HISTORY ROUTE

1John Travers Cornwell
Born in Leyton, London 8th January 1900. John left school in 1913 and he joined the Royal Navy in 1915. By 1916 he was serving on HMS Chester and the boat joined the fleet at Scapa Flow ready for one of the biggest naval battles of the First World War. It was known as the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 - John heroically manned one of the main guns during the conflict in order to protect his comrades. He was mortally wounded and died from his wounds on 2nd June having been transported to hospital in Grimsby. He was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously and became the youngest recipient of this honour. He was buried at Manor Park Cemetery with full military honours and feted as a national hero.

2John Clinton
On July 16 1894 John Clinton became a hero, at the age of 10 years for saving another younger child who fell into the River Thames at London Bridge pier. John dived into the water and brought the other youngster back to the pier safely. Tragedy struck when an exhausted John then fell back into the river and was carried away by the tide. No one was able to reach the young lad due to the fast tidal flow and his small body was later found down river

3Mary Orchard
For 40 years Mary was nanny to the children of Princess Alice (Daughter of Queen Victoria) who had married the Grand Duke of Hesse. The children were Victoria, Princess Louis of Battenberg, Elizabeth, Grand Duchess of Sergius of Russia, Irene, Princess Henry of Prussia, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Alix, Empress of Russia. They referred to Mary as “Orchie”. Every year the whole family would come to England to visit their grandmother Queen Victoria, who was recognised as a devoted Grandmother. During her years of service Mary lived in Hesse and then in Russia when Alix married the Tsar Nicholas 11. Having devoted her life to one family and tutored them in so many English ways Mary died at the age of 76 years old in 1906. Sadly, in later years Alix and Nicholas were part of the family group murdered in the 1918 Russian Revolution by the Bolsheviks. Had she been alive Mary would have been part of that massacre

4William Chandler
William Chandler was born in 1880 in Hoxton. He was an astute business professional and bookmaker who started his career working for White City Greyhounds at White City Stadium. He became prosperous and in 1933 was responsible for the construction and opening of the Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium. Opened at a time when Economic Depression loomed and a less expensive alternative to horseracing was required for the working class gambler. The Stadium thrived and was also able to offer Motor Cycle Speedway as an alternative entertainment.
William was blessed with 8 children. His sons Charles and Percy ran the stadium after his death in 1946. Today his grandson continues in the bookmaking business trading under the name of BetVictor

5William Tom Ecclestone
William Ecclestone was born in 1862 and grew to become known as the King’s second heaviest subject - weighing in at 38 stone. On the death of a gentleman who had weighed 46 stone William gained top position as The King’s Heaviest Subject. In his prime he boasted a 61inch waist while standing 5 foot 9 inches. His nickname was “Jolly Jumbo”. He was initially a builder but then progressed to being a publican tending to the Coach and Horses in Stonebridge, The Canterbury Arms in Kilburn and the Chequers in Alperton. William was very active in the world of boxing and trained world class fighters. He looked after visiting American fighters like Jack Johnson the first black world heavyweight champion as well as Tommy Burns from Canada, the best heavyweight never to win the world championship.
In 1915 the funeral of William Ecclestone saw his enormous frame being brought to Manor Park Cemetery by motorcar from Brighton. Ten pall bearers struggled with his coffin to the graveside and eventually he was laid to rest aged 53. His mourners consisted of a vast cross section of society including publicans, billiard players, bookmakers, pugilists and horse racers. While ladies were dressed in all their finery, it was also noted, by newspapers, that a rougher and more menacing section of the community stood on the outer areas of the gathering. William left a widow Anne, who later remarried, however on her own death in 1955, she wished to be reunited with William.

6Joyce & Ronald McQueen
Were the parents of celebrated fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Joyce was particularly close to her son and seen as a great support to him during his rise to fame. Alexander was devasted by the death of Joyce and ultimately took his own life in his grief. He commissioned the guardian angel to watch over his parents. It was designed by his nephew Gary James McQueen and sculpted by Andrew Tanser, who also created the memorial stone for Alexander McQueen whose ashes were scattered in the Isle of Skye.

7Chapel Buildings
The original chapels were built in 1877 along with the front gates and the Lodge House. They are recognised as fine examples of Victorian elegance. Sadly during the Second World War the Chapel Buildings were hit by Luftwaffe bombs on 23rd July 1944 leaving only the tower standing. A fine testament to the quality of the Victorian builders. Today we see the rebuilt chapels, around the old tower. This work was completed in November 1955 with the introduction of Cremation facilities. The incorporation of a Waiting Room facility, as an extension was completed in 1968.

8Susan Hibberd Flower Court
Susan Hibberd lived in Essex and so loved the leafy grounds of Manor Park Cemetery, that she left a small legacy for the company in her will. To commemorate this gift and the life of Susan Hibberd, Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium commissioned, in 2013, the design and creation of the Flower Court so that her memory will live forever and mourners will be able to enjoy presentations of floral tributes for their loved ones.

