Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park was originally called The City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery; it was also referred to as Bow Cemetery. 27 acres were purchased with an act of Parliament in 1841. The first burial, Walter Gray of Alfred Street, Bow taking place on 4th September 1841 in plot 1, Square 62. The cemetery was beautifully laid out with meandering paths and ornamental trees. Thomas Wyatt and David Brandon were tasked with this and the design of the two cemetery chapels. Sadly, the chapels were demolished by the Greater London Council in the 1960’s after the founding cemetery company went into bankruptcy. Old images of the chapels have been attached. The Greater London Council looked to turn the cemetery into a public park and a large number of gravestones were removed. Squares 32, 40, 41, 51, 61, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 have been cleared of some or all of the monuments that once stood there. Sporadic areas elsewhere across the cemetery park may vary in density of gravestones that remain. Despite the number of monuments that no longer exist, there are thousands that do remain. The number of burials that took place between 1841 to 1966 is estimated to be about 350,000. However, the cemetery records are not complete, and it can be challenging locating those interred in the cemetery through scant information. It is also said that by 1861, 80% of those buried were interred in public graves (those that were unable to afford a private grave). In 1990 the Friends of Tower Hamlet Cemetery Park were formed and now maintain it. In 2001 it was declared a Nature Reserve and a conservation area. The Friends have also done a huge amount of historical research and can help with grave searches.