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advise that it should be closed on other grounds. In 1889 the
London County Council had made inquiry as to your Vestry's
views in regard to closing the cemetery as a burial ground, and
maintaining it as an open space. The reply given was to the
effect that your Vestry were in favour of the closing of the
cemetery as soon as practicable, and considered that, with that
object, no further land should be let or sold for the purpose of
burial.
The subject appears to have been brought to the attention
of the Council by the Parks and Open Spaces Committee, who (in
May, 1889), were "of opinion that whenever an open space can
be obtained for the public use, without outlay beyond the
necessary expenditure for maintenance, the Council should secure
it;" and "therefore recommended that the Government be requested
to close Brompton Cemetery, and to transfer it to the
Council for maintenance as an open space." The subject was
referred by the Council to the Sanitary and Special Purposes
Committee for consideration and report. This Committee, having
" inquired very fully and carefully into the matter," reported, in
July, that "no sufficient case to require the closing of the
cemetery can at present be established;" a conclusion with which
I agree, and had previously myself arrived at, much as I should
wish, upon abstract grounds, to see the cemetery closed. The
Report of the Committee was approved by the Council. The
Chairman of the Committee (Captain James), informed your
Vestry, in May, 1890, that the Home Secretary, whom the Committee
had received permission to approach on the subject, had
decided that no new graves should be opened within thirty feet
of the boundary walls, nor interments take place in the public
vaults within this zone. It appeared that, at that time, some
160,000 interments had taken place since 1840, and that about
4000 take place annually, of which 70 per cent. are in the
" common ground." It is alleged, nevertheless, that there is still
available space for interments in common ground for about two
years, and in private ground for an indefinite period.