staff, including any hires made to support relevantconsistent programming reference may point, be on developed. the basis of Brookwood’s• For staff, development including inany the hires future made to which new interpretative content and support Brookwood’s development in the relevant programming may be developed. (prospectively, curatorial staff, a programming Given Brookwood’s vastness, however, as well as future (prospectively, curatorial staff, a and volunteers officer, and an artist-in-residence), programming and volunteers officer, and theGiven depth Brookwood’s and breadth vastness,of the histories however, it represents, as the planan can artist-in-residence), serve as a reference, the guiding plan can and serve andwell the as sheer the depth range andof narratives breadth ofassociated the with supportingas a discussionsreference, guidingaround andthe creationsupporting of thehistories more than it represents, 250,000 people and theburied sheer at therange site, we new programmingdiscussions and around interpretative the creation content, of new wouldof narratives recommend associated the plan with be taken the more always than as a and signpostingprogramming to a rangeand interpretative of relevant networks, content, point250,000 of departure, people buriedrather thanat the a site,closed we set would of rules. recommend the plan be taken always as a events,and and signpostingother resources. to a range of relevant networks, events, and other resources. point of departure, rather than a closed set of rules.

9

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 5 Five Steps

Incremental development Mirroring the logic set out in the Masterplan, this document sets out five approximate phases for Step1: Ongoing Tasks Step 2: Initial Moves the development and elaboration of a new visitor •• No significant change to baseline operations •• Superintendent’s House is converted to café experience at Brookwood. •• Visitor experience remains largely as at with limited, high level interpretation present, with improved waymarking and •• Increased tours and programming Through each phase of development proposed, we signposting to ABMC and CWGC. •• New hires to coordinate and recruit anticipate Brookwood would work incrementally to •• Gradual improvements to the landscape re- volunteers, and develop interpretation (pop-up expand its offer, enrich and diversify its storytelling, establish Brookwood as a high quality, cared exhibitions, etc.) with community. supplement its programming, and thereby attract for space •• Visitor experience: a busier, more lively and retain new audiences. setting; an evolving sense of purpose; a warmer welcome and clearer orientation Summarised opposite to give context to what follows, the first four phases are returned to and presented in greater detail in the final chapter of the plan, ‘Phasing’, in light of the focused discussions of interpretative themes, media, programming, and audiences provided in the intervening chapters.

The last phase ‘Museum’ would need to be further developed and tested. At present it is an evolution of the direction set out in the masterplan.

6

Step 3: Long Term Additions Step4: Expanded Programme Step 5: Museum • The creation of a new visitor centre with • Visitor centre expanded to house thematic • The concept would be to create a campus higher spec permanent exhibition enables temporary exhibitions of spaces at Brookwood, with space as a richer and more diverse storytelling • High quality summer programming with site- point of departure for tours, a meeting point, • Higher capacity and higher profile specific outdoor cinema and music a gateway. It will also be a place of debate programming • Visitor experience: multiple opportunities and exploration of life and death, based on • A new crematorium on-site would bring with and different kinds of experiences available the stories and significance of Brookwood it higher volumes of visitors to visitors. An atmosphere of reverent Cemetery – reverent but able to communicate big issues. • Visitor experience: local communities proud celebration evoking Victorian mourning of the development, a sense of ownership, culture. Communities fully engaged in an increasing sense of history and the developing content and sustaining connectedness. site. Reputation for curious and thoughtful programming

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 7 2 APPROACH 2.1 2Brookwood Approach Cemetery

Towards an Experience Plan Towards an Experience Plan

8 Principles 8 Principles 8. Alert to the 1. Respectful In developing an Experience Plan for Brookwood Future In developing an Experience Plan for Cemetery we have been guided by an appreciation Brookwood Cemetery we have been guided byof an the appreciation unique spatial of theand uniqueenvironmental spatial challenges and environmentalthe site presents, challenges of the great the emotionalsite presents, and of memorialthe great significance emotional and it holds memorial as a burial place 7. True to the significancefor existing it community holds as a members, burial place and for of Woking 2. Flexible Past existingBorough community Council’s aspirationsmembers, forand the of cemetery’s Wokingfurther Borough development. Council’s aspirations for the cemetery’s further development. Added to this, we have also drawn upon our Addedown criticalto this, understanding we have also ofdrawn both logisticalupon our own critical understanding of both logistical and commercial aspects of designing a visitor and commercial aspects of designing a experience, and of the opportunities heritage visitor experience, and of the opportunities 6. Collaborative 3. Integrated heritageprojects projects offer to re-shapeoffer to re-shapeand contribute and positively to contributesociety as positively a whole. to society as a whole.

WorkingWorking on on this this basis, basis, we we havehave arrived at at a a set of seteight of eight principles principles that underpinthat underpin our plan our for plan the future forof the Brookwood future of Cemetery.Brookwood Summarised Cemetery. opposite, 5. Active 4. Accessible Summarisedthese are explored opposite, in further these depthare explored below. in further depth below.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 12 9 8 principles

These considerations also bear on the kinds of 1. Respectful 3. Integrated interpretation we have proposed, since we have First and foremost among our principles is the While Brookwood Cemetery and the adjoining ABM to assume that any given group of visitors would recognition that Brookwood Cemetery is a working and CWGC military cemeteries are formally distinct struggle to cover the whole of the cemetery’s cemetery. from one another and separately managed, it is territory in a single visit. important to note that visitors tend to approach the Any additions to the site, either materially to the estate largely as an undivided whole. built environment or in terms of new cultural 5. Active programming, must respect that fundamental As such, any offer to visitors must be an integrated Nestled between a series of relatively small villages, function, neither impinging on day-to-day one, encompassing all three parts of the site. Ideally, and otherwise surrounded by open countryside, operations, nor disturbing the atmosphere of the integration of a visitor offer would extend to the Brookwood Cemetery has only a very limited natural peaceful remembrance characteristic of the grounds. coordination of interpretation materials, tours, maps, audience within walking distance. We feel that its marketing and events programming. success as a cultural destination therefore hinges 2. Flexible on attracting larger numbers of visitors from further afield. In line with the overall logic that underpins the 4. Accessible Masterplan, and reflecting the need for Brookwood Brookwood’s assets are dispersed across a vast Considering this problem raises the further issue of to grow sustainably within relatively narrow space; one which may be difficult for newcomers competition. For residents of Surrey, London, and the financial constraints, the Experience Plan is to navigate, and daunting to visitors with limited wider South East there is no shortage of alternative designed to allow flexible, incremental development. mobility. attractions offering visitors the opportunity for an interesting walk and a slice of cake. The individual elements of our plan are designed Responding to this challenge, in conjunction with to be able to be iteratively tested and scaled prior A&M and BHSLA, a particular focus of our planning To stand out from the crowd, and to create regular to full implementation. For the most part, these has been to create both legible routes for visitors to opportunities to appeal to diverse visitor groups, components can also be added as discrete, cost- follow, and tangible centres around which they may we therefore suggest Brookwood should aim to neutral bolt-ons to an emerging offer, rather than gather. create an active programme of events, designed to depending on large-scale, up-front infrastructure cultivate loyalty and promote frequent repeat visits. spending.

10 8 principles

6. Collaborative cemetery feared that substantial redevelopment promotion of green burials, or the welcome it would risk the site becoming something of the order provided to Muslim communities who at first Building from this last principle, we also recognise of a generic country park, effacing the its singular struggled to find appropriate burial sites in the UK, that, at least in the first five to ten years of its character and significance. Brookwood has, across the past 165 years, exhibited development, financial constraints will make it both a consistent farsightedness, and a willingness to necessary and desirable for Brookwood to operate Here, while we are confident that the scale of innovate to meet the demands of the future. with only a limited core staff. Brookwood’s grounds is such as to allow modest additions to programming without disturbing Building on this legacy, our intention is that new As such, it will be essential for the cemetery team to the overall character of the site, nevertheless our programming and interpretation at the cemetery work in partnership both with existing communities resolve is to ensure that any such changes are will be responsive to, and explicitly engage with, on-site, and with an expanded network of cultural developed in dialogue with Brookwood’s past, and relevant social, cultural, and environmental issues in and educational institutions, artists, community as a continuation of the traditions and memories it the present, with a view to shaping the future. groups and so on. embodies.

7. True to the Past The experience of visiting Brookwood must and will In proposing the development of a rich and varied remain that of visiting a cemetery first and foremost. programme of events, we also aim to show how these could be developed and delivered by third 8. Alert to the Future parties, with Brookwood more a host for and In that same spirit of dialogue with the past, our convenor of programming, than a direct producer or final planning principle is drawn from Brookwood’s designer of events and content. history as an institution profoundly concerned to As well as respecting Brookwood’s primary function address challenges posed by the future. as a cemetery, we also recognise the value of the history that it represents and which lives through it. Whether in terms of its founding aim of mitigating In the course of our consultation with community urban population growth, its historic role in the stakeholders, it was clear that those closest to the

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 11 3 AUDIENCES

12 3.1 3.1Overview Overview

MManagedanaged g rGrowthowth

Curiosity, Comprehension, Loyalty Curiosity, Comprehension, Loyalty The Dead & the Bereaved Central to plans for the redevelopment of Brookwood Central to plans for the redevelopment of Cemetery is the ambition to expand and diversify its Brookwood Cemetery is the ambition to expandcommunity and diversify and broader its community audience. and Active broader audience. Universities Communities While detailed audience projections are provided in Whilethe Businessdetailed Plan,audience here weprojections consider aare series of key providedcurrent inand the potential Business audiences Plan, here and userwe groups in considerturn from a seriesthe perspective of key current of their and experience and potentialunderstanding audiences of Brookwood, and user groupsasking inin eachturn case fromwhat the motivations perspective for, of and their barriers experience to, using and and understandingvisiting the cemetery of Brookwood, they may asking feel and in face.each case what motivations for, and barriers to, using and visiting the cemetery they may These considerations underpin our proposals in feel and face. Local subsequent chapters, as we work towards shaping Schools Residents Thesean experience considerations which willunderpin 1) pique our audiences’ proposalscuriosity inabout subsequent Brookwood; chapters, 2) communicate as we the worksite’s towards significance shaping and an relevance experience to them, which allowing willthem 1) pique to make audiences’ the decision curiosity to engage about with it; and 3) Brookwood;encourage the2) communicate respective audiences the site’s and user groups Regional Visitors significanceto form lasting and andrelevance satisfying to them,relationships allowing with the themcemetery. to make the decision to engage with it; and 3) encourage the respective audiences and user groups to form lasting and satisfying relationships with the cemetery.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 17 13

3.2 Considering Audiences

The Dead & the Bereaved

The number 1 priority Trust Choice The provision of choice is a hallmark of Brookwood’s With regional growth, an ageing population, the Numerous of our community consultees spoke in history. Since its founding, the Cemetery has offered redevelopment of Woking drawing new communities hushed tones and pained voices when reflecting its customers great freedom both in the selection of to the area, and a trend for increasing social on the dilapidation that was allowed to take place plots and the orientation of graves, and it has done atomisation (as people live, work and die ever more at Brookwood through the last decades of the so whilst selling its services at a wide range of price frequently away from their families and the towns twentieth century. and villages of their birth) there is every reason to points. expect that demand for burials and cremations at Of course, the decision to entrust the care of one’s This flexibility, as well as the beauty and diversity Brookwood should rise over the next decades. dead to a particular institution is not one taken of its grounds should be strong selling points for the likely, and prior to Woking Council’s acquisition cemetery; however customers’ freedom to choose is At the same time, increasing choice in the funerary of the site, the cemetery suffered significant not always clearly communicated. At a time when market (in particular for many Muslim communities reputational damage. who became rooted at Brookwood in a period demand for green burials is growing nationwide, Brookwood’s sales of green plots have been when they had few other options locally), poses a Clearly, Brookwood’s management is aware of markedly sluggish. We suspect one factor in this is significant threat to the cemetery’s core business. this challenge. On-going efforts to rehabilitate the that, as currently marketed, the green burial offer grounds and ensure their smart and well-maintained appears constrained to Gillian’s Meadow. In the course of reviewing Brookwood’s existing appearance are of great value. funerary offer and consulting with local community Making a bigger commitment to marketing green members, staff and other stakeholders through This effort needs to be matched with proactive burials, emphasising the availability of woodland for the masterplanning process, we identified four marketing, firstly to ensure that local undertakers are such burials, and perhaps embracing new forms of main opportunities to cement and grow this vitally aware of the change of management, and secondly environmentally friendly disposal (see 4.2) could help important user group. to spread good news: for example, Brookwood’s Brookwood to expand in this market. receipt of several industry awards over the past two years.

