Rippleside Cemetery

This large cemetery was proposed in 1884 for the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Margaret's, Barking. The original 12-acre site was purchased by the Barking Parish Burial Board and the Vestry provided £6,000 for laying out the grounds and building a chapel. The C19th Lodge Chapel and the gates and railings were designed by local architect Charles James Dawson, who described the style he adopted as 'characteristic of the historical part of Barking' (quoted in Meller). Dawson designed other buildings in Barking and planned Barking Park (q.v.). He was buried here in 1933. The grounds were well planted, with notable cedars, holly, yew, laurel and bay. The cemetery was opened in 1886, with the first burial taking place in October of that year. It was taken over by the Urban District Council in 1897. The most impressive monuments are near the chapel, and incude a marble triptych to Margaret Gow (d.1929) and family grave of the Kelly family. Six people who died in an explosion on 12 January 1899 at Hewett's works in Barking are buried here. The site was extended at its eastern end in c.1950. Today the cemetery has memorial and lawn-grave sections, dedicated children's area and a memorial garden.

The Cemetery is still open and in use which means that Barking and Dagenham Council have the money to maintain and manage the site. On the day of my visit there were staff in the office and work taking place across the site with contractors brought in to manage the impressive trees as well as groundsmen cutting grass and preparing graves. One of the upsides of visiting on a work day was that I was also able to have a look inside of the chapel which has a complete set of stained glass windows to revival most parish churches. There was also a significant number of visitors of all ages which was a change to some sites I visit and impressive given that it was a hot Friday in July.