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History and Notable Burials
Probably the most interesting (albeit gruesome) piece of history in Brockley Cemetery is a monument erected to the memory of Jane Clouson.
The monument was paid for by public money and stands alone amongst the trees - a praying child sits on top of a pillar.
Below the figure is an inscription detailing the horrific events surrounding her brutal murder on April 25th, 1871:
"A motherless girl who was murdered in Kidbrooke Lane Eltham age 17 in 1871. Her last words were, "Oh, let me die". "
The Scottish Times
News and intelligence from Scotland, and around the globe. Vol. II–No. 38.] Edinburgh, October 11, 1871. Price 3d.
[from Northstar Creative.co.uk]
GREENWICH MURDERER ACQUITTED. YESTERDAY, the Pook family of Greenwich, London, were forced to leave their family home, so strong was the feeling of the local community against them – the animosity having arisen from Mr E. Pooks recent acquittal at his trial, for the murder of Miss J. Clouson.
For anyone who has not been following the case, the public anger and resentment is quite understandable when one considers the undisputed evidence, in that: Jane Clouson was 17 year old when she gained employment at the Pook’s residence, that 3 years later Mr E. Pooks overcame her virtue, and that earlier this year the unfortunate girl found herself pregnant.
It was also revealed from testimonies that Miss J. Clouson had been led to believe Mr E. Pooks was going to make a respectable woman of her and, on the evening of her demise, she was going to meet him.
What follows next is a clear and exact series of events, which only a judge – with the mighty burden of the Law weighing down on his shoulders – could find circumstantial.
Sometime later on that fateful evening, a Constable discovered Jane Clouson in a wretched condition, crawling on Kidbrooke Lane with her head battered so severely, that one eye was hanging from its socket. She never fully regained consciousness, and died later in Guy’s Hospital.
Despite the facts that the accused was seen running from the lane, and that the murder weapon found at the scene – a hammer – had been sold to him by a local shopkeeper some days earlier, and that his trousers were covered in blood and mud : there still remained a “reasonable doubt”.
Mr Pooks claimed that he had spent the entire evening, awaiting with amorous intent, outside another ladies’ house in Greenwich – and this claim, much against everyone’s wishes, could not be disproved.
Notable burials:
Sir William Eames (1821-1897) Marine engineer
Sir John Gilbert (1817 - 1897) Illustrator, drawing for the 'Illustrated London News' and designed a cover for 'Punch'
Sir George Grove (1820 - 1900) First director of the Royal College of Music in 1882 - author of 'Dictionary of Music and Musicians)
Sir William Hardy (1807 - 1887) Deputy Keeper of Public Records 1878 - 1886
Sir Alexander Nisbet (1812 - 1892) Inspector General of the Royal Navy and honorary physician to the Queen
William Stephens (1817 - 1871) Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England
[information from London Cemeteries - Hugh Mellor]
Taken from London Necropolis
2 comments:
The ‘nameless Lady’ who was so verciferous in her www.brockley.com blog against our FOBLC (Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery) management of saplings during a foblc workday one Sunday of the 17 Feb 2008 has overreacted, misjudged, misinterpreted her witnessing of a bunch of conservator enthusiasts ‘attacking her wildlife reserve of 14 years’.
Of course we knew what we were cutting out. We want to encourage and enhance the varied nature of the habitats ‘the Lady’ thought us vandalising. –
Does the lady not agree that sycamore is an undesirable invasive opportunist that within ‘her grassland’ if left to thrive would overrun the acid and amenity swarded aspect that she so eloquently described. “Yes” we must manage the grassland areas as we might do differently to ‘the woodland’. Without ready, willing and able hands by likes of a volunteer group of foblc’s giving up their Sundays, grassy knolls and florid verges would become entire subconscious forest. To maintain that prominence of openness upon which particular flora may bloom and over which butterflies amenable to knotweeds and vetches and sedums and trefoils and much besides may meander the woodsman must on a propitious day grind his axe and sharpen his scythe to chop and cut and adz and ‘swish away the woodpeckers or woodlouses eye’ which gazes ravenously on an encroaching promise of even more overcovering woodland that would inundate his brother and sister creature whose preferrence is for more open sky.
We so agree with her (the nameless lady’s) observation for Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery management. That is why sycamore and turkey oak and other woody encroachers upon wild grassy areas must be discouraged.
A pity ‘She’ did not leave a name or right of reply on her www.brockley.com.
Please note spelling errors to "Nameless Lady" comment above:
Re: 'Vociferous', 'Preference' and 'Adze. There was no excuse that I was unable to locate 'spellcheck' on my new laptop when first writing the peace (I meen 'piece') Now; though; I'm always wary of the American spelling given no matter how much one 'labors' to achieve so-called correct spelling.
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