14 3.2 Considering Audiences 3.2 Considering Audiences

The Dead & the Bereaved The Dead & the Bereaved London: Build on Heritage Facilities

London: Build on Heritage Facilities With London’s inner-city cemeteries again The acknowledgement of existing limitations becomingWith crowded,London’s inner-city and with cemeteriesa nationwide again in the provisionThe acknowledgement of community of existingfacilities limitations at in the interestbecoming in varying crowded, expressions and with of alocal nationwide and interestBrookwood provision is a of key community driver for facilities the site’s at Brookwood on- is a communityin varying heritage expressions become of everlocal andmore community going re-development.key driver for the site’s on-going re-development. pronouncedheritage in become the twenty-first ever more century, pronounced we in the considertwenty-first London century,a prime wemarket consider in which London a prime A lack Aof lack toilets of toilets in the in north the north part partof the of the cemetery is Brookwoodmarket can in which expand Brookwood its customer can expand base its cemeterysoon is to soon be addressed to be addressed and will help and to will make the site for funerary services. help to make the site more accommodating customer base for funerary services. more accommodating to visitors and funeral-goers to visitors and funeral-goers alike. alike. ThroughThrough the recent the recent re-design re-design of its of website,its website, the the cemeterycemetery has has given given newnew prominence to to its historicOur discussions with on-site community its historic links with London. Nevertheless, leadersOur have discussions also revealed with on-site a strong community appetite leaders links with London. Nevertheless, these could still be these could still be foregrounded further. for thehave provision also revealed of other a strongamenities appetite – notably for the provision foregrounded further. a café ofand other a spaceamenities for holding– notably wakes, a café and a space for Connecting with London-based undertakers receptionsholding and wakes, other receptions events. and other events. and funeralConnecting directors with in London-based order to expand undertakers the and marketingfuneral of directorsBrookwood in order Cemetery to expand to the marketing ofContrasting Contrasting Brookwood’s Brookwood’s offer offer to visitors to visitors and and LondonBrookwood audiences Cemetery should tobe London a key partaudiences of a should other siteother users site users with withthat ofthat the of nearbythe nearby Clandon future becommunications a key part of a future strategy. communications strategy. ClandonWood Wood natural natural burial burial ground ground (pictured opposite) (picturedis instructive. opposite) Creatingis instructive. a simple, Creating elegant a space Emphasising and diversifying opportunities simple, elegant space for mourners to Emphasising and diversifying opportunities for for mourners to congregate upon the conclusion for green burials and other emerging congregate upon the conclusion of funeral green burials and other emerging environmentally of funeral services would help to cement the environmentally friendly forms of disposal, services would help to cement the friendly forms of disposal, can play an important cemetery’s improving reputation in the funerary can playpart an in importantappealing topart typically in appealing highly progressiveto (andcemetery’s improving reputation in the typically highly progressive (and currently funerarytrade. trade. currently under-served) urban audiences. Top: Tea served at Clandon Wood natural burial ground under-served) urban audiences. Top: Tea served at Clandon Wood natural burial ground Bottom:Bottom: The The reception reception space space at at Clandon Clandon Wood.Wood. 19

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 15 Active Communities

Pride, dedication, energy We are aware that, in recent years, with Woking enquiry into Brookwood’s multicultural heritage, and the research conducted through the Everyday In meeting with stakeholders at Brookwood we Borough Council’s acquisition of the cemetery Muslim project – two strands of work that could be encountered no shortage of evidence of the great and the creation of the new management team, productively combined; and two networks that could pride and affection local communities feel for community cohesion is rapidly improving, and that be fused to the benefit and, no doubt, enjoyment of the cemetery, and of the energy they put into stakeholders feel increasingly confident in knowing each). maintaining particular plots and researching and who to contact with concerns, ideas and proposals. communicating its history. With their dedication to the preservation and Those posts would also be valuable in supporting less confident or self-starting community Looking to the future, it is essential that the appreciation of the site, members of the Brookwood members to explore and share relevant histories, development process works to harness that energy, Cemetery Society (BCS), too, play a key role in ensuring that interpretation is more representative of and that communities feel supported to have their organising and delivering tours, and championing the vast array of cultural groups collected on-site. say in the interpretation of the cemetery’s past, the cemetery’s history. present and future. Nevertheless, in terms of the site’s interpretation, And they would enable the recruitment of new volunteers in a variety of contexts. Here, for A particular challenge in this regard concerns what there are clear gains to be made from promoting example, there are significant opportunities to found we perceive to be a high degree of fragmentation increased collaboration between different groups. a cross-community volunteer gardening group, between different user groups: a natural product to grow membership of the BCS, and to work in in part of the sheer number of different national, The creation of a volunteer coordinator and / or partnership with universities to attract students religious and ethnic communities active at community artist post would, for instance, help with relevant subject specialisms to commit time to Brookwood, and, further, of the site’s multiple to bring together diverse community members the cemetery. ownership (notably the separate management of the working in relative isolation on similar projects (e.g.

CWGC and ABMC plots). we note the overlap between academic Ole Jensen’s

16 Active Communities Local Residents

Growing appreciation Second, links between the cemetery and the Marketing efforts should be addressed to as wide a range of communities as possible. While Based on conversations with community members town of Woking can be made clearer. The current present communications are (we understand) living in Brookwood for many decades, we development of a heritage trail linking Woking channelled primarily through the cemetery’s website understand that in the past few years in particular, Mosque with the historical Muslim burial ground is (prioritising audiences that already have Brookwood following a long period of neglect, local residents a good example of the kind of initiative that will help on their minds), taking simple steps like leaving have shown a growing interest in visiting the to articulate Brookwood’s ties to the town, and help pamphlets with local pubs, cafés, houses, shops, cemetery and exploring its grounds. local resident’s understand the cemetery as a part of their own heritage. schools etc. will help to reach the uninitiated. This is to be welcomed, nevertheless in comparison By promoting greater engagement with the with other cemeteries of similar vintage and Third, there is the question of safety. Through our cemetery, these measures should in turn eventually importance, Brookwood remains under-visited, and stakeholder consultation work, we met several help to deter less savoury elements from making its historical significance appears under-appreciated individuals who highlighted their concerns about their own uses of the site. by residents in nearby villages and Woking. walking through the cemetery unaccompanied: a history of petty crime, vandalism, and more Several barriers to engaging with the cemetery serious assaults on site (even if this has become underpin this problem. First, again in contrast exaggerated in the popular imagination) must be to other Victorian cemeteries typically located addressed. in urban centres, Brookwood has a small natural catchment and minimal passing pedestrian traffic. In this regard, perhaps the best way of making Among the initial steps proposed in the Masterplan, visitors feel safe in the cemetery grounds is to repurposing the Superintendent’s Lodge as a café demonstrate that it is in active use. Increasing visible from Cemetery Pales should help to attract the frequency of tours, and redoubling efforts passing road traffic and underscore the point that to publicise those events (along with other the Cemetery is open to visitors programming) will help to make Brookwood feel more lived in.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 17 3.2 Considering Audiences

Regional Visitors Regional Visitors

Cutting through the noise Cutting through the noise market to itself. The relatively high cost of travelling SurreyIn looking is enjoying to attract a renaissance visitors from of interest outside in of its fromIn order Waterloo to contend to Brookwood with these by train twin (at the time culturalWoking sites, and itsand immediate the county surrounds,is a great area for ofchallenges, writing, an we off-peak propose return that costs the £14.40)cemetery also VictorianBrookwood heritage Cemetery in particular. faces stiffIn looking competition. to attract representsshould look a possible both to barrier,maximise and the may diversity make staying of visitors from outside of Woking and its immediate withinits offer, city and bounds to create a more frequent appealing opportunities option. surrounds,In Surrey, Brookwoodwhile there Cemetery is no comparable can, on one hand, to market to new audiences. capitalisehistoric institution on being partto rival of Surrey’s Brookwood, cultural there offer. In In order to contend with these twin challenges, time,are nevertheless with an excellent an abundance programme ofof conservation weA rich propose array that of programmingthe cemetery should incorporating look both to andbeautifully interpretation, landscaped it will begardens able to frompresent which itself as maximisetalks, walks, the workshops,diversity of its and offer, other and eventsto create potential visitors can choose, many of which will help to build a buzz around the cemetery part of a circuit of cultural sites. frequent opportunities to market to new audiences. have a more obvious appeal to groups and create new reasons for diverse looking for a pleasant spot to enjoy a members of the public to make their first A rich array of programming incorporating talks, OnSunday the other stroll hand, and however, slice of cake.in looking to attract visit. Finding, upon their arrival, a site of walks, workshops, and other events will help to build these visitors, the cemetery currently faces stiff both great size and beauty, many will competition.Looking further While afield there to is London, no comparable meanwhile, historic acommit buzz around to visiting the cemetery again. and create new reasons institutionwhile we arein Surrey confident to rival that Brookwood, a visit to thethere are for diverse members of the public to make their first neverthelesscity’s necropolis an abundance at Brookwood of heritage will appealsites and to visit.For London Finding, audiences, upon their arrival, producing a site high of both great beautifullyinquisitive landscaped day-trippers, gardens it is also from clear which that potential sizequality and temporary beauty, many exhibitions will commit on toa rangevisiting of again. visitorswith the can ‘Magnificent choose, many Seven’ of which in easier have a reach, more themes (see Chapter 4), will set Brookwood obviousBrookwood appeal does to groups not have looking the formarket a pleasant to spot Forapart London from audiences,other cemeteries. producing Marketing high quality toitself. enjoy The a Sunday relatively stroll high and costslice ofof cake.travelling temporaryspecifically exhibitions to museum on aand range arts of audiencesthemes (see from Waterloo to Brookwood by train (at the Chaptervia sites 4), like will Londonist set Brookwood will help apart to from attract other time of writing, an off-peak return costs visitors perhaps less likely to leave the Looking further afield to London, meanwhile, while cemeteries. Marketing specifically to museum and £14.40) also represents a possible barrier, capital for a walk alone. we are confident that a visit to the city’s necropolis arts audiences via sites like Londonist will help to and may make staying within city bounds a Unquestionably beautiful in its own right, Brookwood Cemetery must at Brookwood will appeal to inquisitive day-trippers, attract visitors perhaps less likely to leave the capital neverthelessUnquestionably compete beautiful for in visitors its own with right, many Brookwood other spectacularCemetery must sites, more appealing option. includingnevertheless the compete nearby forWinkworth visitors with Arboretum, many other pictured spectacular above. sites, it is also clear that with the ‘Magnificent Seven’ for a walk alone. including the nearby Winkworth Arboretum, pictured above. in easier reach, Brookwood does not have the 22

18 3.2 Considering Audiences

Regional Visitors Schools Schools

AnA nunparalleled unparallele dlearning learnin gresource resource think outside of the box in terms of identifying field ConnectingConnecting with with the the curriculum curriculum Brookwood Cemetery can derive numerous benefits trip opportunities. More specifically, the limited from working to develop lasting relationships with range of facilities at Brookwood today (lacking sufficient toilets and classroom and dining space localBrookwood and regional Cemetery schools, andcan establishingderive numerous the think outside of the box in terms of Key Stage 2 Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 Key Stage 5

sitebenefits as a regular from choice working for toeducational develop lastingvisits. With foridentifying rainy days) field may trip pose opportunities. a logistical challenge More to e

c Seasons Ecosystems; relationships with local and regional schools, schools.specifically, the limited range of facilities at n large groups of children arriving for class trips, e Habitats Health & Ecosystems i c theand potential establishing to connect the subsequentlysite as a regular with choicetheir Brookwood today (lacking sufficient toilets S Materials disease for educational visits. With large groups of Assumingand classroom this last and barrier dining is mitigated space for by rainy an The World Wars families and encourage repeat visits is substantial. y children arriving for class trips, the potential days) may pose a logistical challenge to r o Meanwhile, contributing to schools’ educational overall improvement in facilities targeted to general t

s Britain, to connect subsequently with their families schools. i Local history H Industry and objectives offers a key route to demonstrating social visitors and by the creation of a suitable learning study and encourage repeat visits is substantial. Empire space, there are further steps the cemetery’s

impact, helping to strengthen the foundations of

Meanwhile, contributing to schools’ Assuming this last barrier is mitigated by an y management can take to connect successfully h Cultural future funding applications and efforts to drive p educational objectives offers a key route to overall improvement in facilities targeted to a landscapes & r Settlement Population & Cities and with schools: identifying relevant subject leads and g place- philanthropy.demonstrating social impact, helping to general visitors and by the creation of a o and land use Urbanization urban society e making strengthen the foundations of future funding communicatingsuitable learning directly space, with there those are individuals further G At applicationsthe time of briefing and efforts in July to 2019, drive the philanthropy. cemetery rathersteps than the relying cemetery’s on general management mail outs; canbuilding take

