Muslim Burial Ground, Woking

Woking’s Muslim Burial Ground is a unique Grade II listed site tucked away on the south east corner of Horsell Common. Bounded by ornate brick walls it has a domed archway entrance reflecting the design of Woking's Shah Jahan Mosque. It was built during the First World War as the only designated place of burial for Muslim soldiers who had died at the temporary Indian Army Hospital in Brighton Pavilion. The bodies of 19 Muslim were taken from Brighton to the burial ground but with subsequent Muslim burials taking place at Brookwood Cemetery the Horsell site fell out of use. During the 1960s the site was vandalised and the bodies were removed to the Military Cemetery section at Brookwood.

Surrey History Centre holds mainly published sources relating to the Muslim Burial Ground including:

Remembering forgotten heroes, exploring the Indian Army contribution to the First and Second World Wars (English Heritage, 2005) 940.46  

A hidden history, the Chattri and The Muslim Burial Ground (Woking Galleries, 2004), 940.46

Cockett, Tina, The Muslim burial ground, Horsell Common, Woking, (Woking Galleries, 2004), 940.46

Few original sources survive but the following are easily accessible:

The National Archives holds records Ref.MAF 25/53 - Surrey: Horsell Common: re Moslem [sic] Cemetery, Inclosure 1916-1922; and Ref.WO 32/18578 & 18579 - Proposed purchase of land for a Mohammedan Cemetery at Woking, Surrey, 1914

English Heritage holds contemporary photographs of the burial ground when completed. Email: nmrinfo@english-heritage.org.uk

The Lightbox (formerly Woking Galleries) include information about the Burial Ground in their display http://www.thelightbox.org.uk/

The Black History website records the use of Brighton Pavilion for Muslim soldiers during First World War
http://www.black-history.org.uk/woking.asp

Original archive film footage of Indian servicemen at Brighton Pavilion is held by Screen Archive South East http://www.brighton.ac.uk/screenarchive/

Other information is available online at:

Brookwood Cemetery website http://www.woking.gov.uk/woking/heritage/crem

Horsell Common Preservation Society website: http://www.horsellcommon.co.uk/mosburygrndhc.htm

Postcard of the Muslim Burial Ground, 1937 (Ref. PC/160/ALB1/84)

Entrance to the Muslim Burial Ground (courtesy of Janet Nixon)

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