Photographs of Elizabeth Siddal’s Grave

I am grateful to everyone who has been kind enough to share photos of the Rossetti plot at Highgate Cemetery, the burial place of Gabriele and Frances Rossetti (Dante Gabriel’s parents), Christina Rossetti, Elizabeth Siddal Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti and other family members.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti is not interred at Highgate; he is buried at Birchington, Kent.

2008: Special thank you to Jack Challem, who was the first to share photographs with me, taken on his 1985 visit to Elizabeth Siddal’s final resting place.

I know that many visitors to this site appreciate this glimpse of Highgate, so I thank all of you who have shared their stories in the comments area.

Rhonda Parsons has shared a photo of herself at Lizzie’s grave, taken in 1995.  Rhonda says that she has had an interest in Pre-Raphaelite art since she was 18 years old, and is particularly drawn to the life of Elizabeth Siddal.

Rhonda Parsons at Elizabeth Siddal's grave.
Rhonda Parsons at Elizabeth Siddal’s grave.

2009: Recently, Scott Chatfield was able to visit Lizzie’s grave and says that after viewing Lizzie’s grave, he visited the Tate and saw Lizzie as Ophelia, as well as the other PRB masterpieces they have there. Thank you to Scott for not only sharing photos of Lizzie’s grave, but of Highgate as well.

Egyptian Avenue
Egyptian Avenue
Egyptian Avenue
Egyptian Avenue
Circle of Lebanon
Circle of Lebanon
Pathway
Pathway
The Rossetti/Siddal grave
The Rossetti/Siddal grave

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7-highgate-rossettisiddal-grave-sm

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9-highgate-rossettisiddal-grave-sm

Rebecca Lubas was also kind enough to share photos from her visit in 1993.   The photos below are shared using  the following license.  Please click the Creative Commons icon and read the terms specified before sharing or using them.   Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

1993-lizzie-siddal1
1993-lizzie-siddal2
1993-lizzie-siddal3

Added November 11, 2010. I am so grateful to Sam, a dedicated volunteer at Highgate Cemetery, for sending not only these beautiful  photos, but for also giving the slab a good scrubbing so that we can all see these words better.

Added December 1, 2010:   Author and artist Kris Waldherr recently made the pilgrimage to Lizzie’s grave and has generously shared her photos.  She’s also posted a comment on this page, which I’ll share below.  She is the author of Doomed Queens, The Lover’s Path and The Book of Goddesses, and creator of The Goddess Tarot.  Visit her website.

“I was fortunate to visit Lizzie’s grave last Friday. Her grave is in the West Cemetery, which has restricted access due to its fragile condition. Lizzie’s grave is down a hidden, isolated and ivy-strewn pathway which was slick with autumn leaves. Interestingly my guide said that she’s visited by more men than women–and the men tend to weep. One even became visibly angry and ranted about how she was abused by Rossetti. “I think the women who visit are made of sterner stuff,” my guide concluded. Was glad to see there were some flowers recently left to which I added my offering. I brought her a peach-colored rose, which reminded me of her complexion in the first Beata Beatrice oil painting by Rossetti.”–Kris Waldherr


Comments

71 responses to “Photographs of Elizabeth Siddal’s Grave”

  1. Sarah Reynolds Avatar
    Sarah Reynolds

    Hello,

    For many years I loved the story of Rossetti and his wife Elizabeth.So much so that I vowed to myself that one day I would see her grave with my own eyes. I finally had the opportunity and saved enough money to go. After much research I made my pilgrimage from the U.S.A to Highgate. When I arrived the Cemetery gates I felt reassured as I read a large sign on the iron fence advertising her grave. I paid the admission fees and went in only to find that the public is never allowed in that section. I begged and pleaded to deaf ears. To this day I am still shocked, heartbroken and angry. Talk about the highest form of deceptive advertising.
    Thank you for this incredible site and thanks to you I have finally seen her grave!
    God Bless,
    Sarah

    1. Dolores Diaz koebel Avatar
      Dolores Diaz koebel

      On a tour there, it ended without seeing Lizzie’s grave. When I, and another woman asked why not, we were told it was “too unsafe”. So after a bit of cajoling, putting 10 pounds each in a collection box to help with the up with the upkeep of the place, the guide relented. Was not unsafe, got lots of pix, and all came out well. I was so happy since I had previously read about people being denied . This was in 2013

  2. Hello!!!
    I’m Italian….
    I love Lizzie and her sad story…
    thank so much for this opportunity of see her grave..

  3. So sorry to hear you travelled so far and did not see the site 🙁

  4. Vasile Simionescu Avatar
    Vasile Simionescu

    Hi,

    As an ardent admirer of all things preraphaelite since childhood (I even named my daughter Ophelia) it is a wonderful privelige to see the photographs of her grave. In addition I was under the impression (from Lucinda Hawksleys book) that no actual photographs of Lizzie had survived. Therefore I was delighted and overwhelmed to see two of them on your website and would love to know more about them.

