Monument Restoration

 
 

Recent monument restoration projects

As part of the Trust’s work to conserve and restore Abney Park Cemetery as an area of architectural and ecological significance, we raise funds for and restore some of the iconic memorials in the cemetery.

Read the stories below to find out what we have been recently working on.

Featured
Restoration of the James Braidwood Family Grave
Restoration of the James Braidwood Family Grave

Abney Park Trust is very happy to announce in June 2026 that the cleaning and restoration of Grade II listed monument to James Braidwood, father of the modern fire service, has been completed.

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The Williams sarcophagus repair is now complete
The Williams sarcophagus repair is now complete

Abney Park Trust is pleased to announce that the works to restore the lid of the slate sarcophagus for William Williams, near the Church St entrance, have now been completed by Orbis Conservation.

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The Reed Celtic Cross monument receives a professional clean
The Reed Celtic Cross monument receives a professional clean

Abney Park Trust are extremely pleased to announce the completion of the professional clean of the majestic grey granite Irish Celtic Cross of brothers Andrew Holmes Reed and Talbot Baines Reed that stands near the Church Street entrance at Abney House Corner.

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Abney Park Trust restores War Memorial ahead of the WW2 bombing's 80th anniversary
Abney Park Trust restores War Memorial ahead of the WW2 bombing's 80th anniversary

Abney Park Trust has cleaned the Grade II listed memorial and had it restored to its former glory thanks to a four-figure donation from TimeLine, a learning project charity.

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Commonwealth War Memorial receives a deep clean
Commonwealth War Memorial receives a deep clean

Read about the restoration of the War Memorial to its pristine condition after it was damaged by successive chalkings.

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Restoration of the Isaac Watts monument
Restoration of the Isaac Watts monument

Restoration work in Abney Park Cemetery is finally complete on the well-loved monument to Issac Watts, one of Stoke Newington’s most notable former residents.

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Please continue to support our monument restoration programme

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Abney Park’s Listed Monuments

Samuel Robinson 1751 - 1833

An architect and surveyor, and founder of the Retreat Almshouses for the widows of dissenting ministers in Hackney. A white stone chest built in late gothic style, with detailed tracery patterning designed by Robinson.

John Swan 1787 - 1869

An engineer and inventor. The originator of the steamship's screw propellor (1824) and the self acting chain messenger (1831). He never patented his inventions, but allowed his superiors to publish them under their names. A draped and wreathed urn standing on a white stone pedestal.