A Local Cemetery Historian's Retrospective

I thought that I would depart from my usual pattern of offering historical vignettes of some of the illustrious deceased buried in the two cemeteries and instead present the reader with some of my more memorable personal recollections, out of many, that have charted my time as a member of the Friends group and former Chair. By limning and selecting six discrete memories, drawn from the Foblc website (wonderfully edited by Patrick Napier) I hope to share something of my enduring taphophile passion for the historical richness which the cemeteries offer. But also a helpful timeline of my involvement with the Friends group for whom I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude and dedicate this valedictory post to my colleagues who have shared in this journey.

I have opted to copy into these posts some of the commentary originally offered for ease of convenience and to recognise that my parlous state of health needs some respite, but also for offering a lens into the freshness of the event, rather than a vapid recitation of moments in time sieved from the cemetery back locker

The first of these lasting memories dates from 2010 with the restoration of the grave of the 19th century poet, Ernest Dowson. 

Ernest Dowson Headstone restored

On Monday 2nd August there was a short ceremony at Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery to mark the restoration of Ernest Christopher Dowson's grave on the 143rd anniversary of his birth. The original memorial has been restored as fully as possible and a new stone at the foot of the grave quotes two verses of his poetry from Vitae Summa Brevis. 'They are not long, the days of wine & roses'.

The restoration was paid for by public subscription after a Facebook page was set up in his memory by Philip Walker. Attendees were an eclectic mix of local authors, poets and historians. Father Michael Lovett ( St Mary Magdalen's, Brockley) conducted a Service in the Dissenters Chapel after author Jad Adams (Dowson's Biographer) spoke movingly to the seventy or so present about Dowson's legacy at the graveside. He had earlier spoken on the Radio 4 Today programme together with local poet Katy Evans-Bush.

The music of Delius (to words by Dowson) wafted into the Chapel. Following the service many of those in attendance decamped to the Brockley Jack for an informal reception. Foblc's Mike Guilfoyle regaled those present with Dowson's poem 'Dregs' suitably delivered! Several of those who had made the effort to be present came from overseas (including a family from Italy whose aim is to see Dowson translated into Italian). Also present was an admirable representative of the Aubrey Beardsley Society who had travelled from Brighton dressed in contemporary funeral garb and dispensed shortbread with a Dowsonian brio! The absinthe tipple did attract one or two of the hardier visitors.

Hear the Radio 4 Dowson remembrance   - Was this the first time the Brockley & Ladywell Cemeteries have ever been on national radio?

First to the Corinthians: the story of England goalie Harry Albemarle Swepstone

Having a framed copy of a South London Press article on one's wall at home might not engender a flurry of wonderment. But discovering the grave of an England goalkeeper might tilt the balance is my second shared memory:

Harry Albemarle Swepstone (1859-1907) who was born in Stepney, East London, made his England debut against Scotland in 1880. During this match he was beaten by a 'cannon shot' from the Scottish 'Rooney', Centre Forward George Kerr. Harry had the dubious distinction of conceding 18 goals in six international matches as England goalkeeper between 1880 to 1883. When the famous Corinthian amateur football club was formed in 1882 to improve the flagging fortunes of the England football Team (sound familiar?!) and challenge the then supremacy of the Scottish Football Team, he suggested the name, which was accepted unanimously. The football club later came to be known as the Corinthian-Casuals in 1939, and was based in Tolworth after moving from Crystal Palace.

The world famous Brazilian Corinthian Paulista club founded in 1910 was inspired to adopt the name, following an historic football tour undertaken by the London based club. Real Madrid adopted the Corinthian's white shirts for their iconic strip. The team now play in the Isthmian League Division One South. Harry also played for Pilgrims FC and was an FA Cup winner in 1879/80. A solicitor by profession he practised at Bishopsgate and served on the FA committee in 1883/84. Harry died on the 7th May 1907 and is buried with his wife, Emmie and daughter who pre-deceased him aged just 10 years old. The family grave(which is sadly neglected) lies a few yards from that of the newly restored grave of the poet Ernest Dowson in the Ladywell section of the cemetery.

