Highgate Cemetery Tour | Famous (and not so famous) British Museum graves | Curator's Corner S8 Ep9

Join Curator of ‘this and that’ Henry Flynn as he takes you, yeah you, on a British Museum themed tour of London’s Highgate Cemetery.
Highgate Cemetery is the final resting place of an incredible number of people you’ve almost definitely heard of. Philosopher, economist and political theorist; Karl Marx. Author and 6 ft 5 ape-descendant; Douglas Adams. Activist and founder of Notting Hill Carnival; Claudia Jones. Inventor of cinematography; William Friese-Greene. And of course, Thomas Watts; Keeper of Printed Books at the British Museum and man famed for having shelved over 400,000 volumes alone.
Okay so you may not have heard of Thomas Watts, but you will be very familiar by the end of this tour, where you will meet the artists, philosophers, writers, collectors and staff that have at one time or another contributed to the British Museum.
Huge thanks to Highgate Cemetery for letting us film at this incredible place for a day. If you'd like to visit the cemetery for yourself, you can find out about Highgate Cemetery Tours here: highgatecemetery.org/visit
CONTENT WARNING:
Henry really wants you to see his Doctor Who episode of Curator's Corner. Give it a watch if you haven't yet: shorturl.at/biIY2
Intro 0:03
Why was Highgate Cemetery built? 0:40
Grave of Douglas Adams 1:46
Grave of Henry Vaughan 3:38
Grave of Louisa Starr/Louisa Canziani 5:20
Grave of Thomas Watts 7:08
Grave of Karl Marx 9:15
Grave of Sir Colin St John Wilson, architect of the British Library 11:05
The British Museum British Library Bloomsbury site 11:45
Grave of Alfred Stevens, Wellington Monument 13:12
Conclusion 16:25

[@britishmuseum]

Want to see Henry Flynn talk very seriously about a bank note, and then play every single one of the Doctors from Doctor Who (look at the sky before you say anyone is missing)? Here's a link: shorturl.at/CPW48 Thanks again to Highgate Cemetery for giving us the day to film this tour. If you wish to see the Cemetery for yourself, tours are bookable here: shorturl.at/huJNV

[@kittling5427]

Enjoyable but the lack of subtitles is really crappy and means d/Deaf and hearing impaired folks can't enjoy it - time to shape up

[@britishmuseum]

If you hit the little CC icon on the KZbin player, human made captions are available. Promise.

[@JJONNYREPP]

Highgate Cemetery Tour | Famous (and not so famous) British Museum graves | Curator's Corner S9 Ep9 2055pm 27.7.23 hello, henry.. is it still ok to enjoy things in London?

[@kittling5427]

@@britishmuseum I had them on and not a single word was visible, I even tried switching it off & on again - still no subtitles 😐

[@cstz]

@@kittling5427 They appear fine to me?...

[@wilfredgon64]

He got me when he said "ah there you are". He was talking to me so I will eagerly watch.

[@nancytestani1470]

Love it…ha..

[@henryarmstrong9152]

There he certainly wasn’t 👀 Maybe a short filming time, no research needed, I know it all already 😅 A Disgrace to the British Museum, for allowing this clown to flaunt your wears 🤜🇺🇦🤛

[@henryarmstrong9152]

@@nancytestani1470what do you love about miss interpretation?

[@graemeskillen9262]

@@henryarmstrong9152 what on planet earth are you referring to?

[@jeplica7011]

Funny because I said it before I clicked and then he said it, so here we are

[@Scruffi]

Yeah, this guy is great! Knowledgeable, personable, clearly very comfortable in front of a camera, well-spoken, and with a perfectly wry sense of humor. Also clearly a Douglas Adams fan, which earns him a solid 6/5. I'd be okay if you had him on a lot more often.

[@jingojango9220]

What a very charming curator! Very interesting topic and good presentation, well done :)

[@britishmuseum]

We are very fond of our Henry

[@VictorLugosi]

He’s an annoying nerd

[@causewaykayak]

That was super. Just what you'd expect from The Museum . Informative, engaging, entertaining and In a nice way - a bit 'off the wall' Another win for the Curators !!

