Exploring the History of Rio's 'English Cemetery' in Gamboa
After being ceded to the British by Dom João VI in 1809, the first burial at the English Cemetery took place in 1811, making the site well over 200 years old.
By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Situated around twenty minutes ride away on the VLT from central Rio’s Cinelândia station, the ‘Cemitério dos Ingleses’ (English Cemetery) in Gamboa is a true hidden gem that holds many fascinating stories about British-Brazilian interactions throughout the city’s history. Here’s why it’s well worth a visit, and how to get there.
Once inside the cemetery, which looks over the recently regenerated Porto Maravilha, the atmosphere is one of peace and English tranquility, photo internet reproduction.
Chris Hieatt, Honorary Treasurer of the cemetery, has been involved in its running for sixteen years. “The best way to get to the cemetery is either a taxi via Presidential Vargas, Central railway station, and then Gamboa tunnel, or via Tunel Santa Barbara and Santo Cristo. You can also catch the metro to Cinelândia and VLT to Gamboa.” He says. Once there, the cemetery presents itself like a typical English parish churchyard patched onto a distinctly carioca hillside.
As Hieatt previously wrote in The Rio Times, the oldest favela community in Rio, Morro da Providência, is now built around the boundaries of the cemetery. It is a juxtaposition that is typical of the city. The infamous ‘Teleférico da Providência’ (Providência Cable Car) can even be seen from the grounds.
With around 2,000 graves, marked and unmarked, there are plenty of remarkable stories held within the cemetery. Hieatt comments, “One of the more distinguished officers of the British Navy buried in the English Cemetery at Gamboa is Sir Michael Seymour, 1st Baronet, KCB.”
He continues, “After a long career in the navy, he became Commissioner of Portsmouth Dockyard, but after the post was abolished, was promoted to Rear-Admiral, and appointed to command the South America Station. He received a pension of £300 for the loss of his arm.”
More:
https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-travel/exploring-the-history-of-rios-english-cemetery-in-gamboa/
