Brent Council is introducing additional safety measures around the historic chapels at Paddington Old Cemetery
Brent Council has introduced new safety and security measures around the historic chapels at Paddington Old Cemetery after recent structural inspections identified concerns about their condition.
The chapels date back to the 1850s and, despite repairs over the years, their condition has deteriorated. On the advice of specialist consultants, the council's immediate priority is to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and contractors while further investigations and assessments are undertaken.
The Grade II listed chapels are an important part of the cemetery's heritage. They remain on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, and the Council recognises the strong interest from residents, community groups, Friends of Paddington Cemetery and heritage organisations in seeing the chapels restored and brought back into use.
Safety measures completed to date
From mid-August 2026, several new additional safety measures have now been implemented around the chapels, including:
- Extending the existing restricted area to make sure visitors, staff and contractors stay a safe distance away from the structure.
- Improving the barriers to clearly mark the area that is off-limits and keep it secure when staff are not around.
- Boarding up vulnerable windows and doors into the chapels to prevent unauthorised access.
- New signage has been ordered, warning visitors of the potential risks and explain the safety measures in place. These will be installed as soon as possible.
- Extra signs directing pedestrians and vehicles safely around the affected area.
These measures are intended to provide additional protection while specialist investigations and any necessary safety works are carried out.
The Council has spent several years exploring options for the future of the chapels. A restoration project is estimated to cost millions of pounds, and a significant part of this work has involved discussions with Historic England and other organisations regarding potential funding. The Council has also commissioned surveys, structural inspections, repair work and a major study examining potential restoration options and future uses.
While restoring the chapels remains the council's long-term ambition, the immediate priority is to ensure the buildings are safe and secure and to fully understand the work required to protect them for future generations.
The latest structural assessments have identified the need for further investigation before decisions can be made about the long-term future of the buildings. The Council will continue to review the safety arrangements as further information becomes available and will introduce additional measures where necessary.
The Council recognises the strong community and heritage interest in the chapels and is reviewing its communication and engagement arrangements to ensure that local residents, Friends of Paddington Old Cemetery and other interested groups receive timely updates as significant milestones are reached.
The Council would like to thank visitors and cemetery users for their cooperation while these safety measures are in place. Visitors are asked to follow all warning and directional signage and to respect the exclusion areas and barriers for their own safety.