The inner-city cemeteries, mostly the graveyards attached to individual churches, had long been unable to cope with the number of burials and were seen as a hazard to health and an undignified way to treat the dead.

The Victorian attitude to death and its presentation[clarification needed] led to the creation of a wealth of Gothic tombs and buildings.

It occupies a spectacular south-facing hillside site slightly downhill from the top of Highgate hill, next to Waterlow Park.

In 1854 a further 19 acres (8 ha) to the south east of the original area, across Swain's Lane, was bought to form the eastern extension; this opened in 1860.

The west side of the Cemetery is characterised by elaborate feature tombs, vaults and winding paths dug into hillsides.

Fireman's corner is a monument erected in the East side by widows and orphans of members of the London Fire Brigade in 1934.

Those whose graves could not be marked by headstones are listed on a Screen Wall memorial erected near the Cross of Sacrifice in the west side.