I'm having a relaxing morning before heading off early this afternoon for a photo exhibition and a ballet (The Nutcracker!) tonight. Yesterday I had planned a day in Birmingham to see the Christmas market and explore the city centre but alas...things sometimes don't go as planned. I woke up during the night with an extremely sore throat, a headache and wonky stomach. So yesterday my only outing was to Tesco to get some throat lozenges, soup and a sandwich. I don't know if I will make it to Birmingham now as I am pretty booked up for the next couple of weeks and I definitely don't want to go on a weekend. Oh well, you can't do it all.
This is actually a pub!!!
The founders of the Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth are buried here.
This cemetery is a park as well with wonderfully overgrown side paths as well as the major path shown here.
The grave of Frank Bostock who was a pioneer in the training of wild animals. As I read on a website the RSPCA would probably like to have a word with him nowadays!
A close up of the majestic lion which really is the highlight of the cemetery.
The Egyptian styled entrance to Abney Park - only I used it as an exit onto Stoke Newington High Street.
I then got on a bus to the Geffrye Museum which is dedicated to exhibitions of home life. I have been here numerous times but wanted to see the display of Christmas decorations over the past 400 years.
1600's
1700's
1800's
late 1800's
Mid 1900's
1930's.
The exhibition was pretty packed being a Sunday but it was interesting. There was also an exhibition of photos of a modern teenager's room. I think it would have been more interesting to see a teenager's room over the last 50 decades or so!!!
Then I got a bus to New Street and then the tube to Balham. I invaded the pound shop there to get some supplies. I love the pound shop!
Back here to a delicious ready meal. (and I'm not being sarcastic - it was really good) A great day avoiding the Christmas madness of central London!
On Sunday however I decided to cross a couple of things off my list of things to do in London this trip and visit Abney Park Cemetery and the area of Stoke Newington. I have seen buses with the name on for years and have always wanted to visit the place with the "weird name". When I learned that Abney Park Cemetery was there as well as the Hang Up gallery which has a permanent exhibition of Banksy art I knew I had to go.
I took the tube to Angel and then the 73 bus to "Stokey". I got off right at the cemetery but had a quick look around Church St. before heading back to the cemetery..
This is actually a pub!!!
Abney Park Cemetery is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries around London. The cemetery was founded in 1840 and became a prime burial ground for Nonconformists who rejected the ways of the Church of England, Baptists, Methodists, etc. So in this cemetery you won't find any of the huge memorials you will find in other cemeteries.
The entrance off Church Street.
The founders of the Salvation Army, William and Catherine Booth are buried here.
This cemetery is a park as well with wonderfully overgrown side paths as well as the major path shown here.
The grave of Frank Bostock who was a pioneer in the training of wild animals. As I read on a website the RSPCA would probably like to have a word with him nowadays!
A close up of the majestic lion which really is the highlight of the cemetery.
Celtic Cross with a dollar sign - can't find what the symbolism for that is...
Two out of three of this man's dogs only had three legs...good for him for giving them a home. I think it's great to have a cemetery that is so full of life and where everyone (including dogs) is welcome!
The Egyptian styled entrance to Abney Park - only I used it as an exit onto Stoke Newington High Street.
Okay so Stoke Newington High Street is not the same as Stoke Newington Road...I walked and walked..and walked to get to the Hang Up gallery to see the Banksy exhibition which was tiny and had no postcards or anything I could buy as a momento. I certainly couldn't afford one of the prints on display!!!
I then got on a bus to the Geffrye Museum which is dedicated to exhibitions of home life. I have been here numerous times but wanted to see the display of Christmas decorations over the past 400 years.
The exterior of the building
1600's
1700's
1800's
late 1800's
Mid 1900's
1930's.
The exhibition was pretty packed being a Sunday but it was interesting. There was also an exhibition of photos of a modern teenager's room. I think it would have been more interesting to see a teenager's room over the last 50 decades or so!!!
Then I got a bus to New Street and then the tube to Balham. I invaded the pound shop there to get some supplies. I love the pound shop!
Back here to a delicious ready meal. (and I'm not being sarcastic - it was really good) A great day avoiding the Christmas madness of central London!
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