News

In this article we track the unfolding of the National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported transformation of Willesden Jewish Cemetery, from the grant award in early 2018 to now, when building works are almost complete and a new visitor experience awaits the return of heritage visiting following the coronavirus shut-down.

We are seeking to trace relatives of John Nathan Neville who died in 1910 and whose substantial family enclosure in the Old Ground near the Prayer Hall is shortly to undergo specialist conservation works.

We are seeking to trace family of Henry Nathan who died aged 60 in 1927. A distinctive marble monument above his grave at Willesden will be given specialist conservation treatment this summer.

Entirely independent of the House of Life project, we have been contacted by Cathy Sedgwick who documents the lives of Australian servicemen and women who fought in World War One. Her website includes information about personnel whose graves are at Willesden.

In a change from our “classic” tours, for International Women’s Day this year Hester Abrams took 20 visitors to see the graves of a dozen women who deserve to be better known, from an actress to a philanthropist, a translator and a Suffragette.

On the 22nd January 2020 Brent Museum and Archives presented a unique concert alongside the House of Life project at Willesden Jewish Cemetery.

In October 2019 the House of Life project proudly opened a temporary exhibition at Brent Museum and Archives in Willesden Library.

The exhibition was the first step to opening up Willesden Jewish Cemetery to the wider public, it was a chance to step out from behind the eight ft walls and inspire interest in local people.

A Times Religion section article by Trevor Barnes on our work.

Read Jewish Renaissance from 2017 on plans to open up the cemetery to the wider public here.

The concept drawing shows a “claire-voie” allowing views into the cemetery.

A Kilburn Times article on plans to open the cemetery for “all to enjoy”.