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 19th 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.