Drawing, History of art, t had welcomed two groups through the early byto targeting connect schools successfully situated with only schools: a single bus ride r painting and design and A summer.At the Buildingtime of writing from this in platform,July 2019, we the feel there awayidentifying and underlining relevant thatsubject convenience leads and in marketing sculpture architecture

cemetery had welcomed two groups through materialscommunicating and, most directly importantly, with thoseworking in dialogue is significant scope to formalise and expand an l a the early summer. Building from this individuals rather than relying on general r with teachers to draw out connections between e

extensive schools programme. n Cultural diversity platform, we feel there is significant scope to mail outs; building by targeting schools e

Brookwood’s history and the curriculum they are G formalise and expand an extensive schools situated only a single bus ride away and Of course, there are real barriers to attracting school required to teach. programme. underlining that convenience in marketing ListedListed above above are are aspects aspects of theof theEnglish English National National Curriculum Curriculum we feel we are of visits. Both constraints on curriculum time, and materials and, most importantly, working in particularfeel are ofrelevance particular to Brookwood relevance toCemetery’s Brookwood history. Cemetery’s Though religioushistory. educationThough religiousis not governed education by a isnational not governed curriculum, by therea national is a clear recentOf course, funding there challenges are real in the barriers education to sector dialogue with teachers to draw out opportunity to build links with relevant school departments curriculum, there is a clear opportunity to build links with relevant canattracting make it difficult school forvisits. teachers Both to constraints either justify on connections between Brookwood’s history school departments travelcurriculum costs and time, time and out ofrecent the classroom, funding or to and the curriculum they are required to challenges in the education sector can make teach. it difficult for teachers to either justify travel costs and time out of the classroom, or to BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 1923 3.2 Considering Audiences Universities

Active partners RoyalRo Hollowayyal Holloway UCLUC InstituteL Institute ofof AArchaeologyrchaeology A world leading department with A highlyUn particulariversi tandie sactive audience, building The university’sThe university’s Social, Social,Cultural Cultural and Historical and Historical A world leading department with specialists in specialists in funerary archaeology, strong relationships with academic partners can GeographyGeography group is group well placed is well to placed support to work support on funerary archaeology, London archaeology, heritage work on diaspora, mobility and memory London archaeology, heritage and yield benefits in a number of ways, whether in terms diaspora, mobility and memory andmemory memory Active partners of supporting the creation of new interpretation and programming (drawing on experts’ knowledge and enthusiasm),A highly particular helping and to active grow audience,audiences building (by connectingstrong relationshipswith existing with specialist academic networks), partners can attractingyield benefits funding in(through a number the of formulation ways, whether of joint- in researchterms projects), of supporting or recruiting the creation new volunteersof new (e.g. interpretation and programming (drawing on targeting MA students pursuing careers in heritage experts’ knowledge and enthusiasm), helping to / endgrow of life audiences care (by connecting with existing specialist networks), attracting funding (through Essentialthe formulation to working of with joint-research universities projects), will be to or identifyrecruiting specific new departments, volunteers (e.g.and ideallytargeting named MA students pursuing careers in heritage / end of life individuals, whose interests relate to Brookwood’s care past and future. General mail outs are unlikely to garnerEssential any response. to working Opposite with universities are highlighted will be some to potentialidentify partner specific universities departments, and howand ideallythey might named be approached.individuals, Thiswhose is, interests however, relate only theto Brookwood’s tip of the past and future. General mail outs are unlikely to iceberg. garner any response. Opposite are highlighted some potential partner universities and how they UniversityUnivers iofty oWinchesterf Winchester UniversityUniv eofrsi tSurreyy of Surrey might be approached. This is, however, only the MA inMA Death, in Death, Religion Religion and Culture and examinesCulture examines A world leaderA world in environmentleader in environment and sustainability. tip of the iceberg. historical and current to death and dying and and sustainability. Could Surrey historical and current to death and dying and Could Surrey be interested in researching green bereavement rituals in different cultural and be interested in researching bereavementreligious rituals contexts. in different It is targeted cultural andto students religious approachesgreen to burial approaches and cremation? to burial and contexts.seeking It is targeted careers toserving students the seeking dying andcareers bereaved cremation? serving the dying and bereaved

20 24 4 THEMES 4.1 Overview 4.1 Overview The development of interpretative themes

LookinTheg bac kdevelopmentwards to the futu rofe interpretativeResearch a themesnd consultation

Building on the brief introduction to To help ensure that they achieve the BrookwoodLooking Cemetery backwards given above, to the this future conceptualResearch breadth andappropriate consultation to the chapter Buildingpresents on seven the brief recommended introduction to key Brookwood cemetery’s rich history, and that they reflect interpretativeCemetery themes, given above,which thismay chapter be drawn presents seventhe viewsTo and help interests ensure that of theyrelevant achieve the conceptual upon to recommendedshape future keyprogramming interpretative and themes, to which maycommunities, breadth the appropriate themes proposedto the cemetery’s here rich history, inform thebe drawnproduction upon toof shapevisitor future materials. programming andwere to developedand that theythrough reflect a theprocess views ofand interests of inform the production of visitor materials. extensiverelevant research communities, and consultation. the themes proposed here

Reflecting the overall approach, each theme were developed through a process of extensive is presented in two parts, looking first Two rounds of stakeholder meetings were a Reflecting the overall approach, each theme is research and consultation. backwards with a view both to celebrating wonderful opportunity to hear from members presented in two parts, looking first backwards and honouring Brookwood’s past, and then of the local community what they value about with a view both to celebrating and honouring Two rounds of stakeholder meetings were a forwards, connecting the site’s history with the cemetery, and the stories they associate wider contemporaryBrookwood’s past, debates and then and forwards,social connectingwith it: fromwonderful grand opportunity histories – to the hear arrival from membersof of issues thatthe site’sare of history relevance with widernot only contemporary to debatesformer Czechthe local servicemen community inwhat Britain they aftervalue about the communitiesand social directly issues involved that are with of relevance the not only toWWII andcemetery, their establishment and the stories of they a plot associate at with cemetery,communities but to the directlywhole ofinvolved our evolving with the cemetery,Brookwood; it: from to grandsad tales histories of misfortune – the arrival – ofthe former British society.but to the whole of our evolving British society. mistrial, Czechexecution, servicemen burial, in and Britain exhumation after WWII of and their Edith Thompson;establishment to the of a minutiae plot at Brookwood; of everyday to sad tales By presentingBy presenting each theme each theme in turn in turnas as providing life at theof cemeterymisfortune – – thusthe mistrial, a visit toexecution, the Saint burial, and providingboth both a particular a particular frame frame on the on past, the and a windowEdward exhumationBrotherhood of Edithrevealed Thompson; its members’ to the minutiae of past, andonto a windowthe future, onto we theintend future, that thosewe who visit taste foreveryday mushrooms life at foraged the cemetery from –the thus a visit to the intend thatthe thoseCemetery who will visit come the away Cemetery not only will with an grounds.Saint We Edwardalso encountered Brotherhood many revealed new its members’ come awayenhanced not only appreciation with an enhancedof the site itself, but also histories,taste still fortaking mushrooms shape, foraged learning, from for the grounds. We appreciationwith theof themeans site to itself, look anewbut also at a withrange of of issues:example, also that encountered research manycurrently new underwayhistories, still taking points to Brookwood perhaps being the last the meanslife, todeath, look class, anew the at environment,a range of of and much else shape, learning, for example, that research currently issues: life, death, class, the environment, resting place of a direct English descendent besides. underway points to Brookwood perhaps being the and much else besides. of the Prophet Muhammad. last resting place of a direct English descendent of 26 the Prophet Muhammad.

22 4.1 Overview 4.2 4.1Key OverviewThemes

The development of interpretative themes SevSevenen th ethemesmes

Centres & Peripheries In bInrie brieff

Opposite are summarised the seven key themes Brookwood as a site of Oppositeproposed are assummarised the basis for the the seven development key of future urban dispersal and Death Obsession themesinterpretative proposed materials as the basis at Brookwood for the Cemetery. global diasporas Signs & Wonders

developmentEach is discussed of future in interpretative greater detail below. The Victorian materials at Brookwood Cemetery. Each is Funerary iconography fascination with death, discussedWhile allin greatermay be considereddetail below. to be of value as and diverse and its many cultural interpretative lenses, the central theme, The Best approaches to expressions WhilePossible all may Death, be considered could be considered to be of value also to serve The Best honouring the dead

as interpretativeas a kind of conceptual lenses, the glue central for all theme,of the others, Possible Death The Bestforegrounding Possible the Death, question could of howbe human societies considered also to serve as a kind of approach the challenge of dealing with death and Providing for the conceptual glue for all of the others, their dead. dignified and hygienic foregrounding the question of how human disposal of the dead societies approach the challenge of dealing Making Death Pay Importantly, this plan does not anticipate all of the Who’s Who? with death and their dead. themes and content discussed below necessarily The growth of Brookwood’s dead: the Importantly,being used this simultaneously, plan does not exhaustively anticipate all or given cemeteries as good, the bad, and the of theequal themes weight. and Proposals content fordiscussed how best below to apply commercial anonymous. necessarilycertain themesbeing used are given simultaneously, in Chapter 5, Media. enterprises Paradise on Earth exhaustively or given equal weight. Proposals for how best to apply certain Cemetery themes are given in Chapter 5, Media. landscaping, the Arcadian aesthetic and Brookwood’s rich ecology

27 BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 23 The Best Possible Death

The past A further problem for residents in Victorian London To not invoke, to not think of the dead “Show me the manner in which a nation cares for lay in the cost of disposing of their dead. To be makes us gradually inhuman and increases its dead and I will measure, with mathematical buried ‘on the parish’ (i.e. with public funds) in an our sense of unreality. We are already exactness, the tender mercies of its people, their era of growing class-consciousness was considered with them: it is our unavoidable destiny. respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty to a public shame and mark of dishonour. However, We do not continue where they left off ; high ideals.” overcrowding, and a consequent surge in demand they continue where we have not gone. A for existing private burial plots, made death a meditation on life is inevitably a meditation prohibitively expensive business for many. Often attributed to William Gladstone (though never on death: and vice versa. If our imagination definitely proven to have passed his lips), the above about death fails, ultimately so will our quote – whatever its true provenance – resonates By turning over some 2000 acres to London’s dead imagination about life. strongly with the history of Brookwood Cemetery. and charging only modest rates, Brookwood allowed all but the very poorest members of society a As noted above, Brookwood’s founding marked a relatively dignified burial for their departed. Further, response on the part of government to an extreme by moving the dead away from the metropolis, the problem of overcrowding in mid nineteenth century cemetery provided for the improved health and Ben Okri, ‘The Muse of Archaeology’, in Renfrew et London. As the city grew, and the number of its hygiene of London’s residents. al (November 2015) Death Rituals, Social Order and dead increased, so churchyards reached capacity, the Archaeology of Immortality in the Ancient World graveyards overflowed with the dead, and a public In essence, from the very moment of its genesis, health crisis ensued. A cholera epidemic which Brookwood represents an attempt on the part of killed more than 14,000 Londoners between 1848-49 society as a whole to ensure the best possible care greatly exacerbated this problem, and led to large be given to its dead. numbers of bodies being left to decompose in plain view of the living.

