5 of my fave ‘hidden gem’ graveyards to visit during Halloween season
You didn’t think I’d let Halloween pass without a blog entry, did you? As you’ve probably guessed, my Memento Mori jewellery is inspired by the beautiful and macabre details I find in graveyards and other sacred, ancient spaces. From my Inscription Collection, inspired by the eternal epitaphs on old tombstones, to my ossuary-inspired Bone Collection. There's nothing like the peace and beauty of a graveyard.
Now that October has descended, I thought I’d write out a list of all the graveyards that have really stuck in my head over the years. It’s a personal list, so most of these are pretty small compared to the sprawl of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ Victorian Gothic garden cemeteries. Hence the tentative title, ‘hidden gems’!
If you want somewhere peaceful to take a chilly autumn walk, an appropriately spooky spot to spread a blanket and read ghost stories, or just want to experience October in the arms of hallowed ground, please give one of these a visit.
Redland Church – Bristol
Redland is a Georgian church with a stunning octagonal leaded cupola roof that can be seen for miles around. I visited the church green loads during lockdown, so it holds a special place in my heart even though the gates were locked and the graveyard was out of reach. I used to glimpse the winged angel statues peering over the wall. It seemed so beautiful and interesting, even from outside the gates.
I finally got the chance to enter the graveyard recently and it was glorious — everything I'd imagined during those lockdown walks. It's small but perfectly formed, with dramatic gravestones around the edges of the walled garden.
The Redland Church graveyard is embellished with some of my favourite Memento Mori motifs and symbols; angels with outstretched wings and rose-adorned crosses. Although the main path was closed off during my visit, the rest of the garden had really peaceful vibes. I love to make this quaint garden a pitstop on my walk around the Downs for a perfect autumnal nature stroll, right in the heart of the city.
St Issui's churchyard – Patrishow, Wales
St Issui is a teeny tiny mediaeval church nestled in the hills of the Brecon Beacons. I visited it while on a bike ride on holiday and was blown away by how small and ancient it was — we had to duck down to get in through the door. There was only enough room for about 20 people in a congregation, but the main feature of the interior for me was the incredible painting of Death. This Memento Mori symbol was painted there to remind worshippers of their limited time on earth, even for those that couldn’t read.
St Issui's graveyard is equally quaint but has the most incredible views out over the rolling green hills of the Brecon Beacons National Park. It has ancient gravestones, and if you look carefully, you'll find members of the same few families buried close to each other over the years. The sky was dark and moody on the day we visited, so the atmosphere felt super spooky.
Kilmarie Cemetery – Isle of Skye, Scotland
I discovered this cemetery after a long, wet walk across the hills and around to a deserted beach. It’s tucked behind a tumbledown wall and ensconced in the forest, so it feels like a true hidden gem.
Kilmarie Cemetery has a small graveyard for the one family in the area. It’s home to loads of great headstone carvings and was the main inspiration behind the idea to use inscriptions in my jewellery.
Shop the Inscription Collection
Church of St Thomas – Lymington, Dorset
St Thomas Church has a large, immaculate graveyard, especially compared to some of the others on this list! The tombstone inscriptions and beautiful carvings are what made this graveyard truly stand out for me.
I visited with friends on a blissfully sunny day and spent ages wandering around and reading the inscriptions. Some slabs combined different carvings and fonts into one design.
What's lovely about St Thomas is how clear some slabs are. Older gravestones can lose their definition, especially when they're exposed to the elements over time. If you love taking tombstone rubbings, this is a great cemetery for it!
St Nicholas Church – New Romney, Kent
This part of Kent is super interesting because it used to be by the sea, but a fierce storm in 1287 changed the coastline, so all the historic port towns are now landlocked! St Nicholas Church is a relic of this time — it still has a mooring ring on the exterior to help secure boats, but now it's a mile from the coast.
The gravestones at St Nicholas have slight pirate vibes, and loads of seamen are buried there. You’ll find skulls aplenty on the gravestones, and I spent ages wandering around trying to capture them in pictures.
I’d also like to give a special shout-out to St Thomas Becket Church in nearby Fairfield. It doesn't have a graveyard, but it’s suuuuper creepy! The church stands alone on the marshlands and has a very dark atmosphere, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit on a grey, dreary day like I did.
Let me know if you visit any of these stunning sacred spaces — I’d love to hear what you think. If you happen to find yourself drawn to a particular motif or inscription, treat yourself to a similar jewel from my collection or get in touch to commission something of your very own. Happy Halloween!