‘Absent Yet Near’ – The narrative of Military Pin-Stuck Cushions
Thursday 01 October, 19:00

Between the Crimean War and WWI, Military Pin-Stuck Cushions (MPSCs), commonly known as sweetheart pincushions, hand-made by men, were gifted in their thousands. This lecture will reveal how the Salvation Army, the YMCA and the Church Army played an important role in the life of the military, and what their work meant in conjunction with these deeply personal trench art keepsakes.
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‘Surrendering my child’ - The Narrative of the Foundling Tokens
Wednesday 07 October, 19:00

In the 18th century, it was not uncommon for children to be abandoned or left in the care of others. In 60 years, the 'Hospital for the Education Maintenance of Exposed and Deserted Young Children' recorded a record-breaking 18,500 admissions. This talk explores the emotional narratives behind the foundling tokens, reflecting the heart-wrenching decisions faced by parents and the enduring love that persisted despite separation. See here for more information and to book tickets

‘Think if the Man that is not Nigh’ - The narrative of Engraved Coins 1752-1868 Wednesday 14 October, 19:00

Engraved coin keepsakes, customary between 1752 and 1868, are a durable material culture of absence and separation. Although already known by numismatic collectors, these tokens remained virtually anonymous to scholarly research until the 1990s. Join us at Abney Park, final resting place of reformers and reprobates alike, for a talk on these small, defiant tokens of love against impossible odds.
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Dreaming for Dreamers: Visionary Tools for Life & Creativity
Friday 16 October, 19:00

A workshop exploring how dreams can become an active part of our creative process - in both art and life. Blending information-sharing, practice and ritual, the session opens with the many ways dreams have been worked with across traditions: as oracle, as medicine, as another plane of existence for mean making. See here for more information and to book tickets

‘Resting in a cemetery’ - Legends and Legacy of the Whittington Stone
Sunday 18 October, 15:30

What significance lies in the early legend of Dick Whittington resting in a cemetery, and how does this imagery reflect the deeper themes of life and fate, and their connection with London history? This talk will delve into the early texts and chronicles that trace the roots of Whittington's legend, revealing how historical narratives and folklore have evolved over time.
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Beyond the Veil: an illustrated talk with Paul Gambino
Tuesday 20 October, 19:00

Join Paul Gambino, an internationally published author specialising in topics of the macabre, for an Illustrated talk in the Chapel. Step into the shadows of Victorian England — an era when death was not hidden away but was an unavoidable presence woven into everyday life. This richly illustrated lecture goes beyond the familiar story of Victorian mourning to ask a larger question: Why did death become such a defining feature of Victorian culture?
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Ghosting Up Against the Sensitive Plate - A History of London Spirit Photography
Wednesday 21 October, 19:00

It's 1872, and a new phase of British Spiritualism is developing. Driven by the Victorian need for evidence of the afterlife, the collodion process of early photography seemed to hold the key to ghost manifestation — a potential upgrade for Spiritualism from faith to science. This talk explores the concept of capturing spirits on camera, and the deceptions of the first UK spirit photographer, unmasked in the 1870s by none other than the Psychic and Spiritualistic societies themselves.
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Telepathic Drawing: Creative Encounters in the Astral Plane
Thursday 22 October, 19:00

Telepathic Drawing is a practice-based workshop exploring the astral plane, non-verbal communication, intuition and shared awareness through mark-making. Participants will be guided through a series of exercises that invite deep concentration and attention to subtle cues. This event is aimed at all those who wish to explore their extra-sensory abilities. Participation is intuitive; no previous experience or artistic background needed.
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Life Drawing Theatre - 'Through me is the way to the sorrowful city'
Sunday 25 October, 19:00

The medium of life drawing theatre is a unique type of interactive storytelling. This performance of sonnets from The Divine Comedy, narrated by Paul McGill, will give attendees the opportunity to create their own storyboard of sketches inspired by the model's pose or by the overall meaning of the poetry and its folkloric analysis. See here for more information and to book tickets

'The Departing Sailor' - The Sailor's Tear and the emotional Jack-Tar
Wednesday 28 October, 19:00

Seafarers embodied intangible values such as bravery, stoicism, and loyalty at a time when the prevailing military ideals condemned any display of vulnerability or excessive sensitivity, fostering an environment rife with homophobia. This talk explores the folk narrative of the departing Jack Tar, the epitome of manhood for the whole nation during the Georgian and Victorian era.
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'Forever Near' - Hairwork history and techniques
Thursday 29 October, 19:00

Hairwork is the almost forgotten craft of manipulating human hair into decorative designs for jewellery or artwork. Some are purely ornamental, others for commemoration, but always imbued with meaning, folklore and ritual significance. Join us for a lecture exploring four distinct hairwork techniques from the Georgian and Victorian eras, examining their applications for the deceased, the living, or both, and the cultural contexts that shaped them. See here for more information and to book tickets

Grave Gazers Club: A drawing safari at Abney Park 
Saturday 31st October, 10:00

Grave Gazers Club is an observational drawing workshop exploring the monuments, symbols and inscriptions of Abney Park Cemetery. All Hallows’ Eve marks the opening of the three days traditionally given over to the dead: a time for visiting and attending to those who are gone. In this workshop, we’ll explore looking as a form of contact - with the site, its heritage and the people held within it. Participants will be guided on a walkabout around the park, recording gravestones, lettering, symbols and details through the medium of drawing. See here for more information and to book tickets

DIY Card Studio: Make your own Tarot Card
Wednesday 04 November, 19:00

This hands-on workshop invites participants to create a personalised Major Arcana tarot card using the art of collage. Drawing inspiration from traditional tarot symbolism, attendees will design their own unique card, selecting images, textures, and colours that resonate with their personal journey, intention or interpretation of the card drawn. See here for more information and to book tickets