The inscription on the granite obelisk on the family grave reads:                       JOHN CURWEN

           Born November 14, 1816, Died May 26,1880

He developed and promoted the Tonic Sol-fa Method of teaching music.

"Let the people praise Thee, O God; Let all the people praise Thee."

He died after a brief illness whilst on a visit to see his sick brother-in-law in Manchester. He received an impressive funeral in the City Of London Cemetery at Manor Park. It was estimated that between two and three thousand people attended on the 3rd June and Dr Stainer, then organist of St Paul's Cathedral, was among the official mourners. The family grave marked by a granite obelisk, lies to the south of a small screen of trees and bushes between the "North Boundary Road" and the "Poplar Road" towards the eastern end of the large cemetery. The inscriptions to John, his wife Mary, and the eldest son J. Spencer are wearing but that to J. Spedding Curwen is still legible. There is also one to Herbert Curwen, 1851-1905 the third son of the family.