A Curious Invitation present London Month of the Dead
DEAD MAN'S PLACE - 2,000 Years of Death in London
A Guided Tour around Bankside and Old Southwark with Caroline Swan
Sunday 8th October 2023 at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm

Ever since Roman Londinium was first built on the north bank of the Thames, the area to the south of London Bridge has been the place where Londoners from all backgrounds could find people, industries and institutions whose activities were not permitted by the strict rules of the City. This walk will bring to life this area's colourful past, including how Dead Man's Place got its name, Southwark's earliest African residents, the fate of the severed heads displayed on London Bridge, the tragic story of Crossbones Graveyard and why thousands of people originally buried near Borough Market now lie at rest in Surrey. An exploration of the long-lost streets, buildings and burial grounds of Bankside and Old Southwark can cast a light on some of the people who have lived and died here over the centuries.

Caroline Swan's walk through this fascinating part of London will bring to life its history and a rich cast of characters including brewers, activists, prostitutes and even bodysnatchers.

Tickets £12 including a 20% donation toward a host of restoration projects at Kensal Green Cemetery. Please click here to buy.

Caroline Swan
Caroline Swan is a London-based historian, accredited tour guide and author of the Flickering Lamps blog. She writes about the histories behind often-familiar buildings, parks and - of course - graveyards: a single grave or an unusual street name can often reveal strange, moving, and sometimes even disturbing stories about the past.

Image Credit - Skulls: twenty-one skulls or parts of skulls arranged in four rows. Public domain photograph courtesy of the Wellcome Collection