    Kind regards

    Vasile

  5. Rhonda Parsons Avatar
    Rhonda Parsons

    Hello, and thank you for posting the photo of Elizabeth Siddel’s grave.
    I am very happy to have shared it with those who have an admiration for Preraphaelite Art.
    Particularly Elizabeth Siddel
    Kind Regards,
    Rhonda

  6. As a young teenage (pale, skinny, long-haired, over serious) red headed male in the early 197o’s I identified deeply with Elizabeth Siddal. Though now not so literally obsessed as then I still care deeply and sadly that her life was usually a brief, mis-represented adjunct to PRB biographies and literature. Equally sadly, is that not only is she is now coming more into the spotlight glare but she is still subject to often speculative, agenda-based writing which one can’t help but feel is often not so much for the honest redresss of her memory but to line the pockets of those who have over recent decades turned the “romance” of the PRB circle(s) into a lucratively repetitive, tackily trivialised and exploitative industry, (even the BBC have a forthcoming totally romanticised series due I believe)

    That said however my memory is that I very much enjoyed reading Lucinda’s book when it first came out – I’ll have to get it off the shelves again and give it a re-read

    Sorry for the moan but I’ve never had the forum before or known “people” who care. I don’t need to “get a life”, after all these years I feel, for whatever deep-rooted protective reason, that this women deserves greater respect than being the next “fashion item” or “flavour of the month”

    The main reason for e-mail. 2 things
    In the late 70’s I tracked down some old magazine article which showed a photo – thought to be of her (not the one included above). The excitement on first sighting was as tangible as was/(is?) the uncertainty as to whether it was her. Of the 2 I’ve seen over the years the picture above is cracking. I think and hope it’s her as the sitter doesn’t appear the insipid, ailing woman so generally and lazily written about my many writers in the past.

    Most importantly – mention has been made that the Rossetti family grave is off the tourist path at Highgate. 8 years or so ago, I plucked up courage to visit the cemetery to pay my respects – “courage” as the grave is the only real earthly contact that could be made with Elizabeth, and which after so many years could prove overwhelming or even disturbing. Also courage in that I might not be allowed to visit the grave at all. As I found out only on the day this should have been the case and whilst I would never ask, my partner did and although the guide told her it was off the accepted route. if he had time he may take us there. He said he had never been asked about this grave before but knew where it was. After almost an hour without further words of encouragement, and my heart sinking heavily, without any word of announcement there it was. God bless the fellow, little did he know that this was a place that I had been drawn to since a very young man but never dreamt of finding myself. Sadly, and selfishly maybe, I wasn’t on my own – it was a shame that the others had never heard of her or knew of her life (including the guide) – it was just another grave – such is the ultimate frailty of immortality. Also I felt very strongly for the first time that she didn’t belong there with the Rossettis. That said I don’t know where I felt she belonged – and that’s part of her ultimate tragedy. (Maybe on the IoW with Swinburne who seemed to me similarly lonely among the many in his pretty churchyard resting place)

    I cannot take photo’s of graves out of respect. In this case the respect for her memory is so deep rooted it’s sanctity had to be be explicitly respected (unlike the now fading, distant past). I often pass the cemetery going down Swains Lane hill – I hope to go back finally one day.

    I found this site seredipitously and was at first very uneasy but now I realise there are othere who care about the correct representation Miss Siddal’s reputation on a world wide, and so most influential, forum. Please, for that reason, keep it real, keep it true and don’t add to the trivia

    Best wishes to you all

    Les

    London

  7. Pre-Eminent Avatar
    Pre-Eminent

    Sorry if I sound ignorant, but I came across a few graves at Highgate with that dollar-like symbol on it. Please can you tell me what it denotes?

    By the way, Highgate Cemetary is currently open to visitors, but you have to buy a ticket and guide.

  8. Lizzie's friend Avatar
    Lizzie’s friend

    In the uk we have just finished a factual tv series called ‘The Victorians’ that as well as being of interest to ‘sisterhood’ fans and those of Victorian art generally, featured several scenes in Highgate Cemetry, comment on Lizzie and Beata Beatrix. Being a mainstream bbc programme, the series will probably be out on dvd soon, and there is a related book.

  9. rosamundi Avatar
    rosamundi

    Pre-Eminent, the “dollar-like symbol” is the IHS Christogram, a monogram formed from the first three letters of the Greek name of Jesus Christ.

  10. mark stevens Avatar
    mark stevens

    just to say as a lizzie fan so pleased that you shared those pictures of their resting place.thankyou from my heart

  11. Linda Avatar

    In the last few photos it appears the flat gravestone has been thoroughly cleaned. It’s really nice to be able to read it. Thanks to all for sharing and posting the photos.

