I love cemeteries. I love the history, the architecture, the silence and the peace and the beautiful grounds. Toronto's 1851 Necropolis is one of the best smaller cemeteries I've seen hands down in Toronto for sure. This site is not the original burial site for the thousands of people lying here now, but rather the dead in this beautiful spot were moved en masse from a burial plot close to now Yonge and Bloor Sts back in the mid 19th century; a bit of Toronto history there for you. Toronto does have history, but sadly, we tend to destroy the last remnants OF the city's history compared to say, Montréal.
That being said, there are a lot of important historical figures here in this beautiful spot in Cabbagetown and you can ask for a historical burial map in the cemetery office (common practice amongst many cemeteries). For example, one of our Fathers of Confederation is laid here, Sir George Brown (who owned the original Globe and Mail in the mid 19th century and Canada's oldest newspaper) and yes, the same named George Brown College; an important figure in our Confederation. All Fathers of Confederation's burial sites are Historical Monuments and taken care of in perpetuity by the Government of Canada.
The Necropolis oozes Victorian. The Chapel is quite non-denominational but the architecture is beautiful English Gothic Revival. A beautiful place to sit and take in the history. Another notable section of the cemetery is the lower portion, down the hill towards the back which leads to many of the Nation's World War Burials, especially World War I, which feels like you are walking amongst all the youngest members of Canada's early military, eager to sign up for a War they could never be prepared for. As a ritual, I always leave my Remembrance Day Poppy at a grave site of one of these young men many of them barely 17 years old. It's Canada's history and it is important not to forget those who served our nation.
Definitely worth a trip if you enjoy cemeteries , Canadian history, as well as beautifully taken care of grounds and Victorian architecture at its finest in Upper Canada - 1851 predates Confederation so this is a cemetery from the time of Upper Canada but a wonderful mix of Scottish, English, Irish are buried here representing 3 of the 4 original European countries, but all much later than the French who are the first true Europeans in Canada and are buried more in Montreal , Quebec, etc., and at that, Catholic cemeteries such as Toronto's Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery.
Regardless, take a walk during the autumn. It is like stepping back in time and the colours of the old maple and oak trees are wonderful ; this is a beautiful cemetery for some peace of mind amongst the busy city that engulfed it and is almost a cemetery almost forgotten. Go visit. You will love it. read more