[@DJGlenR1979]

Highgate Cemetary is one of the most beutifu, serene and peaceful places in the country. So interesting as well

[@merlapittman5034]

I love, love, LOVE that the video begins and ends with the wonderful Douglas Adams! This is just a marvelous video all the way through. Henry Flynn is an excellent tour guide. More, please!

[@FloraWest]

This is my favorite place to recommend to anyone who visits England--an amazing spot!

[@loosetooth4888]

I was going to leave my collection of priceless Turner paintings & Michelangelo doodles to the Museum... but now I know, given the passage of time, that such an act is only worth two and half Alfies (!!!) I have changed my mind and am going to sell them all abroad instead. (On a more serious note, I very much enjoyed this Curator's Corner).

[@britishmuseum]

Well this blew up in our faces

[@causewaykayak]

😂😂

[@ktdid627]

If you write a divisive book and sit in the reading room a few times you will get more Alfie's. Just a suggestion.

[@DevilishScience]

Talking about The Interconnectedness of All Things, opposite Karl Marx is the tomb of the philosopher Herbert Spencer (I don't think he had any connection with the British Museum). So it's comforting to know that Marx and Spencer are together in death.

[@EmilyKingDoesAThing]

British Museum, please get this gent in more videos. So wonderful to learn from him! ❤

[@cancherodelplata]

Jarvis Cocker vibes really love how interesting he made this tour superb curator

[@spalmer4609]

As if the British Museum could get any better - yes, yes it can! This was zany and so very interesting. I've enjoyed Henry's Curator's Corner videos (and actually from all the curators!) and this one is wonderful. Two subjects rolled into one, what a marvelous idea! P.S. please tell Henry I enjoyed his Doctor Who video and watched again from the link. Plus the 10th Doctor is my favourite!

[@DeniseContaTudo]

Thank you so much. I loved it. Greetings from Brasil. I had a lifetime in England... Ahhh I miss those great times.

[@alocino96]

ok we need more of this, a lot more, first of all the video is super interesting, and super well shot and edited, loved the connection to dirk gently, best tv series ever togheter with doctor who, and that too was nominated, and also loved the idea of the video in itself, so all in all, we need more of this.

[@ladyliberty417]

Hi Henry!! Enjoyed this so much, good of you to walk us around- hard to choose amongst such interesting characters !! Thanks again!

[@Jon-cw8bb]

Wow that was very enjoyable and informative. Really felt like an informal chat

[@screetchycello]

I love how the person/people behind the camera are clearly having a great time too. Thanks, this is great!

[@jaysmith8199]

Henry Flynn is a very engaging and informative curator in one of my fav places to visit when I come to London. Thank you! (Although I do love the V&A as well as BM.... shhhhh, don't tell) 😊

[@madaug4389]

This was very interesting, thank you. I hope we get to see more of Henry and the cemetery.

[@kimbenson2920]

Hilarious! I've always wanted to tour around Highgate cemetery. I need to put it back on my extensive bucket list. Cheers.

[@rhijulbec1]

Brilliant! Henry ~dare I say it~caught my attention much the same as my favourite curator~Irving Finkle (isn't that just THE most brilliant name for a curator?). He's fun, interesting, lol worthy and the subject matter was super engaging. Normally we see pics of other "famous" residents in Highgate, so it was great to see lesser known but important contributers to The British Museum! As a UK loving Canadian, I'm hooked on The British Museum's channel! My hubby was a first generation Canadian from a Brit and Scot marriage. All four of my grandparents were UK immigrants, so my roots run deep. Thank you British Museum for keeping us enthralled! And thank you for all the curators who present us with so much history! I am: Jenn in Canada 🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦

[@tompommerel2136]

Great commentary with the right kind of enthusiasm for 'forgotten' people.

[@Ai-he1dp]

Oh dear, this wonderful presentation will make this tranquil haven in London a tourist attraction, tickets, popcorn, rubbish, selfies, memes and heaven knows what...

[@paulkinzer7661]

I find it bit odd to think that the best word to describe this tour of a place full of mostly-forgotten dead people in often-poorly-marked graves is 'fun'. Well done!

[@buttercup331]

please have henry do more cemetery tours, absolutely loved this video!

