William J. Haywood

William Haywood was born as the eldest of three children in Camberwell. His father was probably also called William Haywood. Nothing is known about his mother. In the census of 1871 he was no longer alone and living in Maida Vale. He died at 56 Hamilton Terrace, Maida Vale, on 13 April 1894.

He was probably educated in Camberwell. There are records suggesting he went to Camberwell Grammar School. Later he trained with George Aitchison (1792–1861).

• Illustration — Section of the Holborn Viaduct showing the subways, taken from his report for the Metropolitan Board of Works With Joseph Bazalgette he was responsible for the enormous undertaking of improving the London sewerage system, which enabled the growth of the city (Abbey Mills pumping station). He worked with James Bunning on the Holborn Viaduct. His main work is the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium. The facility was built near Little Ilford (now Manor Park) as a way of relieving the appalling overcrowding of London's church burial grounds (described e.g. in Dickens's 'Bleak House'). As the City was redeveloped the remains from many of its churchyards were reinterred there. Haywood was a pioneer of cemetery reform. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the London Volunteer Rifle Brigade. There is a small Gothic mausoleum, containing his ashes, near the gates of The City of London Cemetery and Crematorium.