  12. I worked as a volunteer guide at Highgate Cemetery for several years and many people asked to see Lizzie’s grave and I’m so sorry to read of people who travelled a long distance and were told it was not on the tourist route or that the area around it was unsafe due to subsidence

    The truth is that visitors were prevented from visiting the grave purely on the whim of the lady who was, for many years, Chairman of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery, the charity that owns the cemetery. Frankly, she did not want anyone coming into the cemetery at all and found various ways of making things difficult for visitors and guides alike.

    On several occasions, when she was not around, I, and other guides, were more than happy to take visitors to the grave although it could not be done if she was in the cemetery. It is off the beaten path and you need to skirt around other graves to get to it so it is difficult to take more than 6 people there at a time so taking large groups of people there when the cemetery was busy was not possible. However, on several occasions, I took individual visitors who had expressed an interest, after the main tour had finished.

    Thankfully the lady in question has, at long last, been ousted from her position and I hope very much that the welcome at Highgate will become more friendly and understanding.

    I have long had a fascination with Lizzie and the Pre Raphaelites and it was always a joy to take people there and tell them something about her life and the contribution she made to the movement.

    Incidentally, while I was at Highgate a man would arrive at the gates of the cemetery every year on 25th July, Lizzie’s birthday, and bring a boquet of flowers. if we could we would take jhim to the grave so he could lay them on the stone. I don’t know if he still does that.

    1. Hi Nick

      I wonder if you will receive this ten years later? I hope so. I’m astouned someone would take the time and make the effort to visit the grave every year to lay flowers on the 25th. This presumably booking time off work many times as the date kept falling on different days of the week

      I can only think of three possible reasons anyone would do this; 1) he was a descendant of either her sister (almost certainly not of her sweet but vulnerable brother) 2) he fell in love with her as an historical figure 3) he is reincarnated and knew her, and was precious to her – and she to him.

      I wonder if the man ever said anything to give a clue as to what must have been and may be such a strong reason for devoted and determined visits to pay his respects? Did you ever hear tell of his motive

      You must have learned much about so many famous people whose old bodies were laid to rest there. It must have been very interesting at times. Mind, by the sound of the harradian who apparently bossed everyone about, it must have been much less stifled after that lady left. At least people had nice volunteers like yourself to show them around and explain the various histories.

      Best wishes,

  13. silvia Avatar

    I just came back from London and I visited Highgate cemetery, even when our guide in the tour was a very nice man, I could´t see Lizzi´s grave, he told me the family didn´t want to, they still being Rossettis alive, and also told me if I send a mail asking to see the grave maybe I got lucky in a future trip, I am going to do it, I will tell you the results.

  14. Jessica Avatar

    Hi,
    Whilst in England last year (I am from Sydney in Australia), I visited Highgate Cemetery, most especially to visit Lizzie’s grave as my parents had not been able to get to see it some years earlier on my behalf. Luckily for my sister and I, we had a lovely guide and he agreed to take us both to see her when the main tour was over.
    If you would like, I can send you the photo my sister took of me kneeling at her grave.
    Much love
    xo

    1. Thank you! I would love to be able to share your photo on this page! You can email me at Stephanie at Siddal.net
      Cheers,
      Stephanie

  15. Yes I too went to Highgate some year ago in the hope I could pay my respects at the Lizzie Siddal and Rossetti grave. I was so disapointed that it was out of bounds. The lady in the above picture was to privilaged to be able to visit and place flowers.

    I still love to go.

    Jean-Sheffield

  16. Hi – I recently went to a memorial service in Highgate West Cemetery. I was with a party of an old lady who had just been buried there, so could not explore further.
    When I was about twelve, I met my grandmother’s sister (my great Aunt) for the only time. As I was very good at art, she told me that I’d had an ‘aunt and uncle’ who were artists, that her mother used to tell her about them, and they lived off the Old Kent Road. She said my gt,gt,gt,gt aunt’s name was Elizabeth Siddal, and to ask my art teacher about them. She also told me that Lizzie was buried at Highgate. In my twenties, I went to check out whether this was true. It must have been when the Friends of Highgate had recently formed, some of them were working there and allowed me in to find the grave.
    I’d love to take my daughter to see the grave, so maybe it will be easier now. Interesting that someone says the Rossetti family are still around there. I know nothing else about my family, other than this connection that I heard of by chance.

    Becky Bell.