[@eliengroot8115]

Wonderful patter! Atour of Highgate is now on the bucket list :)

[@manuellubian5709]

Hello Mr. Flynn. What a lovely video indeed. I definitely enjoyed the visual walk around and do hope that I see you again touring perhaps, another part of London. Three questions for you: 1) This video is listed as being a "Fundraiser". I'd like to know what specifically is it a fundraiser for? 2) I would also like to find out IF, Highgate Cemetery is basically one of a cluster of seven cemeteries that dotted around London in the early years of the 19th Century how come we don't hear very much about the other, 5 or 6 cemeteries too? 3) Is Highgate Cemetery also the same famous / infamous cemetery where in which part of it was designated as the, "The Covenanters Cemetery", or Covenanters prison yard? Again, great video. Hope to see you again in another edition of the Curators Corner.

[@Arthur-pj7db]

the presenter is mesmerizing and so natural cant help but be drawn in to this ..time flew by more please 🙏

[@andykellens7237]

Very entertaining presenter, and of course extra (geek) points for the Douglas Adams reference.

[@My-hat]

YES! Get this chap his own BBC series. I’d toast to that. He really gets stuck in with enthusiasm and digs deep with his knowledge. I’d give him about 350 Alfies. C’est super!

[@waynemanning3262]

I toured Highgate with my family just before Covid. I can’t recall our tour guides name but she was the best tour guide I’ve ever had anywhere! I would highly recommend the tour, the cemetery is absolutely beautiful!

[@kenc2257]

Goodness! This was unexpectedly enjoyable, as well as being brilliantly informative. I've visited many British churches, but usually just glance over the church graveyards (though many of the old headstones are beautifully artistic). Never had a tour of any London cemetery; this one was outstanding.

[@kaloarepo288]

"Farewell and thanks for all the fish" - that would have been an appropriate epitaph on Douglas Adam's grave!

[@wilfriedholscher7029]

Wonderfully entertaining and informative. Thanks from Germany 🇩🇪

[@By-the_Way]

That was a superb presentation! I've always wanted to visit Highgate Cemetery but I kept missing the chance (I don't live in the UK anymore, which makes the visit even harder...). Would love to go one day.

[@rosescott9299]

Loved this! Somehow seeing someone’s final resting place often seems to just wrap up their story , shows the end chapter to some truly remarkable tales. Absolutely beautiful cemetery, thanks for the tour!

[@peterbockholm3176]

I have only been abroad once, from Sweden, and that was a weekend trip to London in the summer of 1999. Some time before the trip I had seen a reportage from Highgate on tv and immediately decided that I had to visit. It was a wonderful experience, it was a beautiful sunny day and our guide was a lovely elderly lady that strongly resembled Miss Marple as portrayed by Joan Hickson, both in her appearance and how she talked. For me she was an attraction of her own, delightfully charming. Back then the place was a total and absolutely wonderful mess, it was like a jungle with leaning and broken headstones and monuments everywhere amongst the thick vegetation. There was only one path that was cleared up enough to walk safely and we had to suffice with seeing what could be seen from there. This only path started at the entrance and ended up at the top of the hill. I can't remember if it was on the way to the top or a detour but we were also able to go through the Egyptian tunnel and see that area. Our lovely guide made the tour last two hours with many interesting stories told. One being about an infamous publisher that wasn't allowed a chamber in the prime location on top of the hill, so out of spite he bough the plot in the middle and erected a high building for his grave. There was also a heartwarming story about a fighter and his dog and one about a man who pioneered the concept of building your own furniture Ikea-style. But she was very strict on one thing, no one was allowed to leave the path simply because one could get lost in the jungle, it had happened. I remember that she told us about the many trees, she actually gave us an exact number of how many trees that there were in the cemetery when it opened. We were stunned, but because of the low number it sort of stuck. It's been 24 years but I'm quite sure that she said seven trees in that side. Her explanation for the jungle of trees and vegetation was simple and logical, some years after WW 1 the gates were locked and not opened again for many years (in the 70's?) so the nature claimed the land as it will do. It was unforgettable, I will come back someday.

[@kaivalyam_healing]

I loved reading your story!

[@peterbockholm3176]

@@kaivalyam_healing Thank you. 😊

[@kingman.mp4]

Henry has some excellent corners

[@l.a.glover9172]

It's a good thing this video has closed captions, since Henry speaks so quickly that he's difficult to understand. That being said, he's great fun. Slow down, Henry!

