Join Alan Gartrell for a walking tour to hear about the 'The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon' - a historic series of articles published in The Pall Mall Gazette in 1885.

In the mid 1880s, the journalist and social reformer W T Stead, with the assistance of the Salvation Army, 'staged' the procurement of a 13 year old girl in order to expose the trafficking that was happening in Victorian London. Working alongside Abney residents Catherine Booth, Bramwell Booth and Rebecca Jarrett, Stead shocked contemporary readers with this insight of the dark side of the city.

Although those involved were arrested and imprisoned for their part in the scandal, the government later passed the Criminal Law Amendment Act 'for the protection of women and girls', which raised the age of consent.

Please note, this tour is for those aged 18 and over.

From the Stoke Newington High St entrance, please meet at the end of the pedestrian walkway - where the path splits into three.

About the speaker:

Alan Gartrell has given tours of Abney Park for many years now. His topics cover 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.

Accessibility:
There are no toilet facilities available.
Sturdy shoes are recommended.
The pedestrian walkway is a cobbled path.

Sometimes we have to cancel planned events at short notice due to adverse weather conditions.
If events are cancelled or the Park is closed, we'll let you know. Please check your emails and the Abney Park website (abneypark.org) mid-morning on the day of the event.

Image: No copyright infringement is intended.
Jarrett image © British Library.
Stead image from The W.T. Stead Resource Site.