Haunting Highgate Photos
November 13th, 2009 by John Wolfe
I’ve had a fascination with London’s Highgate Cemetery (especially Highgate West) ever since first discovering it online in 2007. Built in the Victorian era, the oldest section is filled with incredible Gothic statuary and structures. The overgrowth of nature in and around the grounds further contributes to the spookiness factor! No wonder the cemetery is rumored to have vampires and ghosts wandering the premises.
While the Halloween and paranormal enthusiast in me is awestruck and inspired by such an incredible location, I never forget that places like Highgate represent the final (physical) resting place for people who were greatly loved and greatly missed.
Photo source: Wikipedia
I hope you enjoy aWorldOfSky’s still photo tour:
Video source: You Tube user, aWorldOfSky
For an amazing walk through HighGate West, check out You Tube user, dagschweinerei’s haunting video.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Thanks soooo much for this post!!! I loved the cemetery Ghost Adventures went to in Scotland one time–it was soooo creepy, but this one…I think if I were standing there looking at that, I’d weep. I’d want to stay all day and sketch it and write about it and then at night, steal away into a corner and hide out all night. I want to stay there forever. I never thought I’d find a place I’d love to have a resting place–but that’s definitely it. In fact, the film inspired a roadblock I’ve had with my garden. I have a dark nasty corner where nothing grows and it’s unwelcoming. I wanted to use that to my advantage for something spooky that nods to my love of Celtic places and cemeteries. Now, I’m thinking a structure made of limbs and vines to make a little “cave” type place. If I make it tall enough, it can have a mediating mat inside and sit inside the leafy structure with some of my cemetery sculptures around… If I can get this put together…I’ll have to take pictures. Thanks for the crazy timed video. I had just walked in from the garden, shaking my head with confusion about what to do…
November 13th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
You’ve just sent chills down my spine dear one. One of my all time favorite pieces from Beethoven is Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, and is more popularly known as the “Moonlight” Sonata. There has always been something very familiar about the piece and I feel that such music and I go way back in time together. So to hear the music set to these incredible and amazing photos was just mind blowing. For 4 minutes, I was not present at work so thank you for the journey.
Thank you also for posting this for I have never heard of the cemetery. It was absolutely stunning, truly unique on so many levels. As much as I adore the look and feel of the big cemetery where I live, this cemetery totally captured my heart and resonated with my soul. I have never in all my life seen a cemetery that extraordinary, never! Is it no wonder vampires and ghosts roam the ground at night. Aside from the fact that the dearly departed are buried there, it’s like a little slice of heaven ON Earth. This was beautiful, thank you again for sharing.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
awesome…I lived in GB for several years and never visited Highgate–I am so sorry and regretful! Europe, however, is filled with cool stuff like this. (Only thing they don’t do very well is Halloween!) thanks for sharing!
November 14th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
autumnforest,
I think I’d probably feel the exact same way if I were standing on the grounds. Highgate’s always reminded me of something straight from a movie set. You’d definitely have to slip away to hide in Highgate West as I’ve learned they allow visitors in that part by guided tour only.
Due to its amazing architecture, they keep pretty good tabs on visitors.
Thanks for sharing about your garden. I love “coincidences” like that — glad the post helped out. The extremely knotty vines are some of my favorite nature outcroppings in Highgate. I bet that will look awesome in your garden.
Goldie,
I learn something new about you all the time.
After “touring” Highgate via a classical style, you definitely should try the link I posted at the bottom (if you haven’t already). Some dark chants do a fantastic job accompanying the black and white video!
I’m right there with you on how this cemetery makes me feel. It seems to have affected you, autumnforest and myself in a similar way. It almost reminds me of an amazing Gothic park instead of a cemetery. It closed down in the 1970’s and apparently that’s when nature “took over”. They re-opened in the 80’s, thanks to an amazing woman who purchased the grounds and she’s been at the helm ever since.
If I ever get back to Europe, this place will be on my list of must-see locations!
Pam,
I know how that goes. I lived in Germany for a few years, but didn’t take advantage of the incredible opportunities available to me when it came to seeing the country. I was just a kid and didn’t really understand, nor appreciate my time in Europe.