Abney Park Cemetery

(Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest, Description, 1987)

Grade II
Ref. no. TQ3386 / G1095

       

Mid C19th public cemetery, 13ha.

The cemetery was designed and laid out by William Hosking 1839-43, on a site of two earlier properties – Abney and Fleetwood. Cemetery opened 1840. Twin Lodges to south-east, and Chapel to centre of Cemetery, by Hosking.

The originally well-wooded site was at first considered as an ‘arboretum’ among cemeteries, George Loddiges receiving the credit for the varied planting of trees. The winding avenues and paths are now (1987) largely overgrown, with massive invasion of sycamore among the avenues of poplar and individual mature willow.

Cemetery includes memorials to Isaac Watts (1674-1748) and William Booth, founder and first general of the Salvation Army. For details of monuments, see Meller, H, below.

       

Curl, J S, A Celebration of Death, 1980, pp138-139.
Joyce, P A, A Guide to Abney Park Cemetery, 1985.
Meller, H, London Cemeteries, 1981, pp56-63.
Walford, E, Old and New London, n.d., p543.

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Page updated: 28 Feb 2007