24 The Best Possible Death The Best Possible Death

The future Numerous alternatives to traditional burial and discussing death and dying, with many failing to prepare for the end of their own lives. A broad trend Working in dialogue with Brookwood’s history cremation have been proposed in recent years, for increasing life expectancies globally means of helping to alleviate social, environmental, and from ‘resomation’ or ‘water cremation’ (a process people are living longer than ever in fear of death. public health crises, future interpretation can help to of dissolving bodies in an alkaline solution, which draw attention to and inform public debate around both reduces atmospheric pollution and reduces What does the best possible death look like in the a series of related challenges facing contemporary fuel consumption), to still more esoteric options, twenty-first century? This is a question Brookwood Britain. such as the disposal of corpses in body bags lined with mushroom spores, designed to detoxify and Cemetery is well positioned to address. In terms of its burial capacity, and despite the expedite the decomposition of human remains. As creation of numerous inner city cemeteries at around well as pioneering the adoption of such technologies “Adults who are racked with death anxiety the time of Brookwood’s founding, London is again (and thus tapping new markets), Brookwood could are not odd birds who have contracted becoming overcrowded, with multiple boroughs help to lead a debate about the role green burial some exotic disease, but men and women plays in wider struggles to preserve the environment no longer accepting burials, and numerous others whose family and culture have failed to knit and prevent global warming. resorting to disinterment or deepening existing the proper protective clothing for them to graves to make room for new bodies. Finally, considering the idea of the ‘best possible withstand the icy chill of mortality.’ Environmentally, while cities no longer face the death’ in broad socio-cultural terms, groups problem of graveyards overspillling, there is a including the Dying Matters Coalition, Death growing awareness of the damage wrought to the Positive, and the Order of the Good Death represent Irvin Yalom, Psychiatrist, cited in Caitlin Doughty environment by cremation, embalming, and the an avant-garde addressing a serious lack of public (October 2017) From Here to Eternity seeping of other toxins contained in human bodies conversation about death that has been recognised into the earth. in UK government policy. A 2014 ComRes survey found that 83% of the public are uncomfortable

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 25 Centres & Peripheries

The past the British empire expanded, so it drew diasporas Brookwood’s ‘hygienic’ distance from This theme draws attention to Brookwood’s complex from across the globe inwards to its centre. The London prevented working-class access socio-spatial history, considering the cemetery as enormous range of nations and cultures represented because of limited leisure time and an object lesson in the relationships between centre by those buried at Brookwood speaks to Britain’s disposable income. Modernity’s spatial and periphery at multiple scales. changing place in the world throughout the past 165 paradigm had extended control over the years. communal past and broken the long existent First, as above, the theme can be used to frame relationship between living and dead, Finally, fourth, that today the cemetery constitutes Brookwood’s relationship with London, and to draw a move recognised by The Times, which a centre for multiple Muslim communities reflects attention to the way in which urban population commented that, growth and crowding led to a fundamental powerfully on Woking’s status as the historic restructuring of living populations’ relationship with heartland of not only British but also wider Generations have been born, have lived, the dead. Formerly buried within parish boundaries, European Islam (an effect in part of Gottlieb and have been buried upon the same spot. typically close to friends and relatives, the dead were Leitner’s ambitious project to establish the town as Henceforward the homes of the living are to now displaced beyond the city margins. a fulcrum of interfaith scholarship, and his founding be separate from the broad lands allotted to of Britain’s first dedicated Muslim cemetery). And the dead. Second, and more intimately, one sees a spatial it speaks, too, to the power of another centre in imagination at work in the zoning of the cemetery shaping the site’s history: when Brookwood became […]. Unable to easily access their history, for the dead of different classes: the wealthy and a favoured cemetery among Muslims migrating and locate it clearly within a community well-to-do handsomely commemorated in the to Britain from the 1960s, we understand from burial space, connection was lost with the cemetery’s historic ring, with the poor dispersed conversations with community members that this collective and family of the past. around the fringes. was in no small part because alternative sites were unable or unwilling to accommodate their need to Agatha Herman (Journal of Historical Geography 36 Third, there are vast entangled histories of war be buried facing Mecca. (2010) 305–314) Death has a touch of class: society and empire and their effects on the make-up of and space in Brookwood Cemetery, 1853–1903 British society waiting to be told at Brookwood. As

26 Centres & Peripheries Centres & Peripheries

The future in which subsequent generations of what were The mass migration of Muslims to Britain from Given the ‘buried up’ state of London cemeteries originally migrant communities have adapted the nineteen-sixties meant that the burial of and people’s future quest for a resting place, and continue to adapt to long-term settlement in their dead assumed particular importance. Brookwood Cemetery can once again offer an Britain. Writing on the importance of cemeteries as Brookwood cemetery – because of the answer to London’s need for space for its dead. centres of place-making among the first large-scale non availability of burial space for Muslims Muslim communities in the UK, Humayun Ansari elsewhere, because of the historical of the University of London notes that, increasingly, London’s growth, allied to broader continuing associations of Muslims with the place, larger numbers of Muslims born and raised British urbanisation in the UK, the overcrowding of because family or friends might be buried prefer to be buried in Britain, rather than having cemeteries, and the depopulation of the countryside, there, because it is a beautiful site, and means the distance between living and dead looks their bodies ‘returned’ to extended family networks because some Muslims do not like being set to stay. Brookwood Cemetery currently provides overseas. buried on top of Christians – became a a resting place for the dead from a wide range of London communities. But even given this distance, At the same time, however, the increasing provision popular final place of rest for Muslims from Brookwood has become an important centre for today of Islamic burial grounds around the country all over the country. these communities. means that for many, Brookwood is no longer an automatic choice. If, as is currently planned, bodies displaced from Humayun Ansari (Historical Research, vol. St James’ Gardens at Euston by the construction of Tracing still emerging geographies of displacement 80, no. 210 (November 2007) ‘Burying the dead’: HS2 are moved to Brookwood (as was also the case and reconsolidation in the histories of those buried making Muslim space in Britain with many of the dead unearthed in the building at Brookwood Cemetery can provide a fruitful means of the Metropolitan line), this would present an of understanding both the site and the contexts interesting opportunity to foreground the question of it has grown out of. This could strengthen the the relationship the living maintain with their dead. historic and ongoing connections which London’s communities feel for Brookwood Cemetery. Considering the number of diasporic burial grounds at Brookwood also invites a focus on the ways

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 27 4.2 Key Themes

Signs & Wonders Signs & Wonders

The past The past EveryEvery headstone, headstone, and and every every grave grave site atsite Brookwood at Asiconography: the final emblems urns, anchors,chosen to brokenmark a lifepillars, at its a tellsBrookwood multiple stories.tells multiple How graves stories. are Howmarked (or end,multitude grave markingsof variations of course on the reflect cross, the and pasts of leftgraves unmarked), are marked the iconography (or left unmarked), used to celebrate the thedozens dead. more But they besides. also reflect a great deal about the theiconography dead, and theused innumerable to celebrate other the additions dead, and people doing the marking, and the social norms that placedthe innumerable at gravesides other – flowers, additions flags, placed fences, atstones governAs the ourfinal relations emblems with chosen other living to mark people. a life –gravesides all embody –complex flowers, histories flags, fences,cross cut stones by class, – at its end, grave markings of course reflect all embody complex histories cross cut by the pasts of the dead. But they also reflect a gender, identity, faith, and personal biography Ostentation in headstone design might speak to class, gender, identity, faith, and personal greatgreat love, deal unbearable about the sorrow,people or, doing just asthe easily, to biography classmarking, anxiety: and a the desire social to be norms seen bythat one’s govern peers to Many of the monuments placed at Brookwood are our relations with other living people. be doing death properly. miniatureMany of thewonders monuments of design placed and craft: at for example theBrookwood tomb of Venetian are miniature glassworker wonders Giulio of Salviati, design Ostentation in headstone design might whoseand craft: mosaics for exampleadorn St Paul’sthe tomb Cathedral, of Venetian and Itspeak is notable, to great finally, love, that unbearable the great majority sorrow, of or, those whoseglassworker own style Giulio is mimicked Salviati, in whose the obelisk mosaics erected whojust asare easily,buried toat Brookwood,class anxiety: having a desire only pauper to be toadorn his memory St Paul’s by hisCathedral, widow Henriette. and whose own graves,seen by also one’s have peers no marking. to be doing For Brookwood’s death style is mimicked in the obelisk erected to team,properly. a key challenge in interpreting the cemetery Elsewhere,his memory as byin bothhis widow the CWGC Henriette. and ABMC will be to ensure that those individuals, lacking military cemeteries, monuments are defined by their memorials,It is notable, are finally, not altogether that the overlooked. great majority of uniformity:Elsewhere, a reflectionas in both of the a desire CWGC to honour and ABMC all of the those who are buried at Brookwood, having military cemeteries, monuments are defined only pauper graves, also have no marking. war dead equally, without distinction by rank. by their uniformity: a reflection of a desire to For Brookwood’s team, a key challenge in honour all of the war dead equally, without interpreting the cemetery will be to ensure And,distinction of course, by rank.throughout the cemetery one finds that those individuals, lacking memorials, an array of more or less cryptic iconography: urns, are not altogether overlooked. anchors,And, of brokencourse, pillars, throughout a multitude the cemetery of variations one on thefinds cross, an arrayand dozens of more more or besides.less cryptic

32

28 Signs & Wonders Signs & Wonders

The future ‘Men have lost their reason in nothing so much as their religion, wherein stones and clouts There is a deep connection between the ways make martyrs; and since the religion of one seems madness to another, to afford an account in which graves are marked and subsequently or rational of old rites requires no rigid reader. That they kindled the pyre aversely, or turning maintained, and the first theme outlined above: the their face from it, was an handsome symbol of unwilling ministration. That they washed their question of what makes for a good death. bones with wine and milk; that the mother wrapped them in linen, and dried them in her bosom, the first fostering part and place of their nourishment; that they opened their eyes Considering the range of different religious burial towards heaven before they kindled the fire, as the place of their last hopes or original, were traditions represented at Brookwood affords an outstanding opportunity for visitors to learn about no improper ceremonies. Their last valediction, thrice uttered by the attendants, was also very the diverse practices of other members of their local solemn, and somewhat answered by Christians, who thought it too little, if they threw not the communities, and to think deeply about life, death, earth thrice upon the interred body. That, in strewing their tombs, the Romans affected the and perhaps, life after death. rose, the Greeks amaranthus and myrtle: that the funeral pyre consisted of sweet fuel, cypress, fir, larix, yew, and trees perpetually verdant, lay silent expression of their surviving hopes. With religious observation declining in Britain, this theme also allows Brookwood to frame discussions about the changing nature of commemoration. What signs and symbols will survive the twenty-first century? Which others will come to carry the burden Sir Thomas Browne (1658) Urne-Buriall of remembrance?

