Visit Quaker Memorial Gardens, Bunhill, London

Quaker Slate Memorial, Bunhill, London

The word 'Bunhill' evolved from 'bonehill' as the area had been used as a burial ground as far back as Saxon times.

There is a nice slate memorial shaped to resemble a burial mound. The memorial is believed to be in the spot where in 1750 the lead coffin of George Fox, founder of the Quaker movement, was found during the removal of a wall. The body was re-interred.

George Fox headstone, Quaker Memorial Gardens

The Quaker burial ground was in use between 1661 and 1855 with an estimated 12,000 Quakers having been buried here in unmarked graves. Quakers until 1845 headstones were considered a vanity.

The site was the first freehold land the Quakers acquired in 1661. There used to be more buildings which formed the Bunhill Memorial Buildings which included an adult school, coffee tavern, school rooms, a medical mission and the first meeting house on the site.

The buildings were bombed in 1941 during the Blitz and all that remains is the caretakers cottage which is still very much in use today.

Famous Quakers: Judi Dench, James Dean, Richard Nixon and John Cadbury.

The surrounding area used to be one of the poorest in London and in spite of recent gentrification, the population remains very mixed. There is a Peabody Estate next door.

The Quaker Memorial Garden has been recently redeveloped to include a public garden, children's playground and ball court.

Guided Walks website

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