[@plainnpretty]

This was very interesting and well done. I’d like to see you do another video. Thanks for sharing this

[@kitjank]

Really enjoyed this video. Henry was very informative and entertaining! Hope to see more videos like this one!

[@jgiard9030]

I love all of the Curators Corners but this is my favorite to date!

[@elizabethnash7491]

So enjoyable and interesting - plus featuring the great Douglas Adams - Many thanks!

[@tien65]

i love this ep so much. please do more about this

[@maggiedaniels9562]

Very informative and lots of fun. Great job!!! I would love to take a tour with this guide.

[@emmakane6848]

I was just researching the Highgate Cemetery and feel singled out over my love of doctor who, so this video just kept making me believe in the interconnectedness of the universe. Lovely tour and this entire video was incredibly well done.

[@lindaisenegger163]

This was absolutely fantastic!

[@Boogledigs]

Very unusual and highly entertaining. I learnt an enormous amount and loved it.

[@AM-mw2wu]

I've just found your channel. As I'm a history fan, I'm not disappointed. Thank you for these wonderful videos.

[@characterkinginc8935]

Great job!!! Very informative and personable!

[@barbarabauling7513]

That was lovely! I've always wanted to visit Highgate Cemetery. The stories behind the epitaphs make this visit so much more interesting! Well done! 5 Alfies to you Henry :)

[@JamesHill-su2jo]

Very unique perspective and presentation. Loved it

[@juliawaters9576]

Excellent topic made all the more fascinating by Henry Flynn. Delightful.

[@bradfordbarrettluckotheIrish]

Fascinating tour!

[@lilaclai6560]

Very interesting and enjoyable. Well done!

[@avtumghysw780]

Extremely personable and engaging curator. Very cool guy, and some interesting stuff about one of my favourite authors (Adams). Much love to you guys for the great work you do and bringing this knowledge to all. What a great job to have. Lovely video.

[@harrystout6595]

Well done. Very entertaining and you have added a must see to my next trip to London.

[@pixies646]

Charming presentation. Best one yet

[@jameshaddan8538]

Great tour - thank you!

[@antonyholden300]

Thoroughly entertaining and informative. Makes me want to visit the cemetery myself.

[@gybgy51]

Bravo! Entertaining & enlightening.

[@kinglm1]

So fun! More Henry!

[@hmsmowood]

What a delightful man. What a magical coat. And a Victorian Gothic cemetery, and interconnectedness with museums, and Doctor Who. I am positively enchanted.

[@VictorLugosi]

It’s a basic gentleman’s peacoat..

[@maggiecorrigan2705]

This is awesome! I’ve always wanted to visit Highgate, I’ve heard they have some incredible Cedars of Lebanon planted in the section of it that’s modeled after Egypt. Loved this tour!

[@skep41]

Loved this with a great big 'thumbs up' love. Highgate has been on my list and the next visit to London will certainly include it in my itinerary. Henry Flynn is da bomb!

[@greenman6141]

In the late 90s you could only go around the west cemetery with a tour guide. I hadn't been in a while, so I joined a tour, led by a typcially wry and amusing fellow. He talked about various things, told stories, showed graves. Sometimes a person would walk by, and our guide would shoot a suspicious look. This happened a few times, and eventually he pointed at a man walking past and said in an accusatory tone "Are you a vampire?" there was a muttered conversation, and the man walked off. The guide turned back to us, and realized we were staring at him like he'd lost his mind. "Lately people turn up for tours, look normal enough, bit pale...like students.. Seems fine, we're talking George Elliot... they chuck their coats and bugger off shouting they're vampires.. It takes bloody hours to round em all up."

[@Tim_Weaver]

Henry knows where his towel is 🙂

[@singing-sands]

So interesting that was disappointed when it ended! So ~ I adjusted the speed to .75 and watched it all again. You really are a very fast talker! 😊

[@kmgreves]

loved this video ,, thank you

[@lauriesims9116]

The guy who didn't finish anything gets Five while Thomas Watts, who finished his whole life by dying in the museum, only gets Four?! A travesty I say!

