© John Clarke 2014-
John Clarke
Welcome to John Clarke’s Website
Hello, and welcome to my website. I'm a freelance writer, administrator and former medical librarian based in London.
My writing and research has mainly focused on Brookwood Cemetery, but I have also written on railway-
Over the years I have presented many lectures on Brookwood Cemetery and its railway funeral service. If you are interested in booking me for a local (or national) group then please feel free to contact me via the contact page on this website or email me at info at john-
Please note that due to work commitments I am usually only able to give talks in the evening or at the weekend.
I have also authored some websites which explore the rich content of some of the part-
Information about all of these areas are incorporated into my website.
Forthcoming Publications
The second edition of London’s Necropolis is now available.
The new edition is published by Stenlake Publishing and you can order a copy here (post free to UK addresses).
You can read more on this new edition here.
You can read some reviews here.
I am also working on a booklet on Great War Connections 1917 and 1918 for the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery.
Forthcoming Lectures
16 April 2020, 8pm, West Middlesex Family History Society
Title to be confirmed.
21 September 2020, The Streatham Society
Title to be confirmed.
November 2020, Friends of West Norwood Cemetery
Title to be confirmed.
For further information on lectures I have undertaken earlier in 2019 and before, please follow this link.
Current Research
* First World War Dead in West Norwood Cemetery (currently 500 names and more to come)
* West Norwood Conservation Area
* More on the Brookwood Cemetery railway
* Pauper Burials at Brookwood Cemetery
The first trail (#1 The Woking Trail) begins at the “Mecca of Europe” -
The second trail (#2 The Muslim Cemetery Walk) starts at the oldest Muslim plot in the country. The Muslim Cemetery is the final resting place of several famous late Victorian converts to Islam including Abdullah Quilliam (Britian’s first Sheikh ul Islam), Lord Headley (co-
The blue plaque in the Muslim Cemetery reads:
”Everyday Muslim Heritage and Archive Initiative: Britain’s First Muslim Cemetery. Originally established as “The Muhammedan Cemetery” in 1884 by the founder of the Shah Jehan Mosque, Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner.” It stands in front of the original Kibla stone, erected to mark the purpose of the plot in 1884.
Copies of both trails can be downloaded from the Everyday Muslim website. A two-
Latest News: Launching Britain’s Muslim Heritage Trails -
It has been a real pleasure being involved with this important project to promote the importance of the Shah Jehan Mosque at Woking and the Muslim Cemetery at Brookwood Cemetery.
Today's launch of these trails started at Woking Mosque with speeches from Tharik Hussain, Professor Humayan Ansari (Royal Holloway) and Sir Laurie Magnus (Historic England). Afterwards the first trail (The Woking Trail) was officially launched by Sir Laurie cutting a ribbon outside the Mosque.
We then moved on to Brookwood Cemetery when another ribbon cutting ceremony launched the second trail (The [Brookwood] Muslim Cemetery Walk) along with the blue plaque near the Kibla stone.
Unveiling the blue plaque at the entrance to the Muslim Cemetery: Left to right: Avril Kirby (Cemetery Manager), Sir Laurie Magnus (Historic England) and myself.