[video]
Faces of the First World War -
Collected by the Imperial War Museum and published now following the death of the last WW1 veteran Claude Choules
First woman omnibus driver.
A trip to the London Transport museum uncovers another nugget of women’s history
“A horse-drawn omnibus has paused to pick up passengers outside a row of shops, including a junk shop. Tottenham High Cross, in the background, has been rebuilt several times, and is seen here with 19th-century Gothic detailing.” — ViewFinder - Image Details Click to view picture
“How can you, who have felt the oppressor’s hard hand, Who for freedom, all perils would brave, How can you enjoy peace, while one foot of your land Is disgraced by the toil of a slave! Extract from American Independency by Edward Rushton” —
The Dark - a 3D sound installation by Braunarts for Culture Online and the DCMS
Based on the writings of blind poet Edward Rushton, characters and stories from the 18th century recreate a time when Britain dominated the seas and the slave trade created vast profits.
“Tottenham volunteer fire brigade was set up by public subscription in 1870 and moved from the old engine-house to Coombes Croft in 1876. There was one manual engine, with a fire-escape and curricle, in 1892, when the entire staff was dismissed for insubordination. (fn. 65) The brigade became the first in England to adopt petrol motor traction in 1903, when Harringay fire station was opened in Conway Road and equipped with a combined chemical fire engine, hose tender, fire-escape, and motor. (fn. 66) The central fire station, next to the town hall, was opened in 1905. (fn. 67) Wood Green had its own fire service, with an engine-house in High Road, by 1901 and a station in Bounds Green Road from 1914. (fn. 68) Both brigades became part of the national fire service in the Second World War and later part of the Middlesex fire brigade, (fn. 69) itself absorbed in 1965 into the enlarged London fire brigade. In 1973 the old central fire station was used for ambulances and Tottenham was served by the G.L.C.’s station in St. Loys Road. (fn. 70)” — Tottenham - Public services | A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 5 (pp. 345-348)
Disused railway Finsbury Park to Highgate and Alexandra Palace N22
1) Station building at Alexandra Palace. 2) Viaduct. 3) 1940 interchange station at Highgate. 4) Twin tunnels. 5) Transformer station. Current use as Parkland Walk.
Bell Brewery, High Road N17
Early C19, elegant single storey with clock turret Listed grade II, restored and repaired, current user Haringey Community Transport.
Tottenham Brewery, Morrison’s Yard, High Road N17
Compact 3½ storey former process block, 1892, architect William Bradford Handsome hipped lanterned roofs.
Gas Board Offices, 639 High Road N17
Jacobean style, red brick office block with terracotta decoration and iron finials depicting gas lights, built for Tottenham and Edmontion Gas Company in 1901, architect John Sherwell Corder of Ipswich. It was extended in 1914. Listed grade II, Flemish renaissance style, ornate former head office of principal Tottenham industry.
Eagle Pencil Works, Ashley Road N17
Alfred Berol founded the Eagle Pencil Co, in USA, 1856. Their first UK factory was opened here in 1910. Name changed to Berol Ltd in 1971 on acquisition of Venus Pencil Co. Long two and three storey, architecturally pleasing factory building. Further detailed evaluation required.
Parish Pump, Tottenham Green N15
Well sunk in 1791 by Thomas Smith, lord of the manor. Wellhead rebuilt 1876 by parish surveyor, P P Marshall. The mechanism is surrounded by brickwork supporting a tiled, conical roof. Two removable handles turn single-throw crank to work subterranean pump, 1859, grade II listed; cast iron flywheel and crank under decorative roof.
Sewage Pumping Station, Markfield Road N15
Tottenham and Wood Green Joint Drainage Board established a sewage works here since c1885. The concrete walls of filter beds survive along with a plain, stock brick engine house. Inside is a Woolf compound rotative beam pumping engine by Wood Brothers of Sowerby Bridge, 1886, with high-pressure cylinder 21 inch diameter by 52 inch stroke and low-pressure cylinder 36 inch diameter by 72 inch stroke. It is self contained with decorated entablature supported by eight fluted cast-iron columns. The beam, 21 feet long, is fabricated from riveted wrought iron-plates and the flywheel is 27 feet in diameter. Engine stopped 1964. .
Preserved by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and Industrial Archaeology Group, adjacent to settlement tanks converted to children’s playground.
Bruce Grove Station N17
Undulating valances to platform canopies.
Alexandra Palace N22
Important 19th century exhibition centre. T.V. studios and mast (1936) of great historical interest. Victorian theatre of 1873-5 with original stage machinery, brickwork from first Palace of 1870, pioneering architectural use of iron and glass in roof of second Palace of 1875.
New River
Important 17th century aqueduct; straightened in 19thcentury including 1,100m Wood Green tunnel (1859) Hornsey Sluice House, 1859, including site of a waterwheel, Hornsey Water Works filter beds of 1859 and 1879, red brick engine house 1903, Coal Tramway Bridge circa 1875 (at the waterworks, across the New River – served former pumping engines; interesting design; Cross Lane Well House pumping station 1887.
L.T. underground stations Turnpike Lane N15 and Bounds Green N22
1932, Turnpike Lane nationally listed grade II, an early example of Holden’s modern style, with high brick and glass booking hall.
Highgate Pumping station, Hornsey Lane N6
New River Company Engine House, which pumped to the higher parts of Highgate and Hampstead. 1859, stock brick with stucco pediment. Base of large chimney Locally listed.
Archway Bridge N6
1813 bypass to Highgate Hill, brick bridge by Nash replaced in 1897 by cast iron bridge slightly to the south by Alexander Binnie, listed grade II; cutting beneath was widened 1972.
Fortis Green Pumping Station, Woodside Avenue N10
At end of 42 inch pumping main from Kempton Park, diesel ram pump blast injection engines by Mirrlees, Bickerton and Day (now removed) 1908.
Maynard’s sweet factory, Vale Road N4
Plain 4 storey Fletton brick around courtyard, 1907, closed 1990, currently various uses including a restaurant, an arts studios and offices.
First Lotus Works, Tottenham Lane, N8 67 High Street, N8
Colin Chapman (1928-82) founded Lotus Engineering 7 on this site in January 1953. Plaque. Father ran the Railway Hotel (now GNR Hotel).
JAP Premises, Landsdowne Road, N17
The original buildings in which J A Prestwick lived with his wife. His first works are still here, although modified. Now a health centre and printers. The company moved manufacturing to new premises in Northumberland Park in January 1911. JAP became respected for its precision engineering and its innovative product range, including engines for racing cars, etc.
Tottenham Bus Garage, Philip Lane, N17
Built 1913 for the Tramways (MET) Omnibus Company. Modernised 1985-86, extended to the west 1999.
Rainwater Cistera