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 29 4.2 Key Themes

Making Death Pay Making Death Pay The past

The past alive) could travel by 1st, 2nd or 3rd class depending From the beginning of the Victorian period, Careful zoning, as well as the creation of a on their means, and would be treated accordingly calls forFrom burial the reformbeginning and of the the increasingVictorian period, calls fortiered offer helped to address this challenge. inabilityburial of church reform and theparish increasing to inability of churchOn theto London differing Necropolis degrees of comfortRailway, while travelling, accommodateand parish the to growingaccommodate number the growingof the number ofcustomers as well (dead as to andmore alive) or less could careful travel handling by of the dead, theopened dead, theopened door the to doorprivate to private cemeteries. 1st, 2nddead, or 3 rdand class to adepending greater or lesser on their choice of a range of cemeteries. means,coffins and wouldof varying be treatedquality. Inaccordingly this way, albeit to with While, as The Times noted in 1852, the Bishop of differinglimited degrees success, of comfort the Cemetery while travelling,attempted to create While,London as The (among Times others)noted ‘entertainedin 1852, the great doubts asas wella assense to moreof exclusivity, or less carefuland to shake handling a reputation of as Bishopto of whether London any (among private others)parties ought to be allowed the dead,somewhat and to of a a greatersecond tieror lesserburial ground.choice ‘entertainedto speculate great indoubts a traffic as of to the whether dead’, from any this pointof a range of coffins of varying quality. In this private parties ought to be allowed to way, albeit with limited success, the onwards, the disposal of the dead would take on an In the late Victorian period, middle and working speculate in a traffic of the dead’, from this Cemetery attempted to create a sense of ever more industrial character; meanwhile funerary class customers are understood to have become point onwards, the disposal of the dead exclusivity, and to shake a reputation as more cost-conscious and to have sought out more would fashionstake on wouldan ever come more to beindustrial shaped significantly by somewhat of a second tier burial ground. modest burial options. There was a late Victorian character;the logics meanwhile of a capitalist funerary consumer fashions society. would come to be shaped significantly by In the reactionlate Victorian against period, sepulchral middle ostentation and in some the logicsAt Brookwood, of a capitalist the Londonconsumer Necropolis society. and Nationalworking cases, class and customers there are moreare understood headstones ofto a modest Mausoleum Company (LNNMC) struggled to strikehave becomevariety in more later nineteenthcost-conscious centery and areas to than in At Brookwood,a balance betweenthe LNNMC accommodating struggled to pauper burials have soughtearlier ones.out more It is certain, modest however, burial options, that for much of strike (strikinga balance substantial between contracts accommodating with London parishesit is certain,the nineteenth however, century, that for ostentation much of theand expense in pauperto burials provide (striking for all of theirsubstantial dead), and contracts attracting othernineteenth the dispatch century, of ostentationone’s dead were and consideredexpense essential with Londonmore well-to-do parishes middle to provide and upper for all class of customers.in the todispatch maintaining of one’s social dead standing. were their dead), and attracting other more well- considered essential to maintaining social to-do middle and upper class customers. standing. Careful zoning, as well as the creation of a tiered offer helped to address this challenge. On the A 19th Century cartoon depicts an undertaker eager to profit from London Necropolis Railway, customers (dead and the 1840s cholera epidemic (Science Museum) 34

30 Making Death Pay Making Death Pay

The future The LNNMC operated along inclusive lines but sought to temper the reformist discourse in As an operating business, any discussion at order to remain financially viable [adopting] an eleven part tariff system that catered for all Brookwood of the cost of funerals should be in its graded offerings that balanced quality and ostentation with price. The lowest level of approached with great sensitivity and caution. service offered respectability and simplicity for £1.5s: ‘1 horse hearse to convey coffin only, smooth elm coffin, finished with black or white nails, a Plate of Inscription, lined &c’. Nevertheless, there are significant links to be made between Brookwood’s history as a cemetery offering an affordable service to the poor, and to present market conditions in the UK, where average funeral In contrast, the top level of service demonstrates the continuing desires of elite clientele for costs of £4,200 place a dignified burial or cremation material distinctions to be maintained and a certain level of ostentation; for £35, the LNNMC beyond the means of many thousands of Britons and offered a ‘hearse & 4, 3 mourning coaches/broughams, elm shell lined with fine swansdown force increasing numbers of people into so-called & satin, English Oak case, French polished/ lined with fine cloth, massive brass fittings & stout ‘funeral poverty’. lead coffin, or Patent ‘Earth-to-Earth’, covered with crimson or black velvet & 8 assistants .[…] The company brochures offer a range of further services that emphasize natural elements, With the relationship between death and money following Loudon’s aesthetic emphasis, such as ‘turfing grave’ (2s. 6d.), ‘planting grave with a theme for discussion perhaps most helpfully spring flowers’ (10s. 6d.) and ‘planting, turfing and maintenance in perpetuity’ (£21). These through temporary programming and future-focused services would have been restricted to the higher classes by cost, which provided the capacity exhibitions, Brookwood could take a lead in stoking for further distinction from the masses and demonstration of ones financial, and hence social, and informing public debate about what is a pressing and emotive issue. worth.

Agatha Herman, Death has a touch of class: society and space in Brookwood Cemetery, 1853–1903

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 31 Who’s Who

The past The future Who knows whether the best of men be Integral to Brookwood Cemetery’s own history are A key opportunity for Brookwood going forward known, or whether there be not more the stories of the more than 250,000 people who is to promote and work to orchestrate community remarkable persons forgot, than any that have been laid to rest there: the good, the bad, and and volunteer research around hidden and under- stand remembered in the known account the anonymous trumpeted histories. Here we see significant of time? […] Oblivion is not to be hired. potential to tie in interpretation to national and The greater part must be content to be as Many of these stories are known and already global events like LGBT History Month, Black though they had not been, to be found in the celebrated through Brookwood’s website and other History Month, and International Women’s Day and register of God, not in the record of man. visitor materials. They include : John Singer Sargent, to create special tours responding to those particular Zdenka Pokorna, Rebecca West, Zaha Hadid, Edith themes. Sir Thomas Browne (1658) Urne Buriall Thompson (now departed), and Gottlieb Leitner. We also feel there is an opportunity to do more to Building upon current practice at Brookwood (for acknowledge, explore and represent the histories of example the recent development of a map of the the vast number of anonymous working class people Czech community plot, or the creation of materials given pauper burials at the cemetery. documenting Brookwood’s rich Islamic heritage undertaken through the Everyday Muslim initiative, Above all, perhaps, our time at Brookwood there is significant scope to build themed tours and -incorporating the community-led discovery of maps around the histories of these and other noted myriad new histories even in a few short months inhabitants, and to create temporary exhibitions, - argues in favour of a flexible and fluid approach. perhaps responding to significant anniversaries in Interpretation should not be fixed, limited to those their lives. lives already known best, or commemorated most lavishly. Instead the investigation and celebration of people buried at the cemetery should be considered an evolving and open process.

32 Who’s Who Death Obsession

The past The future ‘With cruel irony, the Brookwood funeral The dual fascination with death and dedication Connecting once more with the core question which seems to have attracted the to mourning characteristic of Victorian society (in of how best to confront and deal with death, the largest audience was that of the Victorian particular its upper and middle classes) have been history of the Victorian culture of grieving will freethinker, Charles Bradlaugh. A crowd of much remarked upon both by modern day scholars present a valuable opportunity to foreground and 5,000 or so gathered for the interment of and contemporaries like Charles Dickens. discuss contemporary attitudes to death and dying. this renowned opponent of Christianity and conventional respectability. The Necropolis Explanations for the intensity of Victorian funerary Railways was pressured to dispense with practices are many and varied, and range from its usual elaborate funerary rituals for the suggestions that falling death rates made loss a occasion, which took on a different tone more unusual and hence noteworthy occurrence, altogether and had some of the gaiety of a to analyses of ostentatious grief as a symptom of rising consumerism, to psychological analyses seaside railways excursion; it seemed more associating death obsession with all manner of other like Brighton than Brookwood cemetery. repressions. Only Mrs Annie Besant – Bradlaugh’s co- worker – wore black.’ Whatever the truth of these and other competing R. C. Richardson (2003) The ‘Broad Gauge’ and the interpretations (and all would make fascinating ‘Narrow Gauge’: Railways and Religion in Victorian content for temporary exhibitions, talks, and lectures England in the future), what is certain is that death at Brookwood Cemetery was often a real social event. Often many thousands of mourners would attend the funerals of noted public figures.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 33 Paradise on Earth

The past that flanks the former railway line is a striking ‘Churchyards and cemeteries are scenes This final theme draws attention to Brookwood’s feature in the cemetery’s landscape, and a powerful not only calculated to improve the morals value both as a precious and ecologically diverse reminder of its past. As well as constituting a and the taste, and by their botanical riches green space, and as perhaps the pinnacle example splendid setting for visitors to admire and explore, to cultivate the intellect, but they serve as of the Victorian tradition of garden cemetery design. Brookwood’s landscape (as reflected opposite) is, in historical records.’ itself, an embodiment of a strong set of ideals and The combination of memorials alongside nature convictions regarding the respectful treatment of the John Claudius Loudon: ‘Principles of Landscape gave, and continues to give, the landscape its dead and the attitudes of the living. power and poignancy. The cemetery’s sculptural Gardening applied to Public Cemeteries’ That the site is so vast is a factor in part of burial monuments, mausolea and array of more modest Loudon was much concerned with the burial headstones were carefully set in designed reformists’ wishes that even paupers be allotted an of the poor, and was opposed on health landscape. Originally laid out by Robert Marnock individual grave site in which they might be buried grounds to common graves being sunk in following the principles of eminent cemetery with dignity. Meanwhile, the cemetery’s great designer John Claudius Loudon, and supplemented beauty was expressly cultivated so as to edify the the London clay. He advocated the burial of from the mid 1940s with a new section - the Glades souls and minds of visitors. London’s poor outside London, as the price of Remembrance – planned by another noted of land within ten miles of London was much designer, Edward White - Brookwood’s grounds are too high to admit of burying paupers singly as spectacular as they are conducive to peaceful rest in the London cemeteries. With remarkable and contemplation. foresight, he suggested the purchase of two thousand acres of poor land at Woking, Its extensive evergreen planting is crowned by where the gravelly soil was ideal, and would perhaps the largest collection of Wellingtonias enable yews, junipers, pines, and firs to anywhere in Britain (a species first introduced to grow. This idea was obviously the beginning the country in 1853, only a year before Brookwood’s of Brookwood Cemetery, near Woking opening). The double avenue of these mighty trees James Stevens Curl, John Claudius Loudon and the Garden Cemetery Movement

34 Paradise on Earth Paradise on Earth 4.2 Key Themes

Paradise on Earth The future The sustaining of this ecology, however, needs to As well as speaking to the complex set of morals, be integrated with theT hretrievale future of the cemetery’s tastes, and reformist verve upon which Brookwood heritage significance. Ecological conservation must As well as speaking to the complex set of was founded, the cemetery’s landscape today also be balanced with the conservationmorals, tastes, and reformist of the verve cemetery’s upon which Brookwood was founded, the designed landscape andcemetery’s its monuments. landscape today also These speaks are speaks persuasively to the importance of care for persuasively to the importance of care for all essential elements inand this stewardship paradise of the land. on earth. The and stewardship of the land. conservation of the ColquhounIn this context, therechapel are abundant is an exemplar opportunities to develop interpretative in which invasive vegetationcontent reflecting has upon been the former carefully cut In this context, there are abundant opportunities to dilapidation of the site, the ease with which back and managed to naturereveal reclaims one neglected of the land, heritage and the role develop interpretative content reflecting upon the Woking Borough Council has played in gems of the cemetery. restoringThe example Brookwood. needs to be former dilapidation of the site, the ease with which Considering the theme of landscape renewal nature reclaims neglected land, and the role Woking followed across the cemetery,more broadly gradually meanwhile, and revealingconnecting this to the aforementioned growing Borough Council has played in restoring Brookwood. and conserving its greatrecognition array of theof impactmemorials of the funerary and their industry on our environment, there is also varied landscape setting.potential to situate Brookwood within a broader narrative of conservation and care, The cemetery now contains a number of rare and and to do so in conjunction with the development of an expanded, more protected habitats and species. Lowland acid Considering the themeecologically of landscape sustainable funeraryrenewal offer. more grassland and relict heathland support unusual broadly meanwhile, and connecting this to the 37 varieties of moss and fungi as well as uncommon aforementioned growing recognition of the impact plant species such as Devil’s Bit Scabious which of the funerary industry on our environment, there is provides an important nectar source for rare bee also potential to situate Brookwood within a broader species. This special biodiversity, a result of the narrative of conservation and care, and to do so in long years of neglect, now yields an added layer of conjunction with the development of an expanded, richness to this paradise on earth. more ecologically sustainable funerary offer.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 35 Community Plots Consented Remediation Paradise on Earth Project by Railway Dispersed Graves in Giant Redwood Avenue Heathland

A landscape of intimacy, grandeur, War Graves monumentality - and legibility In interpreting and opening up Brookwood to a wider public, it is imperative not to lose sight of Woodland Community Dispersed Plots Graves in the Cemetery’s original function, the way that this Grassland with some Heather function informed and continues to underpin its Historic Ring with Heather superb landscaping, and how that landscaping Glades of and Conifers Remembrance in turn both supports and provides for a range of human experiences, and reveals the history of the site.