War poet David Jones commemorated with maroon plaque

Achieving the ambition of securing a maroon plaque for the poet, artist and soldier was one of those momentous occasions when my pride and joy in this collective act of remembrance brought home to me the strength of feeling attached to being a member of the Friends group. It is the third of my six memories.

The campaign to recognise David Jones, Brockley's most illustrious poet, soldier, artist has been spearheaded by the Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries and all the funding to pay for the maroon plaque was sourced from the generous donations of admirers of David Jones with the support of the Homeowners and Lewisham Archives.  The maroon plaque celebrates the achievements of former residents of Lewisham Borough.The unveiling was undertaken by Nicholas Elkin, trustee of the David Jones Society and great nephew of the war poet.

The first full biography of a neglected genius by Thomas Dilworth- (2017)

One worthy quote from the book 'I would like to have done anything as good as David Jones has done’ Dylan Thomas

On the 2nd December at 67 Arabin Road, SE4 there was an unveiling of a maroon plaque to commemorate the Great War poet, soldier and artist David Jones (1895-1974), who is buried in Ladywell Cemetery. Born in Brockley in 1895 he served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers during the Great War, having interrupted his studies at Camberwell Art School, and was wounded at the Battle of Mametz Wood during the Somme Offensive in July 1916. Of all the Great War poets he served the longest on the Western Front and his superb poetic memoir 'In Parenthesis' published in 1937 won the prestigious literary award The Hawthornden Prize and was described by writer T.S. Eliot as a 'work of genius'.  A convert to Catholicism, he spent time with the sculptor and artist Eric Gill and his calligraphy and brilliant artistic outpourings were compared by the art historian Kenneth Clark to those of the artist William Blake. He suffered greatly from the trauma of the trenches which resulted in nervous breakdowns and much of his artistic imagery is defined by these formative experiences.  Following the publication of his second long poem 'The Anathemata' in 1952 his critical acclaim as a poet and artist merited the accolade from Poet WH Auden as' probably the finest long poem written in English this century'. David Jones died in Harrow in 1974 and was buried in the family grave in Ladywell cemetery.  On November 11th 1985  the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes unveiled a memorial stone in Poets Corner Westminster Abbey to sixteen Great War poets including David Jones.

Kent and England cricketer Edgar 'Ned' Willsher

Serendipity and cemetery research seem at times to be kindly aligned, Certainly with the fourth inclusion this was very much the case.

For some years now one of the unrealised ambitions of the more active headstone hunters of the friends group, has been to locate the final resting place of the Kent and England cricketer Edgar 'Ned ' Willsher (1828-1885) who was the catalyst for the shift from round arm to overarm bowling. That ambition was finally realised recently when working with a black and white photograph of the stump of the Willsher headstone in Ladywell cemetery (featured in Giles Phillips 2012 biography on Edgar Willsher, 'The Lion of Kent') three members of the friends group experienced that jubilant eureka moment, having lighted on the remnants of the family grave close to one of the inner pathways nor far from the Ladywell chapel.

Born in Rolvenden, Kent in 1828 into a family with cricketing associations , Edgar whose fast left -handed bowling was to be his trademark, made his debut for Kent in 1850 at the Kennington Oval against Surrey. By 1860 his impressive wicket tally meant that he was now established as the key bowler for Kent,including securing a career best innings figure of 8/16 as well as scoring a maiden half-century with the bat.

Although by the 1860's round arm had replaced had replaced underarm as the standard method of bowling, overarm was still illegal.But in August, 1862 at the Oval, Edgar became the first cricketer to be no balled for bowling overarm. Playing for an England X1 against Surrey he was called no less than six times by the umpire , John Lillywhite ( of the famed sports outfitters family) for delivering the ball with his hand above his shoulder. Edgar then left the field with eight of his team mates and the game was then abandoned for the rest of the day. When the game was resumed (with Lillywhite being replaced as umpire ) he recorded 6 wickets for 49. As a result of the game, cricketing law was changed and from the beginning of the 1864 season, overarm bowling was legalised.

