London: Southwark Crossbones Vigil

The Crossbones graveyard is an historic burial site for paupers in Southwark, and reputedly contains the graves of the “Winchester Geese”, the sex workers licensed by the Bishop of Winchester in whose diocese the area was situated. The site has been turned into a garden of remembrance for the outcast dead and the shrine hosts a regular service held on 23rd of every month to commemorate them. The gates into the site are decorated with ribbons and flowers and there are many symbolic structures and features throughout the garden. At the Vigil, there are commemorative rituals usually performed by John Crow, the founder of the project, with songs and poems; as visitors are encouraged to share their own experiences, no two vigils are the same and the event website tells you to “expect the unexpected”.

Helpful Hints

The Vigil is always on 23rd of each month at 7pm, and there’s also a special event on 31st October for Hallowe’en. Attendance is free and visitors are encouraged to leave a memento or ribbon at the gates, or share a poem or song with the group.

The garden is open most weekdays staffed by volunteers.

Click here for the Crossbones website: http://crossbones.org.uk

and here for the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GooseandCrow

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