Holborn: St Giles' Churchyard

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Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of Holburn with a look at the St Giles-in-the-Fields churchyard:

The graveyard which surrounds the church is supposed to have been the ancient interment-ground of the hospital.

The first mention of it in the parish books is in 1628, when three cottages were pulled down to increase its size.

It was enlarged again in 1666.

Part of the old hospital wall enclosing it remained until 1630, when it fell down, and after the lapse of some time a new wall was built.

In St. Giles's Churchyard were buried Lord Herbert of Cherbury, Shirley, Roger L'Estrange, Andrew Marvell, and Richard Pendrell, who assisted in Charles II's escape; his altar-tomb is easily seen near the east end of the church.

By 1718 the graveyard had risen 8 feet, so that the church stood in a pit or well.

The further burial-ground at St. Pancras was taken in 1805, and after that burials at St. Giles's were not very frequent.

Pennant was one of the first to draw attention to the disgraceful overcrowding of the old graveyard.

There seem to have been several gates into the churchyard with the right of private entry, one of which was used by the Duchess of Dudley.

The most remarkable gate, however, was at the principal entrance to the churchyard, and was known as the Resurrection Gate, from an alto-relievo of the Last Day.

This was erected about 1687, and was of red and brown brick.

The composition of the relievo is said to have been borrowed, with alterations, from Michelangelo's work on the same subject.

In 1765 the north wall of the churchyard was taken down, and replaced by the present railing and coping.

In 1800 the gate was removed, and replaced by the present Tuscan gate, in which the sculpture has been refixed.

This stood at first on the site of the old one on the north of the churchyard, but was removed to the west side, where it at present stands in an unnoticeable and obscure position.

It was probably placed there in the idea that the new road, Charing Cross Road, would run past.

Next: Holborn: Broad Street