Tomb of Frank Bostock in Abney Park Cemetery

Image: © Marathon Taken: 1 Nov 2021

Abney Park was originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watts, and the neighbouring Hartopp family. In 1840 it became a non-denominational garden cemetery, a semi-public park arboretum, and an educational institute. Abney Park Cemetery was the first cemetery to become an arboretum, housing more than 2,500 trees and shrubs from around the world. The opening ceremony of Abney Park Cemetery was on 20th May 1840 and at the same time the first foundation stone of the chapel was laid. Abney Park is one of the Magnificent Seven London cemeteries. A total number of 196,843 burials took place here as of the year 2000. In 1978, apart from one forecourt building, the cemetery passed to the London Borough of Hackney as a burial ground and open space. It is now a Local Nature Reserve and is an oasis of greenery in this densely built-up part of London. Frank Bostock lived an extraordinary life and once even lost one of his lions in the sewers of Birmingham - see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39799098. Despite working with lions, his cause of death was flu caught while visiting his giraffes - see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7011253

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