  17. I’m so sorry to hear of people who have travelled so far to see Lizzie’s grave, only to be dissapointed. My family are originally from the Highgate area and I lived for many years in very close proximity and spent many days exploring both sides of Highgate cemetery. I read with interest Nick’s entry above about the lady who didn’t really want people going there at all and I think I must have encountered her on more than one occasion. We would regularly be approached by a very sharp lady at the gates who would more or less interrogate us as to our purpose for visiting Highgate before telling us in no uncertain terms that we were not allowed to take photographs, if we had any cameras on us we must either leave them with her or leave the film (not that we ever took cameras anyway – I don’t think I even owned one!)!! She was such an old dragon! This was quite a few years ago, so I would hope that they are more friendly to visitors now. I still live in London and must take my daughter to visit Highgate at some point, particularly as we do have a few Victorian family members in there! It’s a beautiful place, particularly the West side (which contains the grave of dear Lizzie) and, if you do a little research, it’s not hard to find artwork of what Highgate looked like when it was brand new. Quite different to what it has evolved into. I hope that future visitors will still be amazed and intrigued by Highgate, even if they are unable to visit the resting place of Elizabeth Siddal.

  18. Belinda Avatar

    Hello,

    I too have been fortunate enough to visit her grave. I was there in 1999. I certainly had to work hard to convince someone to take me there. It was definitely worth it.

  19. David Smith Avatar
    David Smith

    For those of you who haven’t heard it, there’s a wonderful recording of Elizabeth Siddal’s story on Itunes. It’s done by Emlyn Harris who produced a series for the BBC called The Sexton’s Tales on the stories of those buried at Highgate. The recording is free on Itunes and is beautifully done. If you’ve never heard it before, I’d be curious to know what you think. Search for The Sexton’s Tales and you’ll see it.

    David

    1. It’s a wonderful production! The creator, Emlyn Harris, has generously allowed me to host it on this page so that visitors to LizzieSiddal.com can download or listen right here!
      http://lizziesiddal.com/portal/843-2/

  20. Anna-Marie Kuhn Avatar
    Anna-Marie Kuhn

    Have any of you watched the BBC production called Desperate Romantics? You can buy it on DVD. It is about the Pre-Raphaelites and Lizzie. The actress who plays Lizzie is so well cast. How sad, poor Lizzie.

  21. Pauline Dickson Avatar
    Pauline Dickson

    I went to Highhate On Bank HOliday Monday and on speaking to the guide he said he would take my family and I to ELizabeths grave seperately as not suitable to go there en masse.
    He was a wonderful guide and told the story of Rossetti and Siddal including the exhumation for the love poems.
    He said he will try to ensure that the flat stone which marks Elizabeth will be cleaned so it can be read easier. I think he will too:-)
    Thanks to a wonderful guide Ian and a fantastic visit to Highgate

  22. We can’t tell from the photographs, so does anyone know the actual words angraved on Lizzie’s gravestone?

  23. Trevor K Barnard Avatar
    Trevor K Barnard

    I have just came across this site purely by accident and find it very interesting. In or around 1982 I started writing a book about pre-raphaelite woman that did’nt come to fruition. I see a lot of people here are interested in Lizzies grave. Through my own investigations I found her grave number and hav’nt seen it in print in any published books on Lizzie. Her grave number is 5779. Hope thats of interest. Best wishes.

  24. Julie Reid Avatar
    Julie Reid

    I am an Australian and today visited one of the old grave yards near the area where I live on the mid north coast of NSW. On one old grave at the bottom there was a quote which said “Our lives are but a little holding lent to us – Siddall”. I wonder if any one could tell me where this quote came from. I loved the words so came home and googled Siddall and up came this site of Elizabeth Siddall and I knew then that it must be one of her quotes or from one of her poems.

  25. Rob Blackman Avatar
    Rob Blackman

    It is possible to visit the grave of Elizabeth Siddal and the Rossetti family
    for a donation of £10 per person. This visit is for a maximum of 4 people and
    must be pre-booked and take place on a weekday morning. The visit will be
    accompanied as the grave is on the West side of the Cemetery. We apologise but
    we cannot take people to visit the grave at the weekend or on bank holidays.

    Thank you for your interest in Highgate Cemetery.

    FoHC

    1. Hello Rob,

      I’m curious.

      As a volunteer who’s been at Highgate for around 8 years, I must confess to never having heard of you. I also note with interest that you have a Highgate Cemetery website that appears to be in no way endorsed by the Cemetery.

      May I ask what your involvement is at Highgate Cemetery, given that you’re making factually inaccurate posts on behalf of FoHC?

      It was agreed in a volunteer forum meeting in June that tour groups can now be taken to see Elizabeth Siddal’s grave as part of the tour, provided the size of the group is practical in negotiating the pathway.

      But of course you wouldn’t have known that because, clearly, you weren’t there.

      I look forward with relish to receiving your response.

