Grave & Headstone Cleaning at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
Tower Hamlets · E1 · Faith cemetery · opened 1657
Closed to new burials — but its memorials still stand, and families still visit. Older stone weathers hardest, so this is exactly the kind of ground that needs careful care.
Get a Free Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End QuoteIn short
Yes, though with care — the Velho Cemetery behind Mile End Road is the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the UK, and its limestone and marble stones, many with Portuguese inscriptions, are now severely weathered. This is treated as a conservation project rather than routine cleaning, using gentle, stone-safe methods, and access must be arranged in advance with the S&P Sephardi Community, as the site is normally locked.
About Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
The Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, behind 253 Mile End Road, is the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the United Kingdom, opened in 1657 and closed to new burials in 1735 when the nearby Novo cemetery opened, though a last burial took place in 1828. It is Grade II listed, disused, and closed to the public, but its historic stonework is still tended and can be visited by arrangement.
Access: Access is by prior arrangement with the S&P Sephardi Community, and the site sits behind campus security, so permission must be sought before any visit. Given the severe weathering, any memorial work is conservation-led.
- Opened
- 1657
- Administered by
- S&P Sephardi Community
Permission: memorial work here is governed by S&P Sephardi Community. In practice the registered grave owner’s consent is what we ask for, and we work to the site’s own memorial rules — see their memorial guidance, or our guide to who needs permission to clean a grave.
Communities We Serve Here
Services We Provide at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
Common Stone Types Here
How It Works at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
Tell us the plot
Send us the section and grave reference at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End. You do not need to attend — we come to you.
Free quote
We confirm the stone type and condition (a photo helps) and give a clear, no-obligation price before any work begins.
We carry out the work
Our specialist works gently with stone-safe methods, following the cemetery’s regulations — never pressure washing.
Before & after photos
You receive before-and-after photographs and a short written report, usually within 24 hours.
Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End is one of many burial grounds we care for across Tower Hamlets and the wider capital. We work in council, private, faith and heritage cemeteries throughout all 32 London boroughs and the M25 — see more cemeteries we cover, our grave cleaning service, or memorial care by faith and community.
For the wider area, see headstone cleaning in Tower Hamlets or headstone cleaning across East London.
Grave Cleaning Near Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
We care for graves across every borough in this part of London — explore grave and headstone cleaning by area.
Nearby Cemeteries We Cover
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a grave cleaned at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End?+
Yes. We provide professional, stone-safe grave and headstone cleaning at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End, following the cemetery’s regulations. Just give us the section and grave reference and we’ll do the rest.
Do I need to be present?+
No. We only need the cemetery name and plot reference. We send before-and-after photographs and a short report when the work is done.
How much does grave cleaning at Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End cost?+
A single headstone clean starts from £75 and a full grave clean from £85, depending on stone type, condition and access. We always provide a free, no-obligation quote first.
Is the Velho Cemetery the same place as the Novo Cemetery nearby?+
No — they are two separate historic Sephardi burial grounds in Mile End. The Velho, behind Mile End Road, opened in 1657 and is the older of the two. It closed to new burials in 1735 when the Novo Cemetery, now within Queen Mary University’s campus, opened to take over. Both survive today but are accessed separately and under different arrangements.
Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
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No obligation · We come to you
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Book a Visit to Velho (Old) Sephardi Cemetery, Mile End
Free, no-obligation assessment. Just tell us the section and grave reference.
Contact Us TodayPage last updated 24 September 2026