Karl Marx’s London cemetery seeks to resolve its serious problem

London’s most famous cemetery, final resting place of revolutionary socialist Karl Marx seeks new life by salvaging long-abandoned graves so they can be sold for new burials.

Victorian-era Highgate Cemetery, filled with ivy-covered graves and ornate stone monuments, spans 15 acres in north London and isIt is a popular attraction, especially with left-wing visitors. who wish to pay their respects at Marx’s grave.

In a practice the father of communism may not approve of, the cemetery charges an entrance fee because unlike most other cemeteries, it is not funded by a local authority. But that revenue alone isn’t enough, and the cemetery hopes the additional burial capacity will generate the money it needs to continue operating.

“This is the biggest step the cemetery has ever taken towards a sustainable path. said Ian Dungavell, chief executive of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust, which operates the site.

In many cases, the so-called renovation of tombs involves lifting and reburying previous remains at a greater depth to allow a second burial.

This It was widely practiced in the cemeteries of medieval England. and this is a common practice elsewhere in Europe, but today ancient tombs are rarely reused in Britain. Around 80% of Britons now choose to be cremated when they die.

Highgate, home to more than 53,000 graves, including those of singer George Michael and writer Douglas Adams, has reserved some 460 initial graves that have not been used for 75 years or more.

The cemetery published a notice last week on the front page of the Times newspaper, give owners or family members six months to raise objections.

Given that a burial plot costs between 5,000 and 25,000 pounds ($6,300 and $31,700) The grave renovation project, authorized by the Highgate Cemetery Act 2022, is vitally important, Dungavell said.

“Without this, the real danger is that would have become a spooky old cemetery of limited interest to anyone “.