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Before we go to Paradise:
the Development of the Garden Cemetery
In our hectic ‘24/7’ lifestyles our Victorian cemeteries remain a haven of peace, a place to reflect on the past and on our own lives. However, they often look sad and abandoned places: shunned by a secular society afraid to be reminded of its mortality; neglected by short-sighted and cash-strapped local authorities; and often mindlessly vandalised. This is a big shame, for our Victorian graveyards can shed light on our society, and tell us a lot about ourselves.
This course aims to reveal what a positive contribution Victorian cemeteries can make to life in the early 21st century. It tells the story of the garden cemetery from its cultural roots in classical antiquity and the ‘Graveyard Poets’ of the eighteenth century to its apotheosis in the seven great cemeteries which ringed London by 1850.
The course focuses on one of these cemeteries in particular, All Souls Kensal Green. It looks at the key players in its creation, how it was built and what it looks like today. It also explores the signs and symbols used on Victorian memorials and which represent a lost language of high-minded morality and touching sentimentality.
Finally, it visits Victorian cemeteries today and discusses what an important resource they can be for a variety of interest groups.
7 weeks
£56 (GBP)
1. The cultural and literary roots of the garden cemetery.
2. An examination of the social factors which led to the creation of the garden cemetery.
3. The main case study: A look at the context and creation of the cemetery of All Souls Kensal Kreen.
4. Continuing the case study by examining the state of All Souls Kensal Green as it is today.
5. An examination of symbolism as it was used in the Victorian garden cemeteries.
6. A look at the place of the Victorian cemetery in contemporary society.
The course is aimed at anyone with an enquiring mind who wants to find out more about the development of the Victorian garden cemetery.
No prior knowledge is assumed; just an interest in the subject. It would be helpful if students were familiar with the Internet as a research tool and their local history/reference library.
The research skills developed on the course can applied to other subject areas, particularly where the Internet is involved. You will hopefully be inspired to continue your studies in any number of fields, for example:
Local history
Family history
Cultural history
Architecture and building design
Geology
Natural history
Browser:
PC: Netscape version 4.5 and above, Internet Explorer 5 and above
Mac OS: Netscape version 4.5 and above, Internet
Explorer 5 and above, or Safari. Browser must be set to enable
cookies.
Other browsers should work as well: enrol on the free Fire Balloon course if you are unsure.
Plug-ins: Flash Player and Quicktime.
Network connection: 56K modem minimum.
It would useful if you had access to a digital camera and the software to use the images on your PC. If not, a normal camera and scanner is fine.
Entry Requirements
About duration hours, and we suggest you set aside about 4 hours week - but it's up to you!. You will have tutor support for ***months*** months. You wil have access to your course for a year.
Your tutor for this course is
Read a leaflet for this course
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Before we go to Paradise:
the Development of the Garden Cemetery