JMBarrie
JMBarrie => General topic => Topic started by: SobeIsMe on April 28, 2005, 07:08:23 PM
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This is probably a strange question, but I was just wondering about the pet cemetery in Kensington Gardens that Barrie mentions in The Little White Bird. I was in London for the first time last summer, and couldn't find it for the life of me. Does anyone know if it still exits or, if not, where it used to be?
Stacy Sobieski
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The cemetery still exists, though I'm fairly certain it's no longer active. Here's what turned up in a quick Google search: London's most unusual cemetery lies in a garden behind Victoria Lodge in the northeast corner of Kensington Gardens. In 1880, the Duke of Cambridge's pet dog was run over in a nearby road and buried here. Since then over 200 other dogs, cats, and birds have joined it. Barrie mentioned in The Little White Bird that he always hurried past it on his walks because it upset Porthos. I think it's included on the map of the Gardens that serves as the book's fontispiece, which you might be able to find on this site.
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Thanks so much for the reply. It must be behind a fence or something now, because I walked around for the longest time looking for it. I even had Barrie's map of the Gardens as a guide. Or maybe it's out in the open and I just completely missed it :) Glad to hear it isn't gone though!
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Hm ... I tried using that map as a guide when I visited the Gardens, too, and I wouldn't exactly recommend it. It's not entirely accurate (try as you may, but you'll never find the outline of Pilkington's shadow on the ground!) and it's over a hundred years old besides. I'm not suggesting you ditch it, but you might want to pick up another map.
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Living just 35 miles from London, I ought to be able to tell you exactly where the cemetery is, but I've never seen it. Folks from other countries seem to know London better than I do. Isn't that often the way? Anyway, I hope you will find this helpful:
The pet cemetery was established in 1880. It is close to Victoria Gate (on the west side of it, I think) and the gravestones can be seen from Bayswater Road. So, if you are in Kensington Gardens, go out through Victoria Gate, turn left and walk along the pavement, looking left through the park railings (but taking care not to bump into a lampost!).
On this website you will see an old photo of the gravestones:
http://www.images-of-london.co.uk/jss/product.php?xProd=126
If you like maps, I suggest you take a look at these two:
1. Modern map of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens:
http://www.serpentine.org.uk/routes/02b/
Scroll down to read very good notes about Hyde Parke and Kensington Gardens, including where the pet cemetery is. Also, click on the 'larger map' facility for a clearer view: I would say that the exact position of the cemetery is between the R of LANCASTER GATE and the B of BAYSWATER ROAD.
2. Old map of the same area (between 1874 and 1882):
http://old-maps.co.uk/
Once there, do a place name search for Bayswater; on the next screen select the 'Bayswater, Middlesex' option; when you get the small map click three times on the right arrow (to the right of the map); then click on the 'Enlarged View' button below the map; then scroll the large Ordnance Survey map for an excellent look at the park and gardens at about the time the pet cemetery was established, ie about 20 years before Barrie met the Davies boys there. Going back one step, there is also a 'View Aerial Photo' button which you might like to try, although you cannot make out the cemetery in it.
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Thank you so much! That really helps a lot! I'm going to be back in London this summer for a bit, and will definitely have a much better chance of finding the cemetery now! I'll let you all know if I manage to track it down :)
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Did you find the dog cemetery, Stacy?
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I did! I was so excited when I finally saw it! :) I took far more pictures than I intended. Haha It's a fascinating place! Thanks so much for the directions!