St John’s Churchyard

St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens is a green space at the heart of Hackney accessed from Lower Clapton Road, the Narrow way, Sutton Place and Morning Lane.

It was a burial ground for over 500 years and has been managed as a park since 1894, undergoing many changes throughout its history – most recently in 2007 when it benefited from a £1.79 million HLF grant. It’s now a well-loved, quiet spot away from the busy shopping street it borders, with a popular children’s play area.

The park holds a Green Flag award. The awards are given to the best green spaces in the country and are awarded each year to make sure the quality of the green space remains high.

 

Amenities

  • 200 trees
  • 300 tomb stones
  • children’s play area
  • CCTV and security lighting for visitor safety
  • information panels about the site’s history and burials
  • public pay toilets (next to the bus station)
  • public pay car park in front of church
  • St Augustine’s Tower
  • St John at Hackney Church
  • seating
  • Sutton House
  • walled garden

Image gallery

St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens

If you’d like to submit photos of the churchyard for inclusion on our Flickr gallery, please email them to parks@hackney.gov.uk.

Walking routes

Get Walking, Keep Walking includes St John at Hackney on one of its walking routes.

Barbecues

Barbecues are not allowed in St John’s Churchyard.

Dogs

All dogs in the Churchyard must be on a lead at all times. More information on dogs in parks.

More information

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History

This park has had a long and complex history, and has undergone many changes over 700 years.

It has survived the transformation of Hackney from a small village to part of Europe’s largest capital, the coming of transport infrastructure, the disappearance of its local river, the demolition of its original church and its development into a well-loved green space.

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Page updated on: 18 July 2022

St John at Hackney Churchyard Gardens

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Address

Lower Clapton Road
E5 0PD

Telephone

Opening times

  • 24 hours a day

Notes

Closing times:

  • 1 January to 21 January  – 5pm
  • 22 January to 4 February – 5.30pm
  • 5 February to 25 February – 6pm
  • 26 February to 10 March  – 6.30pm
  • 11 March to 24 March – 7pm
  • 25 March to 7 April – 8pm
  • 8 April to 21 April – 8.30pm
  • 22 April to 5 May – 9pm
  • 6 May to 11 August – 9.30pm
  • 12 August to 18 August – 9pm
  • 19 August to 8 September – 8.30pm
  • 9 September to 15 September – 8pm
  • 16 September to 6 October – 7.30pm
  • 7 October to 13 October – 7pm
  • 14 October to 27 October – 6.30pm
  • 28 October to 31 December – 5pm