The Nonconformist Spirits of Abney Park

Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington opened in 1840 as a burial ground for religious nonconformists—Protestants who rejected the Church of England. It became the final resting place for social reformers, abolitionists, and radicals who challenged Victorian society’s norms. Unlike the manicured landscapes of other Victorian cemeteries, Abney Park has been allowed to become overgrown, transforming into an eerie woodland where graves are engulfed by nature. Its wild, abandoned atmosphere seems fitting for the rebellious spirits buried here.

Among the 200,000 people buried at Abney Park are William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army), numerous abolitionists who fought slavery, and countless others who challenged the status quo. The cemetery was deliberately non-sectarian and refused to conduct Anglican burial services, making it revolutionary for its time. After decades of neglect in the late 20th century, the cemetery became heavily overgrown—gravestones toppled, monuments crumbled, and trees grew through graves. While partially restored by volunteers, much remains wild, creating an atmosphere unlike any other London cemetery.

The hauntings reflect the cemetery’s character. Rather than sad or frightening ghosts, visitors report encounters with spirited, even defiant apparitions. A man in Victorian dress has been seen near the Salvation Army plots, appearing to be giving an impassioned speech to invisible crowds. Groups of figures have been seen gathered as if at a political meeting or revival service, only to vanish when approached. Visitors report hearing hymn-singing and preaching coming from deep within the overgrown areas. The most common phenomenon is a feeling of being guided or encouraged—visitors lost in the maze-like paths report a presence seeming to lead them safely to exits. Shadow figures move through the ruins of the Gothic chapel, and strange lights flicker among the graves at dusk. The spirits of Abney Park seem as unconventional in death as they were in life, creating one of London’s most unique haunted locations.