For hundreds of years people were buried in their local churchyards, of which there are many in and around the city. However, following a mass migration of people to London, during the industrial revolution, the population exploded from 1 million to 2.3 million in just 50 years, resulting in churchyards becoming full.
In 1832, an Act of Parliament encouraged the creation of private garden cemeteries, outside of central London, as a way to relieve pressure on local churchyards. Various companies were formed, land bought and, between 1833 and 1845, eight private cemeteries were opened. They were: Kensal Green (1833), West Norwood (1837), Highgate (1839), Abney Park (1840), Brompton (1840), Nunhead (1840), City of London and Tower Hamlets (1841) and Victoria Park Cemetery (1845).
