Foster Street Burial Ground

Size: 0.28 hectares

Grid reference: TL 49065 09267 click here for Streetmap.co.uk 

Owners: Harlow baptist Church

Access: Open Access

Getting there and parking: This small burial ground is situated just east of the M11 motorway in the small hamlet of Foster Street. It is hidden behind a roadside hedge and access is via a small white gate off the road. Parking is difficult and must be done sympathetically on the road.

History: The origins of the site can be traced back to 1677 when William Woodward first established the churchyard then called “Potter’s Croft”. As non-conformists were not permitted to be buried in Anglican Churchyards this site acted as a joint burial ground for two churches at Four Street in Old Harlow and the other originally at Little Parndon, which later moved to Potter Street. William Woodward is believed to have set up both the churches. The most famous resident of the burial ground is Sarah Flower Adams, a hymn writer, who died in 1848 aged 43. Sarah wrote the piece of music which played as the famous liner the Titantic sank in 1912. For further information on the history of Harlow Baptist Church and the burial ground click here. 

Countrycare became involved with Foster Street in 2002 following an approach from local volunteers and historians regarding the overgrown plight of the churchyard. Since that time we have undertaken a series of volunteer days with a minimum of one a year. Many  of the graves have been cleared of encroaching bramble and scrub and the more open grassland areas are cut each year with the  cuttings be removed to the compost bin.   

What to see: The best time to visit to the site is in the springtime when the primrose, bugel and cowslips are at there best.  Later in the summer knapweeds, birds foot trefoil and plants like wild basil (pictured below) and lady's bedstraw come into flower attracting a range of butterflies. It is especally good for the speckled wood. The site cannot boast any highly significant trees, but there are a number of interesting yews including a old avenue which once received the horse, cart and coffins for burial.

The future: The site is overseen by the Harlow Baptist Church and Countrycare is looking into a management agreement to formalise Countrycare’s input.