Highgate Baroque Candle
Morbid London
Every city has a dark side... and some are much darker than others. London has been described as "a spectral city, so filled with imitations of its past that it haunts its own inhabitants".
From the toturous Tower of London to the vampire-crazed digging up of Highgate Cemetery, there are endless tales of spirits and specters eminating from the Big Smoke.
Whilst re-visiting my birthplace and thinking about the new collection I'd been working on, it seemed fitting that I paid homage to my hometown and the macabre history it holds. 💀
Highgate Cemetery
In the 1800's London's population was over 1 million and accompanied with a very high death rate (graves were crammed between shops and outside taverns). To combat this, the government decided to build seven new cemeteries across the city. The third of these was Highgate.
Setting the thousands of ghostly accounts of spectral faces, floating heads and exploding coffins aside for one moment there was also the tale of the 'Highgate Vampire'.
In the 1970's a group of satanists performed an awakening ceremony at the cemetery which disturbed a medieval nobleman and brought him to 'life'. The Highgate Vampire is said to be a tall, dark figure that glides through the cemetery. His presence is frequently announced by a sudden drop in temperature. He has also caused clocks and watches to stop. He terrifies all animals in his vicinity, and he’s been blamed for scores of dead foxes on the cemetery grounds. The Highgate Vampire has a hypnotic stare and bone-chilling effect on all who have encountered him, especially those foolish enough to spend the night in the cemetery.
Today, 170,000 people are buried at Highgate Cemetery in 53,000 graves on 37 acres. Plots are still for sale, subject to government restrictions and some notable people who not rest there are Malcolm Mclaren, Bob Hoskins and George Michael.
The Highgate baroque candle is scented with velvety suede, almonds, tonka and notes of amber. Highgate is smooth and can be described as a warm, everlasting hug.
No two baroque candles are the same. As each candle is handmade there might be some small beautiful imperfections and this will vary from candle to candle.
Made with 100% coconut wax each candle is of course vegan, incuding our braided cotton wicks.
Hand poured by Wolf Wytch in Nottingham, UK.
All images are © Copyright 2022 by Wolf Wytch