[@britishmuseum]

Sadly Watts did not invent the Alfie, and thus can't get 5 of them, because he didn't invent the scale. It's not fair, but thems the rules.

[@sophiegeorge2816]

Because the one who didn’t finish anything had a tenuous relationship with the British museum

[@carolowen6242]

That was very interesting. Thank you.

[@kimberlybates6261]

I enjoyed this very much.

[@-xirx-]

I've always wanted to visit this cemetery. Some day I shall..

[@britishmuseum]

Do it! We don't cover anywhere near enough of the amazing people there in this tour. Hope you enjoy

[@colincharlton9339]

I also want to visit this cemetery, on personal terms, is it haunted...or just full of druggies? There are some famous people buried there. .yes, I wish one day I visit that cemetery

[@SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers]

Don’t leave it tooooooooo late.

[@Liofa73]

@@SqwarkParrotSpittingFeathers -- Or... leave it too late. :)

[@britishmuseum]

Beat me to it

[@nancyk1056]

What a fun tour , loved it

[@lindacurtis7267]

Very interesting , educational and entertaining. Wish I’d had a history teacher like that!

[@deborahdufel1664]

Being embraced and included with the curator is lovely. ❤

[@joandiamond6788]

I would love to come to England just to have a tour with your Henry Flynn. Knowledgeable, but also able to speak to bring the listener in. No one would feel they are being talked down to. Great presentation.

[@LindzTheLooneyOfLondon]

I would love to hear more about the less talked about encumbants sleeping away time at Highgate Cemetary. I have been there twice to a funeral at am always left wondering about the stories laid beneath each stone, sadly my mobility prevents my wandering so this video was a truly fantastic insight thank you

[@pathwalker1762]

Thank you so much, that was wonderful. I hope one day to visit myself. And as a huge Douglas Adams fan it was great to see Thank you.

[@ronrossi8475]

A great way to learn. Now I need to visit next time and see some more.

[@Anne.2024]

Would love to hear more from this young man

[@aw7331]

Great presentation thank you

[@rebekahbrown4052]

I can’t believe how good these videos are

[@catherinepoloynis]

Thank you, very educational!

[@jennywolff2120]

Thank-you very much for this interesting tour! When we were in London the last time, there was not enough time for Highgate, so we had to skip it. This is why I always had the feeling, I should come back to London for this. But luckily, this video helps out now (..of course, there are more reasons, why one should come back & I would love to stay for longer than just holiday times as well). It is really great to see all those famous people lying around the corner, without having known each other in real life.❤

[@Toms3110]

bloody marvelous video.

[@stevemyers8330]

Dirk Gently would be proud of you!

[@marthavillegas6250]

Great compilation, thanks to the handsome Henry Flynn. 💕

[@paolabolognese3530]

Great interesting video! Well done ✔️ 😊

[@user-nc2oc3kg5o]

This is a very interesting video. The curator is very well informed.

[@waif1597]

Best Curator's Corner Ever!

[@mikkelclemmensen381]

I really enjoyed this.

[@johnshields6852]

Very intelligent commentary, great cadence. Thank you.

[@maj0rsquish]

I loved this. And got a good book recommend as well

[@bookofdust]

Circa 1992 I took a tour where a guide told the story that Bram Stoker had observed people visiting an underground mausoleum that had clerestory windows that allowed light into them and saw people walking around below and it was part of his inspiration for Dracula. It was a unique mausoleum as you descended down to it at ground level and only a bit of it was above ground and you were basically looking down on the roof when you were standing by it. It wasn’t to far in from the main gate on the old side and I feel like they told the Dante Rossetti exhumation story about the same time. Possibly because the grave was nearby, or possibly the similar ghoulish literary nature of it. I’ve researched far and wide, but I’ve never found confirmation of the Stoker story, where the Dante poetry manuscript is well documented. Does this ring a bell? Is there a source for it? Or was it a Lettuce & Lovage moment from our tour guide that day?

[@Charlotte66666]

Did the tour many years ago and it was wonderful ❤

[@nancyM1313]

Wonderful channel & uploads. Tfsharing ❤

[@shylockwesker5530]

Thank you. I learned about this cemetery from "The Ink Black Heart" by JK Rowling. It was nice to get a virtual guided tour.

[@dubudubudan]

this is so cool, very engaging