      Sam
      A Highgate volunteer and FoHC

      1. Hmmm.I do hope Rob responds and clears this up as I certainly do not want any misinformation on this site. I do think it would be useful if I could make an area posting information from Highgate Cemetery about visiting Lizzie’s grave. I’m sure it will be helpful to people who are planning a trip.
        Can you help me with that Sam?
        Thanks,
        Stephanie

        1. Hi Stephanie,

          I too am looking forward to reading Rob’s response because the claim of the £10 charge per person to see the Rosssetti plot is pure fiction (it was posted in September but the permission to allow us to take people to the Rossetti plot was given in June).

          I’d be happy to enquire about it for you Stephanie. Do you have an email address I could contact you on please?

          Cheers
          Sam

      2. And there’s no additional cost to see the Rossetti plot on a tour over and above the regular £7 entry fee for the standard tour.

        Regards
        Sam

      3. Rob Blackman Avatar
        Rob Blackman

        Sam,

        Sorry i have not replied to your message as i have not visited the site for a while.The message i sent was cut and pasted as a reply to my own enquiry to Highgate (I Assumed it was Highgate)Regarding the possibility of visting Lizzie`s Grave.

        It was their reply to that request and no more than that.As i said earlier,I Assumed it was the official Highgate site.If it was not the site then i apologise for this and would add that i only posted it to help people in their quest to visit Lizzie`s Grave.I would certainly not want to put any false information on here.

        I Hope this clears this up and once again I Apologise for this and add that I Have nothing to do with Highgate personally and would never knowingly give people false information.

        Regards,Rob

  26. Thanks Nick & Helana -that makes sense!

    In 1994 I moved to London from Ireland to study 19th-century art history. On my first weekend there I made (what then seemed like)an epic & expensive trip to Highgate on a freezing autumn day to visit Elizabeth’s grave. After being lined up in a military fashion & paying admission we were barked at by the lady you mention – that in case anyone was thinking of asking it was too dangerous to visit the Rossetti plot. I was so disappointed that I nearly cried & 16 years later my friend who I’d dragged along for company has never let me forget it!

  27. Amazing!! how lovely to see the words at last

  28. I can’t even put into words how grateful I am to the people who have shared their photos with the site. Especially Jack Challem, who deserves credit and thanks for being the first.

  29. I´m wondering how could be buried there at least five persons in the same century? It seems a little place.

  30. My husband and I recently visited Highgate and as we neared the end of the tour I guessed we were not going to see Lizzie’s grave, however after speaking to our tour guide and for an additional donation of £2 he took us and another couple back up into the cemetery and spent ages talking to us about Lizzie and Rossetti – we had an amazing day!

    1. Hi Britta,

      How recently did you go? The plot’s now included in the standard tour if requested and provided that the group is able to negotiate the narrow pathway.

      Sam

      1. Hi Sam.
        We visited on Sunday 24th October. That side of the cemetary where the Rossetti plot is did not feature on the tour at all. We went up through what I can only imagine is the middle and over to the right up the Egyptian Ave round the Circle of Lebanon into the catacombs and then back down through the dissenters. I really must say though it was one of the best days out that I’ve ever experienced and we will certainly return.
        Britta

  31. I was fortunate to visit Lizzie’s grave last Friday. Her grave is in the West Cemetery, which has restricted access due to its fragile condition. Lizzie’s grave is down a hidden, isolated and ivy-strewn pathway which was slick with autumn leaves. Interestingly my guide said that she’s visited by more men than women–and the men tend to weep. One even became visibly angry and ranted about how she was abused by Rossetti. “I think the women who visit are made of sterner stuff,” my guide concluded. Was glad to see there were some flowers recently left to which I added my offering. I brought her a peach-colored rose, which reminded me of her complexion in the first Beata Beatrice oil painting by Rossetti.

  32. Thank you for sharing about your visit. The peach-colored rose is such a lovely tribute.

  33. Wendy Bartels via Facebook Avatar
    Wendy Bartels via Facebook

    likes these photos……too bad I cannot see them up close!

  34. Thanks for all of the great photographs of Elizabeth’s and the Rossetti family plot. I’ve been interested in the PRB and Elizabeth Siddal in particular since I was a child, and was disappointed to find out that you previously you could not see the grave. I’m somewhat surprised that more male admirers visit her grave but amongst the Victorian muses she still seems both untimely and timeless.

    I hope to visit Highgate cemetery one day, and was glad to see how beautiful it looks in these photos — most of what I’ve read previously about it was concerned with the ridiculous ‘Highgate Vampire’ sensationalism and the vandalism that had went on in the late 1960’s. Possibly those past events caused some of the older woman’s rudeness and possessiveness about the cemetery.

