I have a personal interest in the parlous state of Bancroft Road cemetery as my 3 x great-grandfather was a member of Maiden Lane synagogue and may have been buried there (although with the lack of records, I cannot find out). Following the recent mailings on this list on the subject, I contacted a researcher who is a member of another list (and who may be known to some BJ-ers) to find out if he had any more information. He has kindly agreed that I can pass on his thoughts - he is a frequent visitor to the London cemeteries as he is active in organising visits there, and he entirely endorses what has been said: "It's due to, from all that I have deduced over the years, the non staffing and non maintenance of the grounds. Four times a year visits, for example, would be acceptable by the community - at least it would look as if someone cares - even if the descendents of those interred, do not ! Closed cemeteries would be non viable propostition to keep open for any shul's burial society - so they deteriorate and are vandalized. Granted that the synagogues take exorbitant fees, old and closed cemeteries, especially the above mentioned closed ones are at the bottom of the pile in the priority stakes - even though some have reserved plots even after all these years. You would have read my e-mails, over the years, complaining about the closed gate policy with the east London grounds - "Health and Safety rules" - literally ! We are not allowed to wander around without supervision - and that's why genealogists aren't welcomed these days en masse. Yes of course it's OK with me for you to pass on my thoughts - hopefully there is someone out there, who could take up the baton and help me with said drum banging!" BJ-ers are not alone - there is a lot of concern out there. In my e-mail to my correspondent, I mused that it was scandalous that Judaism should mandate burial rather than cremation, and then allow its cemeteries to fall into such disrepair. Leaving aside respect for deceased ancestors, other historically important sites are required to be maintained and preserved, so why not these? Beverly Bergman Camberley UK