Written by Lauren
Rating: 5
VERIFIED
As a London Month of the Dead regular, I was chuffed to have an event around Christmas. The performance was fantastic and the atmosphere was perfect!
Description
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Something A Little Different, Theatre/Arts and Walks & Tours
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Tickets from £12.50
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n/a
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Sat, 18th Oct 2025 @ 13:30 - 15:00
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13:30 - 15:00
Ever wondered why we send flowers to funerals, or why
mourning horses wear elaborate feather plumes? Have you ever tasted
a funeral biscuit or questioned the etiquette of funeral attire? In
this illustrated talk, funeral historian Emma Sparre-Newman traces
the rise of the Victorian funeral director and how their role
helped shape many of the customs we still observe today and a few
that have thankfully been left behind.
Drawing on a wealth of social history and curious detail, Emma will
explore how industrialisation, urban living, and the rigid
expectations of Victorian society gave birth to the modern funeral
industry. From professional mourners and elaborate mourning garb to
death photography and the symbolism of flowers, this talk reveals
how 19th century values, anxieties, and aesthetics transformed the
way we deal with death. Join us to uncover the legacy of the
Victorians and the surprising stories behind the rituals that still
accompany us to the grave.
Emma
Sparre-Newman
Emma Sparre-Newman
developed an early interest in funerals as the daughter of a
country parson, observing firsthand how her father supported
bereaved families. After a detour into costume work at the BBC, she
joined a South London funeral firm where she worked for nearly 30
years, including roles as senior funeral director, training
manager, and service centre manager. In 2024, she became Cemetery
Services and Business Development Manager at Brompton Cemetery.
Emma regularly gives talks to diverse audiences, from the Police
and Clergy to museums, the Women’s Institute, and Gothic and
Steampunk events across the UK.
Offers
Promotions
Tickets/Times
| Ticket | Event time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Mourning Trade | 13:30 - 15:00 | £12.50 |
Location
Address
Brompton Cemetery Chapel, North gate off Old Brompton Road, South gate off Fulham Road, London, SW5 9JE
Nearest Station
West Brompton (Tube)
Getting there
Organiser
A Curious Invitation and Antique Beat
This year Antique Beat and A Curious Invitation will be hosting The London Month of the Dead, a series of 36 different events investigating the capital’s relationship with its deceased residents. Events will include a private view of the Museum of London’s bone archive, taxidermy workshops, macabre walking tours and private views and a programme of weekend death salons with talks on subjects ranging from public dissection and body snatching to reincarnation and funereal folklore. Each salon will feature a pair of speakers, authorities in fields such as osteology, forensic pathology and the paranormal, who will offer their own perspectives and insights on mortality in the city.
Each year the London Month of the Dead donates 20% of all ticket revenue to one of London's magnificent seven cemeteries. In 2017 all of the death salons and concerts will be hosted at the Dissenters and Anglican chapels at Kensal Green. In previous years the month's programme has centered around Brompton Cemetery but the chapel is now undergoing important restoration work, a project the London Month of the Dead is proud to have supported.
The London Month of the Dead has been curated by a Curious Invitation and Antique Beat to inform, entertain and provoke on the subject of death and London cemeteries.
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T&Cs
1. The ticket holder voluntarily assumes all risks and danger incidental to the event for which the ticket is issued, whether occurring prior, during or after the event. The ticket holder voluntarily agrees that the management, venue, event participants, DesignMyNight WFL Media Ltd and all of their respective agents, officers, directors, owners and employers are expressly released by the ticket holder from any claims arising from such causes.
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3. Please check your tickets, as mistakes cannot always be rectified.
4. Occasionally, events are cancelled or postponed by the promoter, team, performer or venue for a variety of reasons. If the event is cancelled, please contact us for information on receiving a refund from the responsible party. If the event was moved or rescheduled, the venue or promoter may set refund limitations. It is your responsibility to ascertain the date and time of any rearranged event.
5. The venue reserves the right to refuse admission and may on occasion have to conduct security searches to ensure the safety of the patrons.
6. Every effort to admit latecomers will be made at a suitable break in the event, but admission cannot always be guaranteed.
7. We regret that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase.
8. Tickets are sold subject to the venue or promoter's right to alter or vary the programme due to events or circumstances beyond its control without being obliged to refund monies or exchange tickets.
9. If this ticket is re-sold or transferred for profit or commercial gain by anyone other than the promoter, venue management, DesignMyNight or one of their authorised sub-agents, it will become voidable and the holder may be
refused entry to or ejected from the venue.
10. The venue may operate a No Smoking Policy.
11. The promoter, venue management and DesignMyNight accept no responsibility for any personal property.
12. The event listed on the purchased ticket is strictly for ticket holders who are over 18 years of age. Identification may be required.
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