  35. Dave McCardle Avatar
    Dave McCardle

    I was fortunate to visit Lizzie’s grave on 12/02/2011 after a tour of the Western Cemetery. My thanks to our guides. I photographed it and will attempt to attach some, although you have more than enough already. Luckily, I managed to control my emotions and although quite choked, succeded in the shot. Having read two books on her and the PRB, it was quite a moment. What an awful tragedy.
    Regards,
    Dave.

  36. Henry May Avatar
    Henry May

    I visted Lizzie’s grave many years ago,my wife and myself spent some time cleaning the grave up as best we could.
    I can tell you that the grave is located to the left of the cemetry as you stand in the main court yard.
    Take the path to the left,walk about 200 meters it’s very hard to find because the grave can not be seen from the path.
    You have to go through the bushes to find it.
    This part of the cemetry does not open very often so one would need to check when it is open before making the visit.
    Good luck
    Henry

  37. Prabal Ray Avatar
    Prabal Ray

    Thanks for the fascinating information and pictures concerning Elizabeth Siddall’s grave at Highgate. It is interesting that the grave also is shared by Rossetti’s parents, his brother William, and his famous sister (more famous that Lizzie, it has to be said!), Christina. I am sure a lot of people must visit Highgate to see Christina Rossetti’s grave. I wonder where D.G. Rossetti himself is buried? So, this must have been the setting of Rossetti’s opening of his wife’s grave 10 years after her death, to retrieve his manuscript of poems?

    Final observation – it is a pity that some money can’t be found somewhere to tidy up and improve the condition of this (and no doubt other notable graves). It’s typical of this country that we don’t take any pride in things like this. No other country would leave the graves of such famous peopl in such a state…

  38. Richard Avatar

    For those that don’t already know, D G Rossetti is buried in the churchyard of All Saints, Birchington in Kent, marked by a beautiful Celtic cross designed by Ford Maddox Brown. Out of interest and at the risk of straying off topic, does anybody know why he wasn’t buried in the family grave in Highgate? I know he died in Birchington but it wasn’t unusual for people to be transported long distances to be buried with other family members.

    1. Richard, I just read that he felt hounded by the ghost; he was afraid, he refused to be buried in family grave next to wonderful Lizzie out of fear; the decision of exhuming Her to retrieve poetry booklet done it.

  39. corinna Avatar

    I was lucky enough to see Lizzies grave on sunday 19th June.Our wonderful guide actually asked if there was any grave in particular that any one wanted to see, so I asked!She was more than happy to show us,although it is off of the beaten path and a little trecherous under foot.I feel very priveledged to have seen it.The Friends of Highgate Cemetary are fantastic people who are not paid for their time,they really care about the welfare of the place and receive no funding whatsoever.Even the admission fee is taxed, so please donate if possible.
    I have visited the place twice and have made up my mind to become a friend of the cemetary,we need to save this beautiful place.

  40. Steve Golding Avatar
    Steve Golding

    In reply to Prabal – D.G.Rossetti is buried in All Saints Churchyard, Birchington, Kent. His monument was designed by Ford Madox Brown.

  41. I am a songwriter and I have written 3 songs about Lizzie now, I believe |I am becoming slightly obsessed, my mother shares my obsession as she was lucky enough to spend her childhood growing up in Highgate. I have been to highgate cemetry just once but unfortunately was not able to visit Lizzies grave… So thank you for posting these wonderful photographs!

  42. I have visited the old cemetary several times, once before it was shut to the public (fascinating, bits of coffin and bones strewn everywhere), then later when a ‘guided tour’ was required. During the tour, Lizzie’s grave and the grim story of her exhumation were mentioned in detail, and it was visited (IIRC Michael Faraday is buried quite near?)
    I suspect that morbid fascination – for this must be one of the most romantically morbid tales of all time – is partly responsible for her continuing fascination? I must confess, I am curious to know the truth concerning her exhumation, rather than the unlikely reassurances given to Rosetti that her ‘beauty had survived and hair grown to fill the coffin’ etc etc.
    Rosetti stands out as a selfish git to put it very mildly, if his last words to the poor woman were truthfully recorded. Little wonder he was consumed with guilt!

  43. Fans of Elizabeth may like to have a listen to The Ballad of Lizzie and Rossetti at whitefiresky.com. It really portrays the obsessive nature of their love – even after her death.

  44. In response to why Dante Rossetti is not buried in Highgate in the family plot, he specifically requested prior to his death that he not be buried in Highgate at all. As of yet, I haven’t been able to discover exactly what his reasons for that decision were — any other PRB buffs who know the answer?

  45. I visited Highgate Cemetary this morning, as I live nearby. At the end of the tour we visited Lizzie Siddall’s grave, it being 150 years since she died. There were two vases filled with lillies and flowers on the grave. I am sorry that I do not have photos, I decided not to take my camera today as I concentrate on what i’m looking at better without it! Thank you for your site, I found it, having returned from the visit keen to find out more information about her.

