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225:. The family also shared Abney House with a series of well-to-do tenants, who paid for various floors and parts of the house. This kept it homely, warm, and constantly lived-in during periods when the family lived in Hertfordshire. Lady Mary granted Watts sole use of a study room, the rooftop turret also called the observatory room, from which he could survey the heavens as well as the whole of Abney Park. His view extended northward of the village, as far as Woodberry Downs.
265:. Throughout the year when Sir Thomas held office as Lord Mayor, and Mary Abney was Lady Mayoress, they each had to practice occasional conformity to the Church of England, as required by law. Similarly, as Lady of the Manor, Mary Abney had to uphold the general conformity of the parish church of the Stoke Newington Manor.
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As one of Watts' main benefactors and likely his sole benefactor from 1734 until his death in 1748, Lady Mary enabled his work as a poet and scholar. His texts became standard in the New World as well as in Great
Britain. Following Watts' death in 1748, Lady Mary had a memorial to him constructed at
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In 1701, following the death of her brother, Thomas
Gunston, Lady Mary Abney inherited the Manor of Stoke Newington. By the rights of marriage that applied at that time, the property formally passed to her husband for the duration of his life. The couple decided to live at both addresses, and split
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At Abney Park, Lady Abney commissioned the first map and survey of the Manor of Stoke
Newington. She is said to have planned much of the planting and landscaping of the park. Its two great elm avenues became favourite walks of Watts; they led to a secluded island
249:, choosing to live full-time at the more modest Abney House. She was joined in this by her unmarried daughter Elizabeth Abney and their long-term house guest Watts. In Stoke Newington, they had many neighbors who were Nonconformist and literary families.
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Following the death of her husband Sir Thomas in 1722, the widow Lady Abney became fully installed in her own right as the first Lady of the Manor. She was one of a few women who occupied such a position in early 18th-century
English society.
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their lives between the villages of
Cheshunt and their second home in Stoke Newington. Upon the title passing to Lady Mary and Sir Thomas Abney, she began to complete her late brother's new manor house at Abney Park; it was later known as
299:, who lived in her household for 36 years. He is considered the first notable English hymnologist; he composed original works of Christian worship rather than using phrases from Biblical passages. His famous hymns include "
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Following Mary Abney's death in 1750 at the age of 73, she was buried near her brother Thomas
Gunston, beneath the chancel of Old Stoke Newington Church. (This is now called St Mary's Old Church and it overlooks today's
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and then considered beyond the boundaries of London, had been owned and managed directly by the cathedral until the early 17th century. After that, they granted it to a succession of private Lords of the Manor.
206:, and that is where they started their married life. They had a family together, including three daughters. In the custom of the time, the couple frequently invited guests to Theobalds. Their association with
210:, who became known as a hymnologist, became legendary. He was initially invited for a week to Theobalds, and became a semi-permanent member of their household, living with them for a total of 36 years.
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Dr Watts' resided for thirty-six years at Abney Park as the guest of Sir Thomas and Lady Mary Abney. There he wrote most of his well-known Works, also his 'Psalms and Hymns'.
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Her daughter, Elizabeth Abney (c1704-1782), inherited The Manor of Stoke
Newington, together with Abney House and Abney Park. She managed the estate, along with another at
347:. Elizabeth Abney died a spinster aged 78 on 20 August 1782. In her will, she directed that her estates be sold and all proceeds be given to Nonconformist charities.
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was a Quaker school established in 1824 in
Fleetwood House, the immediate neighbour to Abney House. The students were allowed to use Abney Park. The opening of
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As Abney House was closer to London than
Theobalds, the Abneys frequently stayed there with their family. Soon the household included long-term house-guest
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movement, although working to compromise with the
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for his hundreds of hymns, as a houseguest for 36 years. He was inspired by her park in his writing of hymns and poems.
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in the Hackney Brook, where he was inspired for his writings.
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Mary Gunston was born in 1676. Her brother, Thomas, became
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406:History of Bunhill Fields Burial Ground
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