Southwark holds one of London’s most moving histories.
Crossbones Graveyard and Garden of Remembrance is a small garden stands on a former post medieval burial ground. It sits on Redcross Way, close to Borough High Street and London Bridge.
From the sixteenth century until 1853, it served as a paupers’ graveyard. It is estimated that up to 15,000 people were buried here. Some research indicates that many may have been poor labourers and their children, and that infant burials were common in the overcrowded ground. Read more about the site here.
The area once formed part of the Liberty of the Clink. This district lay outside the strict laws of the City of London. The burial ground became linked in folklore to the “Winchester Geese.” These were women licensed to work in brothels under the Bishop of Winchester.
By the nineteenth century the graveyard was described as completely overcharged with dead. It closed in 1853 and slowly disappeared from public memory. Buildings and railway works changed the surrounding streets.
The burial ground lay hidden beneath rubble and hoardings for decades. In the 1990s, construction of the Jubilee Line extension brought the site back into view. Archaeologists uncovered a small number of skeletons during exploratory work.
Most of the buried remained undisturbed beneath the ground.
The discovery renewed public interest in the site’s story. Writer John Constable, also known as John Crow, began holding ceremonies at the gates in 1996.
Alongside local supporters, he helped share the history of the outcast dead.
In 2004, the group Friends of Crossbones was formally established. Monthly vigils began that same year and have continued ever since. A long campaign followed to secure protection for the burial ground.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust took on stewardship of the site, together with Volunteer Wardens, the garden opened to the public in 2015. It was designed with care and respect for those buried beneath. Raised beds prevent deep digging into the historic layers below. Wildflowers and quiet seating create a reflective atmosphere.
Today, Crossbones is both memorial and living green space.
It honours people excluded in life and often forgotten in death.
Visitors tie ribbons and leave messages on the shrine gates.
These small gestures connect past suffering with present compassion. It also hosts our Exploring Anxiety in Nature programme, a collaboration with the Psychosynthesis Trust.
Crossbones Day of Dance
Crossbones now hosts cultural and community events throughout the year.
One of these is the Crossbones Day of Dance. This gathering brings performers and visitors together in shared celebration.
Taking part in the garden, from Folk dancing to music to poetry readings, performers help us honour the outcast dead.
The event honours history through movement and music.
It invites the public to witness, participate and reflect.
The atmosphere is welcoming and inclusive. Donations help support ongoing care of the garden.
Events like Day of Dance show how remembrance and creativity can sit side by side. They help new audiences discover the story of Crossbones. They also strengthen community connections in Southwark.
Find out more about the event at the Crossbones website.
Monthly Vigil at Crossbones
If you cannot attend a special event, there is always another way to take part.
A public vigil is held on the 23rd of every month at 7pm.
The vigil takes place at the gates on Redcross Way.
This tradition began in June 2004. It has continued every month without break. Poetry, silence and spoken names form part of the gathering.
Candles and ribbons are often offered in remembrance.
The vigil honours the outcast dead buried at Crossbones.
It also holds space for present day grief and reflection.
People come to remember loved ones. Others attend to stand in solidarity with those once marginalised.
The monthly vigil is open to all. There is no charge to attend.
It offers a simple and powerful act of collective memory.
For many, this regular ceremony is the heart of Crossbones.
It keeps the story alive through community presence.
It links history, activism and care in one shared moment.
Visiting Crossbones Today
Crossbones Garden of Remembrance opens at set times during the week.
Current opening hours are Wednesday to Friday, 12pm – 2pm.
The shrine gates can usually be viewed from the street.
It is a short walk from London Bridge and Borough stations.
Visitors are asked to treat the space with respect.
Crossbones is not only a historic burial ground. It is a protected heritage site and community garden in Southwark. It stands as a reminder of London’s hidden histories.
Through stewardship, events and monthly vigils, the site remains active and cared for. It shows how neglected spaces can become places of dignity. Crossbones continues to honour the past while welcoming the present.