  46. Back in 1991, my sister and I had the pleasure of visiting England and Highgate Cemetery for the first time. At the cemetery, we had the most delightful tour guide (sadly, he has since passed away). He asked the group which parts of the cemetery we’d like to see but no one had any special requests – except me, of course! Being an avid Pre-Raphaelite fan, I begged him to see Lizzie’s grave. I didn’t know it was in the part of the cemetery that was off limits until he sadly informed me of the fact. My poor hopes were crushed, but only for seconds. With a twinkle in his eye and a bounce in his step, the elderly gent quickly set off to take us to the dangerous part of the cemetery.

    When we arrived at her grave, everyone was very quiet. The scenery was as romantic and sorrowful as one could hope. It was very moving just being there. But we were even more fortunate in having an enthusiastic guide who was a marvelous storyteller. My sister and I already knew the morbid tale of Lizzie’s life, death, and exhumation, but it was new to everyone else. Our guide relished his story and you could see the other visitors enjoyed it equally. But the best part, for me, was when he described Lizzie’s appearance. He slowly turned toward me while he described how her long flowing red hair and pale skin were still beautiful when she was exhumed, strongly implying supernatural causes and hinting at the possibility that she was still here with us. To my delight, all eyes in our group also turned to me, with my long flowing red hair and pale skin. I knew that was the reaction our guide wished to create and it’s something I’ll remember and enjoy forever!

  47. Ann Nelson Avatar
    Ann Nelson

    I’s a dream of mine to visit Highgate Cemetery, just to see Lizzie’s final resting place…I would leave her a small willow pattern dish, as she would have enjoyed in life.

  48. These are some amazing photographs, thank you for sharing them with us! Although the nature of graveyards might be dark, it truly does make for some beautifully haunting photography.

  49. Shelley Davenport Avatar
    Shelley Davenport

    I visited first in 1994 and had an excellent volunteer guide who, after giving the main group tour, took some of us quietly to visit Lizzie’s grave. She mentioned it was not on the prepared tour and only those who expressed an interest after the group tour might be taken to see Lizzie and a few other graves not on the main tour. The guide had long auburn hair and could have been a pre-Raphaelite herself! When I returned in 1995, I was told “No,no,no!!” by a male guide and told me it was impossible that I had seen the grave the previous year- “It is NEVER done!”. I am glad it is finally on the group tour. Very much depended on WHO you had for your guide as to what you got to see. Most all of them I ever met there were lovely and gracious and accommodating as circumstances would allow.

  50. I visited both Highgates in March 2013 and on the guided tour of the west Highgate the guide took us to see the Rossetti grave. It was very muddy and slippery and the grave did not make much of an impression on me until I actually connected the dots. I did not get great pics of the flat portion of the headstone, or the footpiece, but I was left wondering if there isnt a vault there? because it is a lot of people to be buried in 1 grave. Sadly though we only saw a small piece of the west cemetery, but it is magnificent and well worth seeing. I got the impression that the cemetery was more like a personal fiefdom of the Friends, but I do understand their point of view given how it had been vandalised before.

  51. Magdalena Avatar
    Magdalena

    Siempre me ha conmovido su angélica belleza y al conocer su trágica vida me conmueve aún más.
    Hoy, desde antes del amanecer, he escuchado una y otra vez a Chopin interpretado por Claudio Arrau, en un video en que se suceden los cuadros que de ella hizo Dante Rossetti. En un mundo tan terrible como el actual, la belleza expresada en la música, en la pintura, en la poesía, nos dicen algo de otra humanidad que pudo ser, que tal vez fue, que tal vez nunca será, pero que sobrevive en la soledad de los sepulcros, o en la niebla de los amaneceres, o en melancólicos atardeceres, o en noches oscuras o pálidas, o en la suavidad de la brisa o la furia del viento, o en la belleza de las flores… o en cada nota de música que escucho una y otra vez… una y otra vez…

  52. lee irving Avatar

    I have visited Highgate a few times. I live in London and its only about an hour away. Highgate should be on every visitors to see list. It is the most atmospheric place I ‘ve ever been to, very creepy but fascinating at the same time. The “old” cemetary is only open at weekends and you go round accompanied by a guide. The “new” cemetary is open every day and you walk round on your own. I cannot reccomend it highly enough. 10/10.

  53. Mary F. Sibley Avatar
    Mary F. Sibley

    Thank you so much for all the wonderful photographs. I have been to London but never thought to visit Highgate. I know at this stage of my life I won’t be making it back, so your kind courtesies in posting these images has allowed me to see the grave of Elizabeth Siddal. I don’t find the cemetery in the slightest creepy, but rather a welcome respite from the crazy, hectic world outside it. I wish I could walk its paths and explore its many avenues. Once again, my continued thanks. You’ve made my day!

