Stoke Newington (part 2)

A second visit to STOKE NEWINGTON to further explore the area. The best part is centred on Church Street which retains some of the quality of a village with two churches, St Mary’s old church and new church (1858) by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (spire 1890) and nearby CLISSOLD PARK.

In the park is the early 19^th century CLISSOLD HOUSE by Joseph Woods, listed Grade 11*, the house has recently been restored (not yet open when I visited) built in yellow stock brick with a prominent main west facade comprised of a six Doric columned veranda. 

The area obviously was up market and a place to live in Victorian London with fashionable villas overlooking the park, including the one that my grandmother lived in before her marriage.

A walk through ABNEY PARK CEMETERY revealed many more ‘Sainsbury’s pink’ granite monuments and also a number in grey polished granite – as crisp as the day they were erected despite the overgrown nature of the place. The MORTUARY CHAPEL looking in a very sad state, hopefully something can be done to at least stop the rot.

Stoke Newington (North London)

Whilst doing some research into the Sleigh family history I found references to Stoke Newington and the address of my Grandmothers family house, a visit was made to check the area out being a part of London that I was not familiar with. I found an unexpected cemetery of note, Abney Park Cemetery.

The cemetery had not appeared on my list of ‘to do’ cemeteries so it came as a surprise, it’s not as grand as Highgate (which has the Sleigh family plot) and is more overgrown and neglected than most cemeteries, but is still an important Victorian development and now designated as a nature reserve.

Abney Park Cemetery opened in 1840’s as a non-denominational cemetery, entered through Egyptian Revival entrance gates it contains many tombs and graves of interest, some of the best ones dating to the period 1870 – 1900’s with a number of the prominent ones in the polished stone (pink granite?) similar to that once used by Sainsbury’s for their shop fronts.

The best and most obvious feature in the cemetery is the Mortuary Chapel, listed Grade 11 but currently in a very sad state and with no signs of salvation. Designed by William Hosking in a ‘Dissenting Gothic’ style  - low Gothic as opposed to the High Gothic style of A. W. N. Pugin. Constructed in grey brick with stone detailing its suffered a fire and neglect and looks like it needs urgent attention.

Scheduled as a historic park and garden “at risk” have a look before it’s too late!