Woodland

Careful management and maintenance of the Grassland Meadows Cemetery’s grounds will help to draw out its original Woodland zoning and spatial structure, which will help make it more legible again. The balanced conservation of the cemetery’s monuments, its designed landscape and its ecology will all contribute to the different Heathland,SSSI qualities of place found across the Cemetery. Careful integration of new memorials into the landscape will enhance the experience of the Cemetery for the many different groups who use it.

For those who bury their dead at Brookwood, the landscape is the most important medium for expressing and facilitating emotional, corporeal dimensions of mourning.

36 actors Ahmadiyya Jamaat Swedish Dawoodi-Bohra oddfellows Najmee Baag st andrews lawn historic Muslim

Zoroastrian st saviours Woking (uncon)

military cemetery: Bagh-e-zera Canadian Ismaili Italian military nursing American

French st margarets and st johns westminster Czechoslovak st edward brotherhood Polish British Serbian RAF Japanese st stephens ground Latvian Woking ground Catholic london south west rail pauper burials 1st Class st thomas ground 20 Guineas commissionaires st peters home HS2 18 Guineas maximum st peters convent pauper burials 2nd Class smiles home/ Harbour st albans ground 13 Guineas maximum gillian’s meadow (natural burial ground) royal hospital chelsea 11 Guineas maximum Woking asylum woodland burial area 7 Guineas maximum

3rd Class

Victorian burial class areas

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 37 5 MEDIA 5.1 Overview 5.1 Overview

Modest, Minimalist, Mobile Modest, Minimalist, Mobile A restrained and easily updated media palette

A restrained and easily updated media Above all else, Brookwood is a site that invites The need for financially sustainable, long- Above all else, Brookwood is a site that palette multisensory immersion and respectful exploration. s term development at Brookwood, the scale invites multisensory immersion and r

of its estate, and the splendour and variety respectful exploration. o Its sights, sounds, smells and textures are all equally of the cemetery’s grounds all argue against o OBJECTS PANELS theThe use need of overly for financially complex, sustainable, or intrusive long-term Itsdeserving sights, sounds, of attention. smells As and such textures we would are caution d against the development of any media (for example n interpretativedevelopment mediaat Brookwood, on site. the scale of its estate, all equally deserving of attention. As such I and the splendour and variety of the cemetery’s wean would audio caution guide), whichagainst would the developmentunduly disrupt or In groundsa setting all in argue which against each themonument, use of overly and complex, of distractany media from (for the exampleexperience an of audio the site guide), as it is.

everyor intrusive gravestone interpretative tells its ownmedia story, on site. we which would unduly disrupt or distract from suggest that additional interpretation is best the experience of the site as it is. s

We also feel that given budgetary constraints, r

deployed sparsely: to orient visitors around o In a setting in which each monument, and every neither an audio or digital offer would offer value for

the landscape, and conceptually frame a We also feel that given budgetary o gravestone tells its own story, we suggest that money at Brookwood. MAPS SIGNS visit. constraints, neither an audio or digital offer d t additional interpretation is best deployed sparsely: would offer value for money at Brookwood. With these thoughts in mind, our proposal is for a u Anyto orientnew materials visitors around should the aim landscape, to lead anda visitor’sconceptually senses, frame and a provokevisit. a targeted Withmodest these and thoughts easily maintained in mind, our and proposal updated iscore set O questioning of their surroundings. forof a interpretativemodest and materials,easily maintained as opposite. and Any new materials should aim to lead a visitor’s updated core set of interpretative materials, Butsenses, they shouldand provoke avoid a overwhelmingtargeted questioning through of their as opposite. thesurroundings. addition of surplus text in an environment already liberally strewn with information. But they should avoid overwhelming through the

addition of surplus text in an environment already

liberally strewn with information

41

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 39 5.2 Detail & Comparators

MapsMaps

Guiding and educating the senses Inspiration Guiding and educating the senses Inspiration A suite of high quality, beautifully and distinctively Top: Artist Adam Dant’s illustrated,A suite of printed high quality, maps can beautifully also double and as guides illustrated map of Shoreditch an example of a map – baseddistinctively on specific illustrated, themes. printed maps can worth treasuring and sharing also double as guides based on specific with friends Bottom: Detail from Caz Mapsthemes. need not be over dense with information, but Hildebrand and Jacob Kennedy’s The Geometry of can emphasise typologies – educating the eye as to Pasta, a beautiful example of Maps need not be over dense with an illustrated typology, of the what to look for in gravestones and monuments, or kind which could be used to information, but can emphasise typologies – illustrate funerary drawing visitors attention to the variety of natural iconography, leaf shapes, educating the eye as to what to look for in famous faces, and all lifegravestones in the cemetery. and monuments, or drawing manner of other highlights at Brookwood. visitors attention to the variety of natural life Otherin the themes cemetery. discussed above (in particular. Centres & Peripheries, and Who’s Who?) would also beOther amenable themes to mapping, discussed with above a great (in benefit particular. of the formatCentres being & Peripheries,that individual and examples Who’s can Who?) easily bewould updated also and be iteratively amenable developed, to mapping, either with in light a ofgreat evolving benefit community of the format research, being or responding that to seasonalindividual events examples and programming. can easily be updated and iteratively developed, either in light of evolving community research, or responding As a relatively cheaply produced take-away to seasonal events and programming. for visitors, these maps will be eye-catching mementoes,As a relatively helping cheaply to draw produced new visitors take-away to the sitefor invisitors, the wake these of their maps friends. will be For eye-catching this reason, it willmementoes, be worth spending helping time to draw in design new visitorsto ensure to a lastingthe site impression. in the wake of their friends. For this reason, it will be worth spending time in Top: Artist Adam Dant’s illustrated map of Shoreditch – an example of a map worth treasuring and sharing with friends

design to ensure a lasting impression. Bottom: Detail from Caz Hildebrand and Jacob Kennedy’s The Geometry of Pasta, a beautiful example of an illustrated typology, of the kind which could be used to illustrate funerary iconography, leaf shapes, famous faces, and all manner of other highlights at Brookwood. 44 40

5.2 Detail & Comparators

Signs Signs Orientation over interpretation Inspiration Introducing new signage to Brookwood’s landscape Orientaisti oessentialn ove rto i helpnte rvisitorspreta tnavigateion its grounds.

We are aware of the existing signage project that Introducingis underwaynew signage at the to cemetery, Brookwood’s and therefore do not landscape is essential to help visitors make any further proposals here. navigate its grounds.

We are awareWe would of the however existing caution signage against project overloading signs that is underwaywith text. at And, the cemetery,whilst it is veryand desirable to identify therefore landmarksdo not make and anyhelp furtherguide the proposals way to remarkable here. tombs and outstanding people, signage should not imply that only these monuments are valuable, or We wouldthe however graves significant. caution against Signage should be always be overloadingdiscreet signs and with encourage text, or pre-further exploration. determining which monuments are the most valuable, Aboveand which all, visitors graves should the most be guided in how to significantnavigate, through and the how signage to understand project. the cemetery.

Signs should help to open up the cemetery, rather Above all, visitors should be guided in how than working to narrow the focus of visitors’ to navigate, and how to understand the cemetery.exploration. Signs should help to open up the cemetery, rather than working to narrow the focus of visitors’Interpretation exploration. should, where possible, be thematic.

AnAn example example of the newnew interpretation interpretation produced produced through through Brookwood’s Brookwood’s signage signage project. project. Interpretation should, where possible, be thematic.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 41

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5.2 5.2Detail Detail & Comparators & Comparators

ObObjectsjects

Showcasing community objects Inspiration Showcasing community objects Inspiration Whether in the small space of the planned Whethersuperintendent’s in the small house space café, of orthe in planned a larger visitor superintendent’scentre setting, houseBrookwood café, can or subtlyin a larger introduce key visitorthemes, centre and setting, keep its Brookwood displays fresh can by subtly spotlighting introducea small key number themes, of objects and keepat a time its displaysin one or two fresh by spotlighting a small number of frequently replenished vitrines or small display objects at a time in one or two frequently cases. replenished vitrines or small display cases.

ObjectsObjects may may be be drawn drawn from from two two principle principle sources. sources.First, whileFirst, thewhile larger the part larger of itspart collections of its exist collectionsin the form exist of inarchives the form and of documentation archives and held by documentationthe Surrey History held byCentre, the Surrey Brookwood History has a modest Centre,array Brookwood of physical objects has a itmodest can draw array upon, of including physicalfor example: objects tickets it can from draw the upon, LNR including(as are currently for example:displayed intickets the visitor from spacethe LNR of the (as St are Edward currentlyBrotherhood); displayed or the in thelarge visitor leather-bound space of burials the St Edwardregisters Brotherhood); currently stored or in the Glades large House. leather-bound burials registers currently stored in Glades House. Second, there is great scope to work with local

Second,community there ismembers great scope to identify to work single with meaningful localobjects community that speak members to their to relationship identify single with the meaningfulsite. These objects need notthat be speak particularly to their rare or precious relationshipmaterials, with but theythe site. will beThese the basis need for not stories be that particularlyilluminate rare the or cemetery’s precious living materials, significance. but

they will be the basis for stories that lockwiseClockwise from from top top left: left: a a sample sample providedprovided byby a a member member of of the the public public to tothe the Museum Museum of Waterof Water at Somerset at Somerset House; House; a spray a spray of tinsel of andtinsel artificial and artificial flowers - flowersthe kind -of the humble kind yetof humblepowerful yet object powerful community object members community might members showcase; might A jar showcase; of pickles &A jar a symbol of pickles of lost & love,a symbol donated of lost by love,a member donated of the by public a to illuminate the cemetery’s living significance. memberthe Museum of the of publicBroken to Relationships; the Museum more of Broken chanterelles, Relationships; reinforcing more how chanterelles, simple objects reinforcing can tell marvellous how simple stories objects and can connect tell marvellous Brookwood’s stories visitors and to connectexisting Brookwood’scommunities. visitors to existing communities. 42 42 5.2 Detail & Comparators 5.2 Detail & Comparators

PPanelsanels

Simple. General. Low Cost. Inspiration Simple. General. Low Cost Inspiration The primary purpose of a visit to Brookwood Theshould primary be to purpose experience of aits visit grounds. to Brookwood While modest shouldinterpretation be to experience might gesture its grounds.to the historic While qualities modestof the landscapeinterpretation and introduce might gesture key concepts: to the class, historiccommerce, qualities the makings of the landscape of a good death and (and so on, introduceas discussed key concepts:above), the class,overall commerce,aim of any indoors theexhibition makings should of a good be to deathilluminate, (and frame so on, and as orient discusseda walk outdoors above), rather the thanoverall to replaceaim of it.any indoors exhibition should be to illuminate, frame and orient a walk outdoors rather than As such, the use of panel displays, within the café to replace it. and future visitor centre spaces need not be over- Aselaborate. such, the use of panel displays, within the café and future visitor centre spaces needSimple, not briefbe over-elaborate. texts, printed on low-cost materials will give basic information about the cemetery’s history. Simple,Given thebrief diversity texts, printedof stories on and low-cost personalities that materialscould be willexplored, give basic these informationsemi-permanent about panels theshould cemetery’s refrain fromhistory. highlighting Given the any diversity particular of storiesindividuals. and personalities Rather than reinforcing that could a becanon of a few explored,select figures, these it semi-permanent feels important that panels priority should should refrain from highlighting any be given to foregrounding key themes and narrative particular individuals. Rather than reinforcing frames. a canon of a few select figures, it feels important that priority should be given to foregrounding key themes and narrative Clockwise from top left: an elegant use of low cost materials at Historic England’s Immortalised! Exhibition; simple panels at the Commonwealth Clockwise from top left: an elegant use of low cost materials at Historic England’s Immortalised! Exhibition; simple panels at the Commonwealth frames. War Graves Commission, as well as a low-cost pinboard allowing visitors to contribute memories and tributes; free standing display boards and framesWar Graves would Commission,allow limited caféas well space as toa low-costbe used efficientlypinboard and allowing flexibly. visitors to contribute memories and tributes; free standing display boards and frames would allow limited café space to be used efficiently and flexibly. 43 BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 43

6 PROGRAMMING 6.1 Overview6.1 Overview

InspiringInspirin actiong acti oandn a nreflectiond reflection

Overview of proposed activities A Adiverse divers eand an distinctived distinctiv offere offer Overview of proposed activities Considering the competition for visitors Brookwood facesConsidering from other thehistoric competition and landscaped for visitors gardens in BrookwoodSurrey and the faces broader from South other East, historic as well and as fromlandscaped the ‘Magnificent gardens Seven’ in Surrey Victorian and cemeteries the in broaderLondon, weSouth feel aEast, key methodas well for as allowing from the the Guided cemetery‘Magnificent to achieve Seven’ sustainable Victorian growth cemeteries as a visitor in Walking & Community Talks & Arts & Craft destinationLondon, willwe befeel the a incrementalkey method development for allowing of a Cycling Meet-Ups Lectures Workshops diversethe cemetery range of on-site to achieve cultural sustainable programming. growth Tours as a visitor destination will be the incremental development of a diverse range Aimed at raising Brookwood’s profile among of on-site cultural programming. communities both locally and further afield, a

carefullyAimed planned at raising programme Brookwood’s of events, profile tours, among Classical exhibitionscommunities and workshops both locally would and supplement further afield, more a Temporary Forest Music, permanentcarefully interpretation, planned programme helping to of communicate events, & pop-up School Theatre & thetours, cemetery’s exhibitions significance and workshops to audiences, would as well exhibitions as supplementproviding additional more permanent opportunities interpretation, for further Cinema learninghelping suited to communicate to its landscape, the acting cemetery’s as a meeting pointsignificance for local residents to audiences, and supporting as well revenueas generation.providing additional opportunities for further learning suited to its landscape, acting as a meeting point for local residents and supporting revenue generation.