Edgar played first class cricket for Kent from 1850 to 1875 and took over 1,300 first class wickets ( in spite of having only one lung!) He led a tour of Canada and the USA in 1868 ( which included games of baseball ) and after retiring from cricket he became an umpire. Edgar played alongside the legendary W G Grace in his final invitation game.

The renowned bowler , known as the 'Lion of Kent' died in Lewisham in 1885, now forever famed in the annals of cricketing history for his bold move in walking off the field in 1862 to draw attention to the growing clamour to introduce overarm bowling.

Author with cemetery luminary Mick Martin(green top)

Passchendaele - Second Lieutenant Hugh Gordon Langton

The penultimate post has its own special poignancy as it involved members of the friends group visiting the town of Ypres, Belgium in 2017 to mark the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele. The story is told here:

One of many iconic images of the Passchendaele battlefield in 1917.-

Passchendaele is a small village five miles north-east of Ypres (Belgium) and is the name by which the final stages of the Third Battle of Ypres is better known. Along with the Somme, it has come to symbolise the Great War for many. The Third battle of Ypres was preceded by the attack on Messines ridge in June 1917. The main battle commenced on the 31st of July 1917, and stretched on until November the 10th, 1917. The final phase, the advance on Passchendaele, took place in October and November, the aim being to take the strategically important high ground of the Passchendaele ridge. The first battle of Passchendaele, on the 12th October, failed to take the village, and the second battle of Passchendaele lasted from the 26th of October until the 10th of November. After over three months, with 325,000 Allied and 260,000 German casualties the result was little more than to expand the ground covered by the Ypres salient and the controversy over the conduct of the Battle remains to this day.

Headstone of Second Lieutenant Hugh Gordon Langton -Poelcapelle British cemetery,  West Flanders  Belgium

On Sunday, November 5th, 2017 at Poelcapelle CWGC Cemetery nr Ypres , Belgium, there was a ‘special centennial memorial’ for Second Lieutenant Hugh Gordon Langton, (4th Battalion-London Regiment) Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action on October 26th, 1917, during the ‘Battle of Passchendale’. - Eight members of the Friends group attended as part of a British delegation at the kind invitation of Gil Bossuyt ( Local First World War guide). Also in attendance playing the moving music for the tribute were 45 musicians of the local Flemish Deerlijk Brass Band The event was recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ( see link below) and in a welcome break in the weather during a sunlit interlude a poppy wreath was laid at the headstone.

Hugh Gordon Langton was a very promising violinist, who was taught by the most prominent music teachers from that time from across Europe. The grave of Hugh Gordon Langton is the only one of all Commonwealth graves and memorials (there are more than a million worldwide) which has musical notes inscribed as an epitaph. However a recent tonal revision of the musical notation -the piece was originally thought to have been from ' After the Ball is over' a popular Tin Pan Alley song from 1891 has led to some doubts by music scholars as the notes would suggest a different composition?

As part of the planned visit the Friends group were able to benefit from an excellent guided walk from Gil over parts of the former Battlefield , to be present at the playing of the last post at the Menin gate, Ypres and to enjoy the warm hospitality offered after the Sunday tribute by sharing in a memorable meal with Gil and members of the band in nearby Zonnebeke before returning home.

The family grave lies in Brockley cemetery.

Jane Clouson book launch

The final memory dates to a book launch in the Chapel at Ladywell cemetery in 2016.

Jane Clouson's tragic story and that of the controversial criminal trial of the man accused of her murder was vividly recounted at the launch in the critically acclaimed book Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane by US author and academic Paul Thomas Murphy, nominated for an Edgar award for best crime Non-fiction in 2017. He had travelled from his home in Colorado(USA) to present his findings and the enraptured audience greatly appreciated his presentation after four years of research.

Jane Clouson is also remembered in a 2019 podcast – London Epitaphs 1. narrated by Mike Guilfoyle (produced by Tempest Productions).

