Abney Park Cemetery

Abney Park Cemetery is a Victorian garden cemetery in the London Borough of Hackney and one of the "Magnificent Seven", the great private cemeteries built around London in the nineteenth century. Today it is at once a Grade II listed landmark, a public green space and a Local Nature Reserve.

What is Abney Park Cemetery?

It is a former private burial ground covering about 12.5 hectares (31 acres) in north-east London. It opened in 1840 as the fourth of the eight private garden cemeteries around the city. From the start it was planned not only as a place of burial but also as an arboretum, a botanical garden and a park for strolling.

Where does the site come from?

The land was already laid out as parkland in the early eighteenth century. Its founders were Lady Mary Abney, the theologian and hymn writer Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. When the cemetery was created, the Abney Park Cemetery Company bought Abney House and Fleetwood House to secure the ground.

Why is it linked to non-conformists?

The connection with Isaac Watts led to the cemetery becoming a burial ground for non-conformists, meaning Protestants outside the Church of England. The chapel, however, was non-denominational, and its design was not tied to any single branch of Christianity. As a result, people of many different beliefs were buried here.

Who is buried here?

The best-known name is General William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army. Burials total roughly 200,000; one source gives 196,843 interments up to the year 2000, so exact figures vary between publications.

How did it become so overgrown?

By the 1960s the cemetery company was losing income and the site slid into neglect. Brambles, ivy and self-seeded trees spread over graves and paths. That process gave the place its present wild, romantic character: monuments sit among dense greenery and paths wind through what feels like woodland.

Who looks after it today?

The London Borough of Hackney owns the land, and the Abney Park Cemetery Trust manages it as a nature reserve and environmental education service. Its Local Nature Reserve status makes it an important pocket of green in a densely built part of the capital.

Is it worth visiting as a tourist?

Yes, if you enjoy quiet, unusual places away from London's main sightseeing routes. Abney Park suits visitors interested in Victorian history, cemetery architecture, urban nature and photography. Plan at least an hour for a walk, because the site is large and the paths are winding. Remember that it is still a place of remembrance, so keep noise down and respect the graves.

Frequently asked questions

Is Abney Park one of the "Magnificent Seven"? Yes, it is one of London's seven great Victorian cemeteries.

When did it open? In 1840.

How big is the site? About 12.5 hectares.

Who is buried here? Among others, William Booth, founder of The Salvation Army.

Is it a nature reserve? Yes, it is a Local Nature Reserve and a Grade II listed site.

Where is it? In Hackney, east London, in the Stoke Newington area.