Brookwood: Cemetery History, Memorial Sites and Cycling Route

A trip to Brookwood can be planned around cemetery history, remembrance, religious history or cycling. Brookwood Cemetery and Brookwood Military Cemetery offer different historical perspectives; the Saturn Cycle Route provides another clearly defined focus.

Brookwood Cemetery: History and Landscape

Brookwood Cemetery was established in 1852 by the London Necropolis Company and is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom. The site is also listed as a Grade I park and garden. This brings together two aspects of its history: its establishment by a named organisation in the 19th century and its listed status as a park and garden.

The grounds include an extensive collection of giant sequoias. This landscape feature adds a specific botanical element to the cemetery’s history. When exploring Brookwood Cemetery, you will encounter both its historical importance as a burial ground and its remarkable collection of trees. Its establishment in 1852 and Grade I listing offer different points of reference for understanding the site.

Remembrance and Religious History

Brookwood Military Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom. It is also the only Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery with two Crosses of Sacrifice and two Stones of Remembrance. Its size and these memorial features describe different characteristics: the former places the cemetery in the context of the United Kingdom, while the latter identify the memorials present there.

The religious history at Brookwood Cemetery also has several historical and religious connections. The larger Anglican chapel there was completed around 1909 and is now St Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church. Its former designation as an Anglican chapel and its current Orthodox identity help place the building’s history in its historical and religious context.

The Saint Edward Brotherhood was founded in 1982 to serve as custodians of the holy relics of Saint Edward the Martyr, King of England. In 1984, the relics were venerated in Brookwood, Surrey. The two dates therefore mark different milestones: the founding of the brotherhood and the veneration of the relics in Brookwood. After the liturgy, everyone is invited to coffee and a community breakfast. If you would like to include this invitation in your travel plans, check the service schedule in advance.

The Saturn Cycle Route

For a cycling trip, the Saturn Cycle Route is a distinctive Brookwood connection. It runs from Brookwood via Woking town centre along the towpath beside the Basingstoke Canal to New Haw. The description therefore identifies the starting point, the section through the town centre and the route along the canal to its destination.

This sequence makes the route easy to follow without reducing it to a single type of landscape: Woking is included as a town-centre section, while the towpath beside the Basingstoke Canal is another part of the route. If you are including Brookwood in your travel plans because of the cycling route, you can consider the places and sections mentioned as one continuous route.

Choose the Focus of Your Trip

Decide which focus matters to you before comparing hotel offers.

Discover more destinations: Betchworth, Buckland, Smallfield, Mickleham, Chipstead, Charlwood, Weybridge, Sunbury-On-Thames

For the broader travel overview: Surrey.