With engineering works completed on the main line to Enfield Town I’ve finally managed to get over to Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington with the camera.
Now managed by the Abney Park Trust (whose website appears to be defunct at the moment!), the cemetery was originally established in 1840, formed from the gardens of the now long-gone Abney Park House. It’s active life as a place for burials having ended in 1978, it’s now a remarkably quiet and peaceful space, full of decaying ivy-covered plots and with an abandoned chapel at its centre. The main entrance has a really Egyptian feel about it, but I won’t go on about the fascinating history of the cemetery – you can find that here on wikipedia, but I do want to share some of the images I captured today.
For a change, I’ve supplemented the original photo album with another one where I’ve converted most of the images to black and white, to better reflect the atmosphere of the place. I recommend a visit, and while you’re at it you should also check out the rather funky area of Stoke Newington just beyond the cemetery gates
And finally, here’s a very lucky shot I got of a lovely little chap who put a smile on my face (and yes I’ve taken some liberties with the photograph – I hope you like the effect)
From Abney Park Cemetary – Black & White – February 2010 |