In the early 1900s Streatham began its transformation from a quiet village into a bustling suburb. The area became attractive to wealthy residents who wanted to be close to London, and rows of Victorian villas sprang up. To serve the needs of this growing population Streatham Park Cemetery opened on Rowan Road in 1908.
In the early part of the 20th century it is estimated that 20 per cent of South London’s burials took place in the cemetery and records show that by 1917 over 30,000 burials had occurred there.
The cemetery now covers 63 acres and has a large selection of above-ground burial options such as mausoleums, vaults and wall interments.
The cemetery contains Commonwealth war graves of both World Wars, and also a Screen Wall Memorial which commemorates service casualties of these wars buried in this cemetery in graves which could not be marked by headstones. A wing has been added to this memorial on which are carved the names of those who died during the Second World War who were accorded the last rite of cremation at the South London Crematorium, which is situated within the cemetery.
Famous names to have been buried in the cemetery include the singer Dorothy Squires, the musician Desmond Decker and comedians Willy Hay and Tom Costello.
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Once home to one fifth of London’s dead
