Of London’s “Magnificent Seven” Cemeteries, Brompton is the rebellious little sister. In the 1970s and 1980s, the Cemetery connected the Leather bars of Earls Court in the North with Chelsea’s counterculture in the South. Brompton’s “outlaw spirit” has been tamed by the recent restoration project, but she remains full of wildness.

This piece uncovers the hidden histories of Londoners who walk, love and dream amid the dead. People flutter from one state of being into another, like the butterflies and the broken angels around them.

The sound design is richly layered with field recordings captured on site, and music by artists who have performed in the Cemetery chapel.

Voices:
Sarah Cheesbrough: environmentalist and photographer
Shirley Wiggins: diversity coach and campaigner
Sasha de Suinn / Lady Sasha: performer and writer
Duggie Fields: style icon and painter
John Lenihan: gentle Fulham local who worked in the print
Daphne: a squirrel with no ears
Joe Mellon: psychonaut and consciousness explorer

Starting point: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Rd, London, SW5 9JE, UK

Enter through the North Gate (Old Brompton Road) and gradually drift towards the South Gate. Once you have found the North Gate, you can put your mobile device away and enjoy listening and exploring. You choose your own path through the Cemetery.

Please follow the Central Avenue or the many well-marked paths for your safety.
Almost all walking routes through the Cemetery are wheelchair accessible, except for the outermost paths, which have a few steps.

You can also enjoy Brompton Cemetery Sound and Stories from the comfort of home.