Abney Park Cemetery

Abney Park Cemetery stands in Stoke Newington, part of the London Borough of Hackney. It began as private grounds in the early 18th century, laid out by Lady Mary Abney, Dr Isaac Watts and the Hartopp family. In 1840 it became one of London’s first non-denominational garden cemeteries. The site also served as an arboretum and educational institute. By 2000 it held nearly 200,000 burials. Today it is a Local Nature Reserve and Conservation Area. Its founders aimed to create a model resting place free from church control. They drew on American ideas from Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts. The entrance gateway, designed by William Hosking with Joseph Bonomi the Younger, uses Egyptian Revival style. The hieroglyphs spell out the ‘Abode of the Mortal Part of Man’. Critics like Augustus Pugin disliked the design, but others praised its scholarly approach. Visitors enter through the Egyptian-style lodge on Rectory Road. Inside, paths wind between mature trees and overgrown graves. The central chapel stands disused near a classroom and visitor centre. Wildflowers and grasses cover much of the ground. The park remains open daily for quiet walks and occasional events.