Highgate Cemetery Charity

This charity was established by deed on 12 May 1988 which was followed by a Supplemental Trust Deed dated 7 April 1991. The charity was absorbed into the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust on 11 March 2010.

The freehold of the Cemetery was purchased from Raybourne Group Ltd, which owned United Cemeteries Ltd, using the vehicle of a pre-registered shell company, Pinemarsh Ltd, in March 1981. The two new directors of Pinemarsh Ltd, Mrs June J. Marriott and Mr Bryan Morris, decided not to pass the ownership of the cemetery to the Friends of Highgate Cemetery but, in 1988, established the new charity, Highgate Cemetery Charity, to hold the freehold; Pinemarsh duly transferred its ownership of the cemetery to this charity that same year.

Highgate Cemetery Charity was the third charity involved with the running of the Cemetery; the others were the Friends of Highgate Cemetery (whose members did the day-to-day management of the Cemetery) and the Highgate Cemetery Trust (whose trustees provided advice to the Friends). Its trust deed stated that the Friends of Highgate Cemetery and Highgate Cemetery Trust had to approve the appointment of Highgate Cemetery Charity trustees.

Highgate Cemetery Charity delegated its responsibility for the day-to-day management of the cemetery to the Friends of Highgate Cemetery who were required to report to the Trustees of Highgate Cemetery Charity once every 6 months regarding the management and financial position of the cemetery, their plans and future proposals.

In 1988 Highgate Cemetery Charity passed its shares to the Highgate Cemetery Trust but the land was vested in the Official Custodian for Charities with management remaining the responsibility of Highgate Cemetery Charity and through that body to the Friends. Pinemarsh Ltd was initially continued with the sole purpose of processing grant money received from the London Borough of Camden. This grant money was paid to Highgate Cemetery Charity from 1989 and Pinemarsh was merged with the Friend's operating company, Highgate Cemetery Operating Co. Ltd.

In March 2010, Highgate Cemetery Charity was linked to the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust which became its one corporate trustee.

Charity

This new charity had the following aims:-
(i) To ensure the proper management of the Cemetery and promote the conservation of the Cemetery itself, its monuments and buildings, flora and fauna and the beauty of their setting for the benefit of the public
(ii) To ensure the Cemetery was operated as a public burial ground
(iii) To secure the repair, restoration and preservation of the Cemetery’s monuments, buildings and other artefacts in their setting

Deed,12 May 1988, followed by a Supplemental Trust Deed dated 7 April 1991.

March 2019