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!