47 BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 45 6.2 6.2Programme Programme

Guided Walking, Accessible & Cycling Tours Guided Walking & Cycling Tours

Making meaning, maximising mobility Making meaning, maximising mobility Already a strong point of Brookwood Cemetery’s offer to visitors, we propose that the existing Alreadytours a strong programme point beof Brookwoodexpanded, and Cemetery’s somewhat offer toregularised. visitors, we propose that the existing tours programme be expanded, and somewhat regularised.As a platform from which to build, the existing tours already provided by members of the Brookwood As a platformCemetery from Society which should to build, be celebrated the existing both for the tours alreadyfor the passion provided and by dedication members with of the which they are Brookwood Cemetery Society should be delivered, and for the diversity of perspectives they celebrated both for the for the passion and offer on the site (comprising, for example, specialist dedication with which they are delivered, and for the diversityintroductions of perspectives to particular they burial offer plots, on thelocal site ecology, (comprising,Victorian for social example, history, specialist funerary introductions processes, Islamic to particularheritage, burial and plots,much elselocal besides). ecology, Victorian social history, funerary processes, Islamic heritage,Whilst and retaining much else this besides). diverse programme of tours, we would propose also providing a set of new, regular Whilst introductoryretaining this tours diverse of the programme site, targeted of specifically tours, we wouldto first propose time visitors also providing and scheduled a set forof new,regular times regularon introductory Saturdays and tours Sundays. of the Speciallysite, targeted accessible specifically to first time visitors and scheduled for tours could be designed for those with impaired regular times on Saturdays and Sundays. Bicycle tours, offeredmobility inand addition other challenges. to walking Bicycle tours, tours,would offered allow visitorsin addition to take to walking in more tours, of the would site allowand couldvisitors to be providedtake in either more ofthrough the site on-site and could hire, be or provided on a either through on-site hire, or on a ‘bring-your-own-bike’ A tour takes place at the CWGC Brookwood military cemetery. The past year has seen increasing collaboration between the CWCG and Brookwood ‘bring-your-own-bike’ basis. A tour takes place at the CWGC Brookwood military cemetery. The past year has seen increasing collaboration between the CWCG and Brookwood teams, with visitors now offered combined tours of the entire grounds. basis. teams, with visitors now offered combined tours of the entire grounds.

46 48

6.2 Programme 6.2 Programme

Community Meet-Ups Community Meet-Ups

Inspiring repeat visits InspirTheing creation repea oft av idedicatedsits café space will allow Brookwood to host a range of easily managed community-oriented events targeted primarily to The creation of a dedicated café space will allow Brookwoodlocal residents. to host a range of easily managed community-oriented events targeted primarily to local residents.As well as promoting the adoption of Brookwood Cemetery as a hub for those living closest to the As wellsite, as suchpromoting activities the will adoption also help of toBrookwood drive weekday Cemeterybusiness as a through hub for the those café, living strengthening closest to revenues the site, suchoutside activities of peak will times. also help to drive weekday business through the café, strengthening revenuesWhile outside programming of peak of times. this kind can in principle take countless forms and may arise naturally as While programming of this kind can in principle residents’ interest in the site grows, specific forms take countless forms and may arise naturally as of meet-up can also be promoted by the cemetery residents’ interest in the site grows, specific forms of meet-upteam itself,can also for example, be promoted a reading by thegroup, cemetery a monthly team itself,plot-holders for example, meeting, a or reading a quarterly group, death a café. monthly plot-holders meeting, or a quarterly death café. The latter, an informal gathering for guests to meet and discuss issues around mortality and end-of-life The latter,planning an informal over food gathering and drink for(already guests delivered to once meet andpreviously discuss at theissues cemetery) around can mortality be delivered and by an end-of-lifeappropriately planning trained over foodfacilitator, and drinkprospectively (already on a deliveredvolunteer once basis.previously at the cemetery) can be delivered by an appropriately trained facilitator, Informal discussions between attendees at a Death Café in Seattle. The Death Café model was formalised by Jon Underwood, prospectively on a volunteer basis. Informal discussions between attendees at a Death Café in Seattle. The Death Café model was formalised by Jon Underwood, based in based in Hackney in East London. Operating as a social franchise, the main Death Café network supports anyone interested to Hackney in East London. Operating as a social franchise, the main Death Café network supports anyone interested to deliver their own sessionsdeliver on their a non-profit own sessions basis. on a non-profit basis.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 47 49

6.2 Programme

Talks & Lectures Talks & Lectures Growing understanding

Growing understanding As discussed above in introducing the interpretative themes,As Brookwooddiscussed above Cemetery in introducing is blessed the interpretativewith both a near inexhaustiblethemes, Brookwood stock Cemeteryof stories is waiting blessed to with be bothtold, and ana nearactive inexhaustible community stock driven of storiesto conduct waiting their to ownbe researchtold, into and the an activesite’s communitypast. driven to conduct their own research into the site’s past. A regular monthly lecture, built upon and aimed at disseminatingA regular suchmonthly research, lecture, perhapsbuilt upon with and aimed complementaryat disseminating refreshments such research, for guests perhaps would with represent a social occasion for villagers and serve as complementary refreshments for guests would an opportunity to encourage deeper engagement on represent a social occasion for villagers and serve as the part of visitors: piquing curiosity, and pointing to the richnessan opportunity and complexity to encourage of an deeper environment engagement in on which thethere part is of always visitors: more piquing information curiosity, waitingand pointing to be unearthed.to the richness and complexity of an environment in which there is always more information waiting to As wellbe as unearthed. providing moments of deserved recognition to local community members able to tell their stories,As well talksas providing and lectures moments could of deserved also be deliveredrecognition by partners to local in communitylocal schools members and able universities,to tell their helping stories, to cementtalks and cross-institutional lectures could also ties, andbe deliveredsharing relatedby partners subject in local specialisms, schools and e.g. around disposal, mourning practices, death rites, universities, helping to cement cross-institutional local history, etc. There are few limits to the topics that could be relevantly linked to, and addressed through talks, at Brookwood Cemetery, ties, and sharing related subject specialisms, e.g. There are few limits to the topics that could be relevantly linked to, and addressed through talks, at Brookwood Cemetery, including (from includingtop left) the (from cemetery’s top left) own the history; cemetery’s its ecology own history; and historic its ecology landscaping; and historic historic landscaping;and contemporary historic approaches and contemporary to mourning; approaches and the toachievements mourning; andof the the people achievements who have of been the buriedpeople there who have pictured been here buried is the there Heydar – pictured Alyev Center here inis theBaku, Heydar Azerbaijan, Alyev created Center byin Baku, around disposal, mourning practices, death rites, – Azerbaijan,architect Zaha created Hadid. by architect Zaha Hadid. local history, etc 50

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6.2 Programme

Arts & Crafts Workshops Arts & Crafts Workshops

Learning from the landscape LearnWithing itsfr osplendidm the and lan varieddsca landscape,pe Brookwood represents an ideal setting in which to develop new craft skills with each also offering a new way of With its splendid and varied landscape, Brookwood representsexperiencing an ideal and setting learning in which about tothe develop cemetery. new craft skills with each also offering a new way of experiencing, learningAs about,an first andstep gettingin developing closer this to thekind cemetery. of offer, we would propose that the cemetery seek to As an hostfirst photography,step in developing painting this and kind drawing of offer, classes, we would proposedelivered that the in cemeterypartnership seek with to the host Lightbox photography, in paintingWoking, and drawing and building classes, on the delivered success ofin thepartnership latter’s with theexisting Lightbox workshop in Woking, programme. and building There could on the also be successclasses of the associated latter’s existing with the workshop ongoing conservation programme. of monuments in which people could engage with In the longer term, there are countless opportunities to stonework, letter-cutting, and seeing conservation connect with specialist craftspeople and invite them to happen. In the longer term, there are countless work and lead groups on site on a freelance basis. Here, opportunitiesfor example, towe connect would withnote specialist the success craftspeople of the green andwoodworking invite them courses to work anddelivered lead groups at Nunhead on site Cemetery.on a freelance basis. Here, for example, we would note the success of the green woodworking courses In Septemberdelivered 2019,at Nunhead Gullnaz Cemetery. Mahboob In September will lead a class in Islamic2019, calligraphy Gullnaz Mahboob at the Lightbox.will lead a Again,class in with Islamic the site’s abundancecalligraphy at of the intricate Lightbox. carving Again, and with masonry the site’s and historicabundance example ofof intricateIslamic carvingfunerary and inscription, masonry and Brookwoodhistoric could example present of Islamic an ideal funerary environment inscription, in which to deliverBrookwood such a couldcourse. present an ideal environment in

which to deliver such a course.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 49 51 6.2 Programme

Forest School Forest School Building attachment to the land

Building attachment to the land ForestForest Schools Schools are are places places for for outdoor learning learning that encourage pupils to learn independently and get to that encourage pupils to learn independently and know their natural environment. Hosting a forest get to know their natural environment. Hosting a school during school holidays, prospectively in partnershipforest school with duringSurrey school Wildlife holidays, Trust prospectively(which already offersin trainingpartnership and with accreditation Surrey Wildlife to new Trust instructors) (which wouldalready be a offersgreat trainingway to andmaximise accreditation enjoyment to new of Brookwood’sinstructors) beautiful would be woodland a great way ecology to maximise and build revenueenjoyment (see Businessof Brookwood’s Plan) beautiful woodland ecology and build revenue (see Business Plan) A great benefit of hosting a Forest School would be the opportunityA great benefit it offers of hosting to build a Forest lasting School relationships would be with thefamilies, opportunity hopefully it offers cementing to build lastinga long-term relationships attachmentwith families, to the hopefully site and cementingseeding an a long-terminterest to explore more attachment to the site and seeding an interest to

explore more Abney Park Cemetery runs a highly popular forest school for 6-11 year olds in during half-terms and schoolAbney holidays. Park Cemetery Children runs explore a highly the popularsurrounding forest woodland,school forbuild 6-11 dens, year oldsgo on in duringnature half-termswalks, make and naturalschool art holidays.and craft, Children play games explore etc. the Thesurrounding school is organisedwoodland, and build run bydens, an goindependent on nature walks, partner make organisation.natural art Participants and craft, play pay games £40/day etc. The or £190/week school

(Mon-Fri)is organised per child. and Lastrun by year, an independent the Forest Schoolpartner had Building withwith sticks sticks and and leaves: leaves: encouraging encouraging a hands a hands on approachon approach to the to environment the environment at the at Abney the Abney Park forest Park school. forest school. 309 organisation.children attend. Participants pay £40/day or £190/ week (Mon-Fri) per child. Last year, the Forest School had 309 children attend. 52

