A pair of ornate 19th-century iron gates lost for decades from Highgate Cemetery have been rediscovered by chance by the graveyard’s chief executive.
The rusted doors, pictured left, were found in the undercroft of another mausoleum at the cemetery off Swain’s Lane in Highgate by Ian Dungavell.
Dr Dungavell, who runs Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, now wants to restore the gates and return them to their rightful place at the Greatorex Mausoleum in the Cuttings Catacombs.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “The shock of the recognition, that I recognised the design of these gates, was the best feeling.”
The gates belong to the mausoleum of London merchant Jeremiah Greatorex, who died in 1877.
The cemetery is also celebrating that its first new mausoleum for 100 years won planning permission from Camden Council last week.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here