Dickens knew Stoke Newington well. His publisher lived in a grand house where the Town Hall now stands.

The amateur theatricals in its gardens were renowned but were to ultimately lead to rows, estrangements and fallings out across the generations.

In 1842 we know that Dickens attended a funeral at Abney as he wrote an account of it. This too would lead to controversy and disagreement.

In 1842, Dickens also went to America where he met Edgar Allan Poe, who had been educated at Stoke Newington's Manor House School. This tour will discuss Dickens's visits, disagreements and the characters in his world.

This tour is free with a suggested donation to help support the Abney Park Trust.

Speaker Bio:
Alan Gartrell has given tours of Abney Park for many years now. His topics spread a huge range from the history of Hackney's MPs to Abney Park's missionary links. He very modestly says he is not a historian, just a few clicks ahead of everyone else on Wikipedia.

From the Stoke Newington High Street entrance, please meet at the far end of the pedestrian walkway - where the path splits into three (near the dark green cabins).

The tour will last around 60 mins.
Please arrive 5 minutes early for the 2pm start.
Please wear suitably sturdy footwear.
There are 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.