9Pavilion
Designed and built in 1968 to offer a quiet place of reflection and a location for memorial plaques of the departed.

10War Memorial
Designed and erected after the Second World War to honour those local residents who were lost in the three armed services during the conflicts of 1914-18 and 1939-45.

11William Nesbitt
On March 25 1875 William Nesbitt became the first interment of Manor Park Cemetery and Crematorium. He was only 19 years of age.

12Military War Graves
This section comprises of the graves of local residents who lost their lives during the Second World War while serving their country in the armed forces of the army, navy and air force. The area is tended by the Imperial War Graves Commission who look after British war graves all over the world.

13Alexander Lambert
Alexander Lambert was born in 1837 and died in 1892. He was recognised as being one of the first professional industrial divers working for Siebe Gorman & Co of London. In 1873 construction work commenced on the River Severn Tunnel from England to Wales. Lambert was contracted as a diver on this project which was fraught with problems concerning the rise and flow of the tidal waters. For solving one particular problem in 1880, Lambert, a man of incredible strength and courage used an experimental helmet “rebreather” system that had been developed by Henry Fleuss. This was the first time such a system had been successfully used and this paved the way for present day dive apparatus. Lambert became a reknowned figure in the world of industrial diving. Even to the point that he was shipped out to the Canary Islands in 1885 to retrieve sunken treasure aboard the sunken vessel Alfonso XII.

14Bethnal Green Tube Disaster
This wall commemorates the tragedy that occurred at 8.15 March 3rd 1943. While under threat of a Luftwaffe bombing raid the inhabitants of Bethnal Green were seeking shelter in the tunnels of the London Underground. While descending the steps a woman and her child fell over causing an avalanche of bodies to fall to the bottom of the stairs. It is reported that 300 people fell of which 173 persons were crushed to death. Many of the deceased were laid to rest in Manor Park Cemetery. Ironically only one bomb fell on the area during this raid.

15Sarah Dearman
While working at the Bryant and May match factory in Bow, Sarah Dearman (nee Chapman) was the leader in the successful Matchgirls Strike in 1888. The main aim of the strike was to protect women and teenage girls from the 14 hour days and terrible conditions they suffered in the industrial workplace. It was also common for them to be subjected to low pay and a system of punitive fines for not meeting production schedules. In particular workers at Bryant and May were also known to suffer from “phossy jaw” or phosphorus necrosis derived from working with toxic white phosphorus in the manufacture of matchsticks. One of the results of the strike was the forming of a Union to protect the rights of women. Sarah Chapman, as she was then, helped champion this cause and was elected President of the new Union and went on to represent them at National and International level at the TUC. She was buried at Manor Park on 3rd December 1945.

16Annie Chapman
On 8th September 1888 Annie Chapman became the second victim of Jack the Ripper - the unidentified mass murderer who stalked the streets of East London, killing and mutilating ladies. Annie was 48 years old and her savaged body was found at 6.00am in the backyard of 29 Hanbury Street. Her funeral was held at Manor Park Cemetery on 14th September amid much secrecy so as not to attract public interest and hysteria. It was the wish of her family that she be buried at Manor Park Cemetery.

17Civilian War Memorial
This large, elongated tomb contains the remains of 57 persons killed during a Luftwaffe Bombing raid during the second world war.

18Columbarium
This structure was originally constructed in 1970’s to offer a location for cremated ashes. The structure was further developed in 2006 to include seating and soft overhanging foliage and plantings in order to create a place of meditation where the bereaved could enjoy memories of their loved ones.

19Steve Marsh
Steve Marsh was a local resident of Forest Gate and an engineer by trade. He died in 2009 while in his sleep at the age of 51. Steve’s love of motor cars, in particular his BMW M3 was known by all his friends and family. In fact his nickname was “BMW Steve”. His family designed this very personal headstone and it was carved in granite in China. It was shipped to the UK and on the first anniversary of Steve’s death, April 23 2010, it was installed on the grave. The family and friends held a Memorial Service. A parking ticket was stuck to the windscreen and Steve’s life was celebrated to the full.

20Francis Albermar McDougal
Francis is one of numerous London residents who fought in the American Civil War. He was born in 1840 in Oxford Street, Stepney. At the age of 21 records show that he was living with his mother in Hat and Mitre Court, St John Street, London. By 1857 his father had sailed to American and was living in New York. In search of a better life Francis followed his father to America and records show that by 1862 he was working as a printer in Philadelphia. It was at this point that Francis joined the Union Army Company E 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Francis survived many bloody battles within the American Civil War and was discharged in 1865. He returned to London and continued working within the print industry until he died of pneumonia in 1907.
Other American Civil War Veterans and relatives buried in Manor Park Cemetery include:
Henry Crocker Chalmers (1832-1906) Edward Edwards (1842-1914 ) George Gardner (1842-1909)
William George Hillman (1832-1907) Sarah Gretton (1824-1912 ) widow of Thomas Gretton.