This is where you will find the latest additions to the website, with the most recent material at the top. Future events are listed separately in the “What’s On” section.
Anniversary of first television transmission from Alexandra Palace
This week marked the anniversary of the world’s first regular high definition television broadcast by the BBC from Alexandra Palace. High definition was defined by the BBC as 240 lines or higher, as opposed to the 180 line pictures that had been broadcast in Germany in 1935. [Read more…] about Anniversary of first television transmission from Alexandra Palace
Lost Houses: Nightingale Hall, Wood Green
This is the sixth in our series on Lost Houses of our area. This edited text was written by the late Albert Pinching, HHS Sales Manager for 21 years and editor for 14 years of our annual journal, the Bulletin, who died at the end of July this year. The full text was a chapter in ‘People and Places: Lost Estates in Highgate, Hornsey and Wood Green’, published by HHS in 1996.
Before the advent in 1859 of Wood Green Station (now Alexandra Palace Station) on the Great Northern Railway (GNR) much of the area was farmland claimed from the Great Forest of Middlesex. One of the few distinctive buildings was Nightingale Hall, situated on the SW side of Bounds Green Road, covering the site now occupied by the Adventist Church, with its outbuildings and gardens extending over what are now Northcott and Cornwall Avenues. [Read more…] about Lost Houses: Nightingale Hall, Wood Green
Lost Houses: Woodlands, Muswell Hill
This is the fifth article in the series on Lost Houses of the Hornsey area. This mid-19th century house and grounds was situated on Southwood Lane (now Muswell Hill Road N10) and is associated with the Victorian literary elite. [Read more…] about Lost Houses: Woodlands, Muswell Hill
Tribute to Albert Pinching
Many of us were familiar with the work of our colleague Albert Pinching who sadly passed away in July. [Read more…] about Tribute to Albert Pinching
South of Hog’s Back
Hornsey in History
A 1972 series of Hornsey Journal articles by Ian Murray, first Chairman of Hornsey Historical Society and Haringey Council Archivist. The HHS gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of Archant/Ham and High for this reproduction.
No.12: South of Hog’s Back
Part of the southern boundary of Hornsey is neatly marked by the ridge of high ground, known as the Hog’s Back which stretches by way of Hornsey Lane and Mountview Road to Harringay West Station. South of this ridge lies Stroud Green and Finsbury Park which have always been within Hornsey parish. Until the end of the 19th century Hornsey extended even further south, as far as Mountgrove Road, leading into Green Lanes opposite Clissold Park. [Read more…] about South of Hog’s Back
Lost Houses: Topsfield Hall, Crouch End
This is the fourth article in the series on Lost Houses of the Hornsey area. It has been written by Alice Jenkins, a sixth form History student at Highgate Wood School, who has spent her summer holidays on work experience with the HHS Archive volunteers and who will shortly be applying to universities for admission in autumn 2022. HHS wishes her well.
Topsfield Hall stood in the centre of Crouch End as the manor house of the sub-manor of Topsfield from the late 1780s until its demolition in 1894. [Read more…] about Lost Houses: Topsfield Hall, Crouch End
Crowche Ende Hamlet
Hornsey in History
A 1972 series of Hornsey Journal articles by Ian Murray, first Chairman of Hornsey Historical Society and Haringey Council Archivist. The HHS gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of Archant/Ham and High for this reproduction.
No.10: Crowche Ende hamlet
Crouch End is derived from an old English word meaning ‘cross’ and ‘end’ is obviously what it says, an end, boundary or limit. So, the name means the cross boundary. The cross refers either to cross roads as four roads have converged here for centuries, or to an actual cross for which there is some evidence. [Read more…] about Crowche Ende Hamlet
Stroud Green Quiz
Downstairs at the Kings Head
On Thursday 19th August, Crouch End will see the return of a major part of its cultural life. After a nearly eighteen month absence, Downstairs at the Kings Head, one of the oldest comedy clubs in the country, will reopen. [Read more…] about Downstairs at the Kings Head
Woodside House, Wood Green, What was there before?
In Memory of Albert Pinching, a much respected and valued HHS Sales Manager, member of the General and Publications Committees, author of numerous articles and writer of books, and editor of the HHS Bulletin for fourteen years, who passed away on 30th July. Albert wrote this article prior to Woodside House being renamed George Meehan House.
Woodside House, a mid-Victorian edifice on the High Road, has been a municipal building for well over a hundred years. What function and name did the building have originally? [Read more…] about Woodside House, Wood Green, What was there before?