Memorial to 19th-century flight pioneer Margaret Graham unveiled after successful £5,000 fundraising drive
The Abney Park Trust and biographer Sharon Wright joined forces to honour 19th-century balloonist Margaret Graham, the first British woman to fly solo – and now the memorial has been unveiled.
Trailblazing British balloonist Margaret Graham, who in 1826 became the first British woman to fly solo, will now be permanently remembered after a headstone was unveiled in Hackney’s Abney Park.
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The memorial to Mrs. Graham, who died in 1864 and was buried in a paupers’ grave, was put up after £5,000 was raised from organisations and members of the public.
Local Stoke Newington stonemason Charlotte Ruse was commissioned to create a slate headstone. It was unveiled on Sunday 30th October 2022 at a gathering close to the park’s chapel.
Mrs. Graham was a pioneer of early female flight, showbiz celebrity and intrepid reporter who wrote gripping accounts of her aerial exploits.
The campaign to raise the funds was co-led by the Abney Park Trust, which looks after the park’s ecology, history and community in partnership with Hackney Council, and Sharon Wright – journalist and author of “The Lost History of the Lady Aeronauts”.
Fundraising campaign
The Trust and Sharon launched the campaign in May 2022. Over 75 donations were received overall.
Generous donations were received from the London Region Balloon Club as well as members of Mrs. Graham’s family and individual donations from members of the public.
Attendees at the unveiling included Mrs. Graham’s 90-year-old great-great-granddaughter, who travelled to London especially for the occasion.
© Jannine Newman - www.janninenewman.com
The memorial
Local stonemason Charlotte Ruse, who has taught stone carving in the park in the past, was commissioned to produce the final piece.
It is made of slate and features a hand-carved relief depiction of Mrs. Graham in her balloon.
The headstone also commemorates Mrs. Graham’s husband George, along with four other people buried with her nearby.
It is located a couple of minutes’ walk north-east of the park’s famous chapel, close to the junction between Swayne Path and Tietjen Ride.
About Mrs. Graham
Born Margaret Watson in Walcot, Bath, in 1804, she was married to chemist and aeronaut George Graham before they settled in London.
She soon became a famous aeronaut in her own right and built an impressive career as a professional pilot over more than three decades, from the late Georgian era through to the mid-Victorian period.
In 1826, Margaret Graham became the first British woman to fly solo when she ascended in her balloon from Islington in north London aged just 22.
© Jannine Newman - www.janninenewman.com
She was also an early and outspoken advocate of a woman’s right to fly on equal terms with men.
Graham wrote dramatic accounts of her many adventures for the press and accused critics of judging her failures – including some spectacular crashes – more harshly than those of her male counterparts.
An early mistress of “spin”, she – like other headstrong and media-savvy Abney residents – fostered a close relationship with the press, securing column inches for her side of the story when her ascents went awry.
Yet despite a long and colourful career, Britain’s pre-eminent female aeronaut died impoverished aged at 60 and was buried in an unmarked common grave at the park – which is a famous Hackney urban woodland and nature reserve – in 1864.
“Beautiful memorial”
Sharon Wright, author of “The Lost History of the Lady Aeronauts”, said: “It’s taken 158 years to get Mrs Graham a gravestone, but it’s never too late to celebrate women who make history.”
Tom Walker, Chair of the Abney Park Trust, said: “As a Trust and charity, it’s part of our mission to restore monuments like these and help keep Abney’s stories alive for future generations.
“We’re very proud of the beautiful memorial that Charlotte has created with the generous support of donors.
“We offer our huge thanks to everyone who has supported this project financially or with their time.”
For further information, please contact info@abneypark.org.
About the Abney Park and the Trust: Abney Park is a 32-acre historic Dissenting cemetery in Stoke Newington, and was the first statutory Local Nature Reserve to be designated in Hackney. The Abney Park Trust is an independent registered charity with the mission of promoting the Park’s history, wildlife and role in the community. It is a volunteer-led organisation working with Hackney Council. It runs tours, talks and community engagement events, and offers services like grave searches and maintenance.