Hackney Archives

Aims: We are a charity aiming to maintain a historic park that became the first non-denominational Victorian London cemetery. It was also the first private cemetery near London to be open to all classes of people. Unique in many other ways too, the park is now a nature reserve, place of memory and outdoor learning centre. Our park is part of a ring of London walks and has a classroom and visitor facilities which we hope to upgrade. This website includes history and ecology, how to volunteer, find out about family history, join training courses and children's workshops, or simply explore the park with its varied programme of events and enjoy one of London's green spaces.

Introduction: Abney Park is a historic C18th century parkland preserved in memory of Dr Isaac Watts and Lady Mary Abney. These are the grounds where Isaac Watts wrote a number of his hymns and verses; the site of a novel Quaker girl's school where the first school bus in the world was introduced, and an early Methodist training college. In 1840 most of the historic park was set aside as the first wholly non-denominational garden cemetery in Europe; a largely Congregationalist enterprise. It became a celebrated example of a Victorian 'rural cemetery' modelled on Mount Auburn in America. At this time it also contained a free public arboretum of immense proportions.

Today Abney Park is a local nature reserve and centre for arts and stone masonry training. It also offers a school classroom and associated out-doors activities. Some parts of Abney Park are still, ocassionally, buried in as a courtesy to people who once held family plots from the private cemetery company before it closed in 1978; this is discretionary and requires the permission of Hackney Council.

Architecture: The listed frontage includes the earliest example in Europe of cemetery buildings designed in the 'Egyptian Revival' style, comprising two Temple Lodges, pylons and gates. Abney Park Cemetery has the only complete cemetery frontage designed in this non-European style (which caused controversy at the time) - it is beautifully decorated with sacred lotus flowers and hieroglyphics, now over 150 years old.

In the heart of the park is the dramatic Abney Park Chapel; also a century and a half old and uniquely and purposefully designed in every detail. It is the first example of a non-denominational cemetery chapel in Europe, contributing a new style of cemetery architecture. The cemetery chapel became the first to use a single chamber open to all, and to portray its non-denominational chacter further it demonstrated a careful balance of both gothic and romanesque features. The chapel includes rare ten-part (botanical) rose windows, and an elaborately decorated south face with castellated turrets containing newell staircases for viewing. These lie either side of an ornamented ogee arch facing the axial vista toweards Church Street in memory of Dr Watts and Lady Mary Abney.

Educational Tree Collection: Originally Abney Park also had the largest arboretum of any European cemetery, containing 2,500 trees and shrubs arranged this in an unusual alphabetical fashion, along with a rosarium, conifer walk, and other landscape attractions.

Today, Abney Park is the only surviving landscape work of George Loddiges and the remains of the tree collection can still be found. Modern-day Urban Oasis Today this splendid park is conserved as an osais of open space of international historical, religious and architectural importance, and of regional nature conservation significance. This precious woodland estate is jointly managed by both the local community and the council under an arrangement that has now been ongoing for nearly fifteen years.

Notes for Visitors: Although the park is managed in a manner similar to a disused burial ground or Open Space, and more than 21 years has elapsed since the cemetery company closed, some parts are still ocassionally buried in as a courtesy to people who once held family plots from the private cemetery company; so please respect their relatives' wishes and quietitude. The calm, quiet nature of the park is particularly attractive to birdlife, for which the estate is renowned, along with an equally uncomon butterfly population, making this an important Local Nature Reserve.

The grounds, which form part of the Capital Ring strategic walk through London, are normally open each day to visitors for free public and community use; ocassional exceptions to this are notified in advance.

There are photography charges and location fees for commercial and non-commercial film makers who should apply to the Trust for permission and prices. Access for community and artistic events, early morning bird spotting etc., can be arranged outside the public hours by permission of the Trust, but please note that for such events there may be an entry charge.

For use of the environmental classroom and children's garden, or to join accredited training courses for adults, please inquire as above.

The Trust produces a quarterly newsletter and would be grateful for any interesting articles from people in connection with the site. To receive the newsletter you can join the 'Friends of Abney Park' for £12 per year or £6 concessions.

Abney Park Cemetery News

Hackney Archives