An article in the South London press in 2021 by Mike can be viewed here : https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/jane-was-16-pregnant-and-brutally-murdered/

Paul Murphy's latest book is on the 19c polymath John Ruskin who was a close friend of Sir John and Lady Simon  they are buried in Ladywell cemetery.

The brutal murder of Jane Clouson in Eltham, South London in 1871 became a press sensation, with the police investigation and the trial keeping the public gripped with the accused's acquittal (largely due to legal rulings disallowing key evidence) causing outrage. This overdue re-examination of the case and the subsequent libel trials fought by the prime suspect reviews the evidence in the light of 21st-century procedure and finally identifies the culprit of this long-unsolved killing!

I hope this ready made assemblage of highlighted memories offers the reader some added interest in returning to past posts that have galvanised and enthralled me over the years I have been a member of the Friends of Brockley & Ladywell cemeteries.

Readers can also uncover some of the many other luminaries buried here by accessing my four history guides and twelve narrated podcasts (the latter free to download) flagged up on the sidebar of the Friends group website: https://www.foblc.org.uk/

Mention should also be made of the welcome publication of the latest edition of Hugh Meller and Brian Parsons Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer to London Cemeteries (including an expanded section on Brockley & Ladywell cemeteries) and now available to buy from stockists.

150th anniversary of Jane Clouson's death

On the 150th anniversary of Jane Clouson's death, FOBLC's Mike Guilfoyle has written for the South London Press (p32) about her tragic death which became a cause celebre of Victorian London.

One of the most famous and most visited graves in the Brockley & Ladywell Cemeteries, Jane Clouson's unsolved murder was recounted in this moving account by her surviving cousin and was also the subject of this London Epitaphs podcast by Mike Guilfoyle 

South London Press 23rd April 2021

For more, read Paul Thomas Murphy's book 'Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane: A True Story of Victorian Law and Disorder: The Unsolved Murder That Shocked Victorian England'

FOBLC guided visit to Jane Clouson's memorial 

Jane Clouson's tragic story is the subject of this new podcast episode narrated by Mike Guilfoyle

In this podcast FOBLC historian Mike Guilfoyle tells the extraordinary story of Jane Clouson the 17 year old maid buried in the Brockley & Ladywell Cemeteries, whose murder became a legal cause celebre following the controversial acquittal of the accused, the wealthy Victorian gentleman Edmund Pook. This recording was produced by Mark Lingwood, Tempest Productions.

For the full story read Paul Thomas Murphy's book 'Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane: A True Story of Victorian Law and Disorder: The Unsolved Murder That Shocked Victorian England'

Jane Clouson Book Reading by Paul Thomas Murphy

Paul Thomas Murphy's new book about the extraordinary murder of 

Jane Clouson  conclusively identifies the killer’s true identity.

The FOBLC is proud to be hosting a reading of a new book about Jane Clouson, 'Pretty Jane and the Viper of Kidbrooke Lane' on Saturday 16th July from 2.30pm – 4pm at the Chapel in Ladywell Cemetery.

Author Paul Thomas Murphy, who also wrote the excellent Shooting Victoria,  has extensively researched the death of Jane Clouson and has conclusively identified the killer's true identity.  Her murder led to widespread unrest, exacerbated by the fact that the main suspect was acquitted.  When she was buried in the Deptford (now Brockley) Cemetery, thousands followed her cortege; public subscription paid for the striking monument.

Paul Murphy has published his findings in this new book, and will be reading extracts. Attendees will also be able to visit the grave.  Copies of the book will be available at the special price of £15 (cash only)  Plus local composer and musician Hugh Shrapnel will play a specially composed piece in memory of Jane Clouson

Jane Clouson memorial

Jeff Hart led a well attended tour of the cemeteries last Saturday. One of the highlights of any visit is the Jane Clouson memorial.

The true story of Jane Clouson, by her cousin

One of the most interesting graves in the Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries is that of Jane Clouson, a 17 year old girl whose murder in 1871 aroused great controversy in Victorian London.

The FOBLC has been contacted by her surviving cousin John Hancock, who has written this moving account of her tragic tale.

