Tracing the British Museum’s legacy through the graves of Highgate Cemetery
Join British Museum curator Henry Flynn on a guided tour of London’s Highgate Cemetery. Discover the final resting places of the diverse figures—from philosophers to museum staff—who have shaped the institution's history.
The tour explores the profound connection between the British Museum and the notable individuals interred at Highgate Cemetery. Visitors encounter a range of contributors, including the architect of the British Library, Sir Colin St John Wilson, and Thomas Watts, the museum's Keeper of Printed Books, who was renowned for personally shelving more than 400,000 volumes.
The journey moves through the graves of various artists, writers, and collectors, such as the political theorist Karl Marx and the author Douglas Adams. By visiting these sites, the tour highlights the lives of the people, from activists like Claudia Jones to inventors like William Friese-Greene, whose legacies are woven into the museum's broader cultural narrative.
Source: Highgate Cemetery Tour | Famous (and not so famous) British Museum graves | Curator's Corner S8 Ep9
