Egyptian Avenue - Highgate Cemetery - London
Artizen HDR Lock05
The most imaginative and thrilling structure within Highgate Cemetery is the Egyptian Avenue. The gateway of which is a large Pharoanic arch, flanked either side by two columns with closed lotus buds as capitals. The whole is then guarded by two oblisks, with one still reaching its full heights whilst the other is missing its top half.
The cemetery in its original form — the western part — opened in 1839, part of a plan to provide seven large, modern cemeteries (known as the "Magnificent Seven") around the outside of London. The inner-city cemeteries, mostly the graveyards attached to individual churches, had long been unable to cope with the number of burials and were seen as a hazard to health and an undignified way to treat the dead. The initial design was by architect and entrepreneur Stephen Geary.
Highgate, like the others, soon became a fashionable place for burials and was much admired and visited. The Victorian attitude to death and its presentation led to the creation of a wealth of Gothic tombs and buildings. It occupies a spectacular south-facing hillside site slightly downhill from the top of the hill of Highgate itself, next to Waterlow Park, both of which were part of the former Dartmouth Park which covered the area.
In 1854, the area to the east of the original area across Swains Lane was bought to form the eastern part of the cemetery. This part is still used today for burials, as is the western part.
The cemetery's grounds are full of old-growth trees, shrubbery and wild flowers that are a haven for birds and small animals such as foxes. The Egyptian Avenue and the Circle of Lebanon (topped by a huge Cedar of Lebanon) feature tombs, vaults and winding paths dug into hillsides. For its protection, the oldest section, which holds an impressive collection of Victorian mausoleums and gravestones, plus elaborately carved tombs, allows admission only in tour groups. The newer eastern section, which contains a mix of Victorian and modern statuary, can be toured unescorted.
The tomb of Karl Marx, the Egyptian Avenue and the Columbarium are Grade I listed buildings.
Comments and faves
C€_dric, dechevremont, NearDC, H@ns, and 62 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Cengiz.uskuplu (62 months ago | reply)
Hi,
We are waiting for you and your photo in our group
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Join us and enjoy the sharing!
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oseillo (62 months ago | reply)
The Pritzker Architecture Prize on flickr
Andy McGowan [deleted] (62 months ago | reply)
Great shot
I was reading up about highgate the other day, i want to go and have a look around, did you have any problems getting in and were you allowed to use a tripod?
nick.garrod (62 months ago | reply)
Andy, see detailed reply on Flickrmail, but for others, tripods are not permitted and they are not photographer friendly at the West Cemetery. The East Cemetery is more relaxed.
blamstur (62 months ago | reply)
How beautiful!
The Pritzker Architecture Prize on flickr
NearDC (62 months ago | reply)
very well-captured! Excellent
mtlockca (62 months ago | reply)
It is so cool you get to go to all of these cool places. Great shot.
H@ns (62 months ago | reply)
Indeed very nice!
jade19721 (58 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Graveyard - The Weekly Theme Group, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
What a gorgeous capture! Pleas think about adding this photo to this week;s theme.
Mr. Ducke (58 months ago | reply)
I've seen many photos of the "Egyptian Avenue", but this is the best !
annette62 (58 months ago | reply)
so wanted to get a good photo of this but was so hurried on the tour that really didn't get the shot i wanted - envy!
nick.garrod (58 months ago | reply)
Thank you for the feedback. As I mentioned before, the guides are not photographer friendly and I was 'ticked off' a couple of times for lagging behind.
BCourchesne (58 months ago | reply)
Nice Shot...Very Beautifull
Mad Wraith (46 months ago | reply)
Nice shot!
I have another view: www.flickr.com/photos/mad_wraith/3617367107/
SomeDriftwood (44 months ago | reply)
I'm going to try and check this place out next time I'm in London.
SomeDriftwood (44 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called "Time Passes. Listen. Time Passes.", and we'd love to have this added to the group!
May B Knott (44 months ago | reply)
beautiful find - love being drawn down the path
Time Passes
alisonhulot (44 months ago | reply)
What an incredible place. I love Highgate.
Time Passes
Waterford_Man (44 months ago | reply)
Beautiful Capture !!!
Please add your photo to the group
Paths (Caminhos)
sensaos (43 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Cemeteries of the world, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
net_efekt (42 months ago | reply)
Nice!
Adrian Brittlebank (36 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Magnificent 7 London Cemeteries, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
This photo was invited and added to the Magnificent 7 London Cemeteries group.
LibertineDeSade [deleted] (32 months ago | reply)
I absolutely love this!
melcir.meri (29 months ago | reply)
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AndreaPucci (24 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot! Thank you for inspiration!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LQcm1Ayc8M