Site

Summary
Shandy Park is on the site of the former private East London Cemetery or Beaumont Burial Ground, founded by Barber Beaumont. Opened in 1837, the cemetery closed in 1852 and became a public recreation ground in 1885. It was originally surrounded by terraced housing which fronted on to the surrounding streets but, following WW2 bomb damage, these were all removed and the park enlarged to cover practically the whole block.

Cemetery design (from the 1838 Evening Standard)
"… a cemetery lately established by Mr. Barber Beaumont, containing a plot of land amounting to five acres, and capable of holding 200,000 bodies. The grounds are laid out in a tasteful style. In the centre is a chapel, with a portico of Doric columns, immediately in front of which is a circle for ornamental tombs, with grass plots, flowering shrubs, and evergreens. Two quadrilateral columns, with ornamental capitals, formed of two immense blocks of Aberdeen granite, announce that beneath are the intended resting places of Dr. Robert Fellowes and Mr. Barber Beaumont. Walks of maples, yews, limes, and poplars encompass the grounds, and a cypress grove divides it into two parts. In fine weather the grounds have become a favourite promenade. Beneath the chapel are catacombs for 700 bodies. The regulations for registry, burial, and the safety of the dead are said to be admirable."  The 1870 map shows the chapel actually somewhat to the south of the centre, which is occupied by the circle for ornamental tombs.

Chapel
Following the closure of the cemetery the chapel  was converted for use as a school, shown on this 1870 map. In Rome, some years before his death, Beaumont had a bust made of himself and two years before his death this was placed in the chapel, with a plain marble tablet beneath. An inscription was composed and it is likely that on his death this was inscribed on that tablet. We don’t know the present whereabouts of the bust nor the tablet.

Buildings on the edges of the park
Currently the south-west corner of the park is occupied by the Stepney Shahjalal Mosque and Cultural Centre.  The north-west edge of the park holds an intriguing cluster of buildings and ruins. This can be understood by reference to some maps: This 1870 map shows a few buildings, all replaced by the time of this 1896 map. See also This 1914 map  and this 1940-1960 OS map. St Faith's church, now the ruin at the centre of this cluster, was opened in 1891 and designed by J. E. K. and J. P. Cutts, as was the hall, the building still standing on the east end of the cluster. The building standing at the west end was built as the vicarage.

Sources: Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park (some excellent detective work – start here), Naval & Military Gazette and Weekly Chronicle, 22 May 1841, Morning Herald (London) - 20 May 1841, Sun (London) - 23 June 1841, London Evening Standard - 25 October 1838, London Gardens Trust, London Church Buildings, Cutts, National Archives, 1870 map, 1896 map, East London History Society.

Images at: London Picture Archive.