Pantomime season brings thoughts of the past performers who are buried at Abney Park - the women who entertained on stage, those who ran the show and those who were the stars of the Pleasure Gardens of 19th century London. They are a fascinating group - whether on the boards or in the skies.  Join Sue Doe for a walking tour taking in the stories of our leading ladies - including Nellie Power, Katty King, Ellen Poole, Florence Leybourne, Margaret Graham, Maie Ash, Lilian Bishop, and Georgiana Eagle.

Please enter at the Church Street entrance and follow the path on the left side. The meeting point is at the William Booth Memorial, opposite the entry path.

Please arrive 5 minutes early for the 2pm start. Please wear suitably sturdy footwear. There are currently no toilet facilities available. Please check your emails on the morning of the event - we may need to cancel at short notice if the weather is adverse.

Susan Doe is Hackney born and bred with ancestry in the area going back a few centuries. She has been guiding since 2008 after qualifying in the City of London. She is co-author of Women from Hackney’s History (2021) and is currently leading the project for volume two. She was a writer and crew member for the film Women of Abney and is currently a member of the Committee for both the Hackney Society and Hackney History/Friends of Hackney Archives. Recently semi-retired from a long career in knowledge and compliance in the legal profession, she leads walks mainly in Hackney, the City and Islington. Abney Park has been close to her heart since she worked in Church Street in the 1980s. She discovers things every time she visits.