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Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in the Kensal Green area of Queens Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. Inspired by Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, it was founded by the barrister George Frederick Carden. The cemetery opened in 1833 and comprises of grounds, including two conservation areas, adjoining a canal. The cemetery is home to at least 33 species of bird and other wildlife. This distinctive cemetery has memorials ranging from large mausoleums housing the rich and famous to many distinctive smaller graves and includes special areas dedicated to the very young. It has three chapels and serves all faiths. It is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London. The cemetery was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem "The Rolling English Road" from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green." Despite its Grecian-style buildings, the cemetery is primarily Gothic in character, due to the high number of private Gothic monuments. Due to this atmosphere, the cemetery was the chosen location of several scenes in movies, notably in Theatre of Blood. The cemetery is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It remains in use. The cemetery is in Kensington and Chelsea, but the remainder of the area named Kensal Green is in the London Borough of Brent. An Act of Parliament was passed in the 1830s which allowed joint-stock companies to purchase land and set up large cemeteries outside the boundaries of the City of London. The "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries were all laid out about the same time (1832–41). Highgate Cemetery, where many dignitaries are buried, is the most well known: the others are Nunhead, West Norwood, Tower Hamlets Cemetery, Brompton, and Abney Park. [edit] Resources
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