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6.2 Programme

TeTemporarymporary && PPop-Upop-Up EExhibitionsxhibitions

ReResponsivesponsive in interpretationterpretation Given the aforementioned competition for visitors Givenin London the aforementioned and the South East, competition we feel a forkey part visitorsof Brookwood’s in London strategy and the must South be toEast, create we regular feelreasons a key to part advertise of Brookwood’s and for people strategy to visit. must A rolling beprogramme to create regularof temporary reasons exhibitions to advertise would fulfill andthis for need, people allow to forvisit. a full A rollingexploration programme of the site’s of narrativetemporary potential, exhibitions and present would opportunitiesfulfill this to need,respond allow to foremerging a full exploration social issues of over the the site’s coming narrativedecades. potential, and present opportunities to respond to emerging social issues over the coming decades. With the Lightbox as a key partner, Brookwood

has enormous knowledge and expertise to draw With the Lightbox as a key partner, Brookwoodupon in formulating has enormous exhibitions. knowledge Partnerships and expertisecould also to bedraw developed upon in with formulating other museums and exhibitions.research institutions Partnerships further could afield. also The be creation of a developedcommunity-artist-in-residence with other museums post and would allow for researchthe development institutions of smaller further pop-up afield. exhibitions The with creationcommunities of a community-artist-in-residence (to be hosted, for example, in a café postor visitorwould centre allow space),for the complementingdevelopment of and feeding smallerinto larger pop-up annual exhibitions or bi-annual with shows. communities The material (tocreated be hosted, for one for exhbition example, could in a perhaps café or serve visitor centre space), complementing and cemeteries all across the country, since so many of feeding into larger annual or bi-annual these need for material display beyond telling ’their’ shows. story. The possibility could be explored of ‘rotating Temporary exhibition exhibition programming programming could could build build on aon resurgent a resurgent interest interest in death in death and its and social its socialimpacts impacts among among contemporary contemporary artists and artists researchers. Pictured andleft: imagesresearchers. from Walter Pictured Schell’s left: imagesexhibition from Life Walter Before Schell’sDeath at exhibition the Wellcome Life Collection;Before Death Right: at thedesign Wellcome for an environmentally Collection; Right: friendly design water crematorium, displays’ traveling around cemeteries, creating a forcreated an environmentally by Royal College friendlyof Art graduate water crematorium, Moying Huang created by Royal College of Art graduate Moying Huang network. 53 BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 51

6.2 Programme

ClassicalClassica l Music,Music , TheatreTheatr e& & Cinema Cinema

Making a scene Making a scene Given the size of its grounds we are confident thatGiven Brookwood the size Cemeteryof its grounds can accommodate we are a limitedconÞdent programme that Broowood of thoughtfully emetery curated can outdoor theatre,accommodate music and a cinema.limited programmeStaging series of of such eventsthoughtfully through curated the summer outdoor would theatre, be a wonderful music opportunityand cinema. to tagingconnect withseries new of audiences,such events build Brookwood’sthrough the reputation summer wouldas a cultural be a wonderfuldestination, opportunity to connect with new audiences, and become a much anticipated fixture in visitors’ build Broowoods reputation as a cultural calendars..destination, and become a much anticipated Þxture in visitors calendars.. Such events need not be large. A ticketed event limiteduch events to 50-150 need attendees not be would large. retain ticeted a valuable feelingevent oflimited exclusivity to and cause attendees no greater would logistical challengeretain a valuablethan a large feeling funeral. of exclusivityA precedent and for ancause event no of greaterthis size logisticalis provided challenge by the CWGC’s than a showinglarge funeral. of a film recountingprecedent thefor lifean ofevent Second of World Warthis special sie is agentprovided Violette by theSzabo s (commemorated at showing of a Þlm recounting the life of Brookwood), which drew 150 attendees. econd orld ar special agent iolette abo commemorated at Broowood, which drew attendees. SetSet amid amid woodland woodland glades, glades, as aboveas above at Nichols at Nichols Arboretum Arboretum in Ann in Arbor, Ann Arbor,a small a stage, small bandstand stage, bandstand or canopy, or would canopy, make would for a makerespectful for aaddition respectful addition to Brookwood’s landscape, and a truly beautiful setting for small-scale performances. to Brookwood’s landscape, and a truly beautiful setting for small-scale performances.

54

52 In developing programming, national and regional events and celebrationsIn developing offer programming, Brookwood the national chance andto connect regional with events established and 6.3 Calendar audiences. Summarised here are a range of the most relevant dates 6.3 Calendar celebrations offer Brookwood the chance to connect with forestablished the cemetery’s audiences. diary. Summarised here are a range of the most relevant dates for the cemetery’s diary.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

International World Population Heritage Open Remembrance RSPB Big Garden Black History Dawn Chorus Day Days Sunday Birdwatch Month Day

LGBT History World Health Armed Forces London Month of National Tree Month Day Day the Dead Week

British Science Dying Matters World Habitat Week Awareness Week Day

National International National Poetry Cemeteries Women’s Day Day Week

Refugee Week Halloween

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 55 53 7 PHASING 7.1 Overview 7.1 Phasing Incremental Growth

A diverse and distinctive offer As described above, this Plan assumes that the Infuturecre developmentmenta ofl BrookwoodGrow Cemeteryth will take place over an extended period of time, and occur incrementally. As described above, this Plan assumes that the future development of Brookwood Cemetery will take place over an extended period of time,Below and and occur overleaf incrementally. are summarised, first, the overall trajectory of the growth envisaged by this plan, and, Below and overleaf are summarised, Þrst, the overall trajectory of the growth envisaged by this plan, and, second, the four phases through second, the four phases through which we consider which we consider a fully operational programme and visitor experience can be built up and maintained. a fully operational programme and visitor experience

can be built up and maintained

Basic Waymarking & Interpretation Richer Storytelling

Stable Funeral Business Radical Funeral Business

Tours & Meet-ups Expanded Programming

Build Local Partnerships Diversify Partnerships

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 55

57 7. 2 7.2Phases Phasing

Initial Moves

PROGRAMME Initial Moves Minimal intervention, re-purposing existing Walking & bicycle tours buildings Open days Minimal intervention, re-purposing existing buildings Efforts focused on improving basic facilities Efforts focused on improving basic facilities (gardens, grounds Forest school parking,(gardens, toilets), grounds making parking, a warmer toilets), welcome, making raising local profile and supportinga warmer welcome, business raising and localcommunity profile and through café Low cost pop-up exhibitions in cottage Low supportingcost pop-up business exhibitions and community supported through by an artist-in-residence café Workshops (painting, photography, drawing) build community and alert Woking’s most avid cultural consumers to changeLow cost at Brookwoodpop-up exhibitions supported by an Talks and lectures Visitorsartist-in-residence mainly local, self-led build community heritage enthusiastsand alert Volunteer gardening Woking’s most avid cultural consumers to change at Brookwood School visits Free café events (e.g. Death Café, Book Club) Visitors mainly local, self-led heritage enthusiasts INTERPRETATION Maps & leaflets with self-guided tours General visits Information boards in café space

31,500 Programme Signage in landscape Foreground CWGC, St. Ed. and ABMC displays 3,450

STAFFING Volunteer coordinator (0.5FT) Year Five Visit Projections (see Outline Business Plan) Programming, Learning & Engagement (1 FT) Year Five Visit Projections (see Business Plan) Community artist-in-residence (1 FT)

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58 7.2 Phasing 7. 2 Phases

Long Term Additions

VisitorLong centre supports Term increased Additions profile and generates buzz PROGRAMME reaching less independently motivated audiences Expanded permanent exhibition allows for richer storytelling As per Initial Moves at increased scale A spaceVisitor from centre which supports to generate increased rental profile income and generates buzz reaching less independently INTERPRETATION Improved facilities and increased capacity for schools and other groupsmotivated to support audiences more ambitious programming As per Initial Moves, plus

Expanded permanent exhibition allows for richer Higher spec and larger permanent exhibition storytelling STAFFING A space from which to generate rental income Volunteer coordinator (0.5FT) Programming, Learning & Engagement (1 FT) Improved facilities and increased capacity for Front of House Manager (1FT) schools and other groups to support more ambitious programming Community artist-in-residence (1FT) General visits

60,400 Programme

3,990

Year Five Visit Projections (see Business Plan) Year Five Visit Projections (see Outline Business Plan)

59

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 57 7.2 Phasing

Full Programme PROGRAMME A significant diversification of Brookwood’s offer to attract diverse As per Long Term Additions, plus audiences from Woking and London HighExpanded quality temporary Programme exhibitions respond to core interpretative Temporary exhibitions themes, adding depth and speaking to new audiences further Small scale, classical open air music afield A summerA significant series diversification of carefully of curated Brookwood’s open-air offer film to screenings Open air cinema buildsattract on diverse CWGC’s audiences successful from trialWoking and London A parallel series of open air classical musical performances adds a INTERPRETATION furtherHigh dimensionquality temporary to the exhibitionsoffer respond to core Newinterpretative programming themes, creates adding new depth opportunities and speaking to advertise; to a As per Long Term Additions, plus regular means of renewing audiences new audiences further afield. Thematic temporary exhibitions Increased space supports higher rental revenues A summer series of carefully curated open-air film Site and context specific film screenings builds on CWGC’s successful trial STAFFING A parallel series of open air classical musical Volunteer coordinator (0.5FT) performances adds a further dimension toPerformance the offer Programming, Learning & Engagement (1 FT) Community artist-in-residence (1FT) New programming creates new opportunities3,200 to advertise;General a regular visits means of renewing audiences Front of House Manager (1 FT)

115,100 Programme Visitor Experience Assistant (1 FT) Increased space supports higher rental revenues 4,365 Curatorial Assistant (0.5FT)

Year Five Visit Projections (see Business Plan) 60

Year Five Visit Projections(see Outline Business Plan)

58 Museum

Introduction Today, it can draw on that heritage to inspire and Powerful new partnerships could have their home The masterplan establishes a framework which could promote dialogue around a new era of much-needed here – from the creative, to academic, from the artistic respond to even more ambitious plans in which, for reforms: addressing the environmental effects of to deep research – as part of a cluster of leading example, the cemetery becomes the setting for a human disposal, continuing funeral poverty in universities pushing the boundaries of research new museum. Perhaps, provocatively, this would be a the twenty-first century, and a trend for social into death, funerary practices, cultural memory, Museum of Death, taking front-on, and as its primary fragmentation and isolation that sees people living and cultural landscapes (Bath, UCL Institute of purpose, a subject which no other museum in Britain and dying ever further afield from friends and Archaeology, Royal Holloway, etc). There will also be has done. family. The graves, the communities and traces a close relationship to The Lightbox and wider cultural of the former London Necropolis Railway speak of programming in the area and sub-region. Death, as such a huge part of life, is something the history of western modernity, including the we need to talk about in new ways and from great transformations of national and international many perspectives. At present there is no one population change. Where and how people have laid key place in Britain that does this. Brookwood their dead at Brookwood tells us something about our Cemetery is at that powerful intersection of life and world today. death, a place of mourning, celebration, memorial, remembrance and reflection. It is one of the most Place of dialogue significant death related locations in Europe - and The site itself has national and global significance. is important on a national and international basis. Based around its rich story, context and the Originally envisioned as a city of the dead, that contemporary relevance of the subject, there is scope legacy remains. Its original vision was ambitious to create a powerful place of dialogue at the heart – the cemetery was created in response to urgent of this special place. A place dedicated to the idea calls for burial reform in the mid nineteenth of society and death, and with it the art, music, century; a response to urban overcrowding and a with space for performance, exhibition, technology democratisation of death to better serve middle and and above all debate. It could be contemporary, working class members of the public. challenging, insightful, a place of dialogue and debate.

BROOKWOOD CEMETERY EXPERIENCE PLAN February 2020 59 But who knows the fate of his bones, or how often he is to be buried? Who hath the oracle of his ashes, or whither they are to be scattered.

Sir Thomas Browne (1658) Urne-Buriall

Allies and Morrison

85 Southwark Street London SE1 0HX telephone +44 (0)20 7921 0100 web alliesandmorrison.com email [email protected]