Grave Tales of Intrigue & Murder

Stories behind the founder Alders, victims of notorious poisonings, a suffragette, as well as a magistrate who was involved in a £7milhon building society scandal, are planned to be featured in the Cemetery Heritage Walks on May 12 and May 28.

Organisers are currently researching 20 graves at Queens Road cemetery with interesting stories behind them and want to know more about a host of other burials.

One of the recent graves discovered at the Thornton Heath cemetery is that of Daniel Imhof, the celebrated maker of I music boxes. Originally from Germany, Imhof became a British national in 1856 and by 1883 his renowned shop, Imhof and Muckle, was established in New Oxford Street.

His retirement years were spent in Croydon and his sons carried on the business.

Since the discovery of his grave at Queens Road, the UK's Music Box Society wants to mark his grave with a plaque and hold a dedication ceremony in August.

Other graves at Queens Road cemetery which could be featured in the walk include those of Bridget Driscoll, believed to be the first person in the UK to be killed by a car, at Crystal Palace in 1896, as well as Richard and Elizabeth Beck and Joanne Blume - victims of murderer Richard Brindley between 1906 and 1907.

Ken West, bereavement services manager for Croydon Council's cemeteries and crematoriums, is currently researching around 20 graves to be included in the walk. He said; "We did one at Mitcham Road cemetery last year but this is the first event we're organising at Queens Road.

"There are many interesting stories behind some of these graves. Some of them are for people who are well-known, others are for quite ordinary folk, but they all have interesting stories connected with them."

Queens Road cemetery has a rich heritage and is the final resting place for some of the boroughs most famous, and infamous, characters.

The first burial, of Thomas Garniss a member of the Croydon Board of Guardians, took place in 1861.

James Hobbs JP, who together with his partner in crime Jabez Balfour, was involved in s £7 million building society scandal is also buried there.

All the victims of the famous Birdhurst Rise poisoning case in 1929 were laid to rest at Queen's Road cemetery, as was Thomas Geyle, Master of Croydon workhouse.

The two-hour history trail walks at Queens Road, and two others at Mitcham Road cemetery, promise to deliver stories of wealth, poverty, war deaths and crime. Admission is free.