  54. Margaret Wilkie Avatar
    Margaret Wilkie

    Here is my story. In October, 1990, my sister-in-law and I went to Highgate. When the small group of visitors gathered for the walking tour, we asked the guide, a middle-aged gentleman, if we night see Lizzie’s grave. He said no, that it was in a wild state, overgrown and dangerous. We explained that we had come from the U.S. specifically to see the PRB paintings at the Tate and the V&A, and had taken that day off specifically to see Lizzie. He saw how devastated we were. Suddenly he clapped his hands together and, looking each member of the group in the face, asked if everyone was up for a little hike. They all said yes, so off we went. The guide wasn’t kidding–the area was very overgrown, and it got darker and darker the closer we got to the gravesite. Finally we stood in the deep green darkness before the gravestone. It was covered in green moss a solid inch deep and totally unreadable. I was saddened beyond belief to see the Rossetti family and sweet Lizzie sleeping by themselves, forgotten and ignored. I bent down and literally clawed the moss off the gravestone. Everybody stood patiently waiting until the inscriptions slowly reappeared. It took awhile, but it was worth it. I felt so much better after we walked back. I will never forget that day.

    1. Thank you so much for sharing this.

  55. J. Thompson Avatar
    J. Thompson

    i was blessed enough to visit Highgate Cemetery in Oct 2019. there is now a path that leads to Lizzie’s burial place and it is easy enough to get to. all i had to do was ask the guide.

  56. Alicia Mills Avatar
    Alicia Mills

    Does anyone know where the Rossetti’s stillborn baby was buried? I have read many books and no one ever mentions this. I have seen nothing to indicate she is in the Rossetti plot at Highgate. This is really bothering me, is her grave unmarked, is the place lost to history? Also, although I know many parents did not name babies until it was determined they would survive, did the Rossettis have any names chosen that they planned for their child?

  57. Prabal Ray Avatar
    Prabal Ray

    My wife and I fulfilled a long held ambition to see the grave when we visited Highgate yesterday. We did the guided tour (excellent tour by a guide called Martin) but it didn’t include the Rossetti grave but we wander over and see it in our own time. The gravestone is very worn again, you can hardly see the writing on it, looks like it could do with another clean! Interesting that some member of the family was added only in 1983!

    I thought of the poem that Christina wrote about Lizzie, seems fitting when they are both in the same grave.

    One face looks out from all his canvases,
    One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans:
    We found her hidden just behind those screens,
    That mirror gave back all her loveliness.
    A queen in opal or in ruby dress,
    A nameless girl in freshest summer-greens,
    A saint, an angel — every canvas means
    The same one meaning, neither more or less.
    He feeds upon her face by day and night,
    And she with true kind eyes looks back on him,
    Fair as the moon and joyful as the light:
    Not wan with waiting, not with sorrow dim;
    Not as she is, but was when hope shone bright;
    Not as she is, but as she fills his dream.

  58. Prabal Eay Avatar
    Prabal Eay

    Just did some further research on who exactly is buried in the family grave. So the first person to have been buried there was Gabriele Rossetti, father of Dante Gabriel and Christina, in 1854. Then in 1862, Lizzie Siddal. So when the exhumation was done in 1869 to retrieve DGR’s book of poems, these were the only two in the grave and Lizzie’s coffin would have been uppermost at that time. Next would have been Francis, DGR’s mother in 1886. According to the victorianweb.org, Lucy Maddox Brown, the wife of DGR’s brother William Michael and daughter of Ford Maddox Brown is also buried here. She died in 1894, but according to wikipedia she is buried in Italy where she died. Next definite burial would have been Christina who also died in 1895. There is a great photograph of the funeral procession where the coffin is being carried through the cemetery at http://fannycornforth.blogspot.com/2015/11/prb-day-christina-rossetti-unlikely.html
    Next up would have been William Michael Rossetti himself in 1919. Following that we have William Michael’s son, Gabriel Arthur Maddox Rossetti who worked as an engineering works manager in Lancashire, in 1932. This man’s son, Geoffrey William Rossetti was next up in 1938. Gabriel Arthur’s wife, Dora Brandreth Rossetti would have followed in 1957. Then we have Harold Ford Rossetti, another son of Gabriel Arthur who was buried there in 1983! The latter was a civil servant. According to findagrave.com, Geoffrey William and Harold Ford’s sister Lucie Margaret Rossetti O’Connor (great nephews and niece of DGR) is also buried here though she doesn’t seem to be mentioned on any of the headstones. So that’s possibly 11 people buried in that grave! I presume that the grave still belongs to the Rossetti family and presumeably further people may be buried there in time! The Bible verse on the horizontal stone commemorating Lizzie and Christina reads “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” from the Book of Job chapter 13 verse 15.

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