The Eltham Murder 1871

Jane Maria Clouson, daughter of James and Jane Clouson (formerly Hancock) was born in April 1854 in Deptford. She had one older sister called Sarah who died of consumption in 1863 and one younger sister called Maria. Jane’s mother died when she was 13.

At the age of 14, Jane began working as a servant/maid for Ebenezer Pook, who owned a printing business with connections to The Times of London. Pook had a number of children, one being only 3 years older than Jane. His name was Edmund Walter Pook. He said that he suffered from ‘fits’ and could not be left alone. He also claimed to be a music hall entertainer.

At some point Edmund began having a secret affair with Jane.

Early in 1871, probably early April, Jane was dismissed from the service of the Pook family, for reasons of being lazy and generally unpleasant. This would have been a shock to anyone who knew Jane because she had a reputation for being quite the opposite.

Jane was dismissed from service because Edmunds parents had found out about the affair, and, as one of Ebenezer’s other children had already ‘married below his station’ it would not have been fitting for another child to be seen in the same position.

Jane had gone to live with her Aunt Elizabeth Trott (formerly Hancock) and her daughter Charlotte.

Letters were sent back and forth between Jane and Edmund. In one of these letters Jane told Edmund she was pregnant with his child. Unfortunately, neither Jane nor Edmund kept the letters.

Edmund arranged to meet Jane near Blackheath. Jane had conversations with her Aunt and Cousin in which she said that Edmund was going to whisk her away and make an honest woman of her.

On April 25^th 1871 Jane was discovered by a policeman, on Kidbrooke Lane, near-death; having been severely beaten. She managed to say the words “Edmund Pook” and “Oh let me die” before passing out. She was rushed to Guy’s Hospital but never regained consciousness.

Jane died on April 30^th, two days after her 17^th birthday.

A hammer was found, covered in blood about 1 mile from where Jane was found, and the shop that sold the hammer was quickly discovered with the shop owner identifying Pook as the man who had purchased it.

A man matching Pook’s description was seen fleeing Kidbrooke Lane. Police interviewed Edmund, who simply stated he was somewhere else and offered the Police the name of a person but the Police declined his offer. He then stated he wasn’t with anyone else, but he was running home, alone, because he felt a fit coming on. When asked about the clothing he wore on the night, it matched the description. The blood on the clothes was ruled out as being from biting his tongue during the fit. It did seem like a lot of blood for a tongue bite.

The case went to coroner’s trial first, and Edmund was found guilty of the wilful murder of Jane. This was then rushed through to the Central Criminal Court at The Old Bailey.

What followed was a farce. First, the judge ordered that Jane’s last words, in which she identified Pook, were inadmissible as they were hearsay. Secondly, the judge chastised the police, saying that they were after a quick arrest and hounded Pook with no real evidence.

Pook was found not guilty.

Public unrest followed. It was obvious to most people at the time that class was what helped Pook get off.

A pamphlet was written which identified Pook as the killer. Edmund hired one Henry Pook, apparently no relation to him, to prosecute for slander.

This was a bad move on Edmund’s part because during the civil trial he had no choice but to answer questions that in the criminal trial were not allowed. Everything pointed to him being the murderer. Nevertheless Pook was awarded £50 in damages.

A committee was formed; part of their role was to raise the money to pay Edmund Pook the £50.

The funeral was a huge event. The road between Elizabeth Trott’s house in Deptford and the cemetery was lined with thousands of people. So many, that the police came out in force to control the crowds. Jane’s body was transferred by horse-drawn carriage. Many people threw flowers onto the carriage and in the path of the horses.

Unusually, the pall bearers were all woman dressed in maids uniforms. Jane was laid to rest on a plot of land not far from the place where her mother and older sister lie. This land was given by the local council.

The committee formed to raise the money for damages also raised money to have a statue erected on her grave in Jane’s memory.

Written by John Hancock

(Jane Clouson’s 1^st Cousin, 4x removed)Newspaper illustrations of Jane Clouson murder from The Times of London archive