Look for the “Dissenters’ Corner”—the graves are all plain, no crosses, because these folks were non-Anglican Protestants. They didn’t do fancy. They did austere.
Also, check out the little iron hooks on the edge of some tombs. Those were for coffin-lowering ropes. They look creepy, but they’re just practical. Victorian multitasking.
The Dark History of Bunhill Fields Burial Ground — The Alternative Guide
And you’ll see graffiti, but the good kind. Tiny carved initials, maybe a “W.B.” for Blake. It’s like a history book you can touch.
A Little Practical Advice
Go on a sunny weekday, around 2 PM. You’ll have the place almost to yourself. Grab a coffee from the tiny café down the street and just sit on a bench.
Don’t take a selfie with a pout. That’s rude. But a respectful photo of a crooked tombstone? Absolutely.
And if you see a stray pencil by Blake’s grave, leave it. It’s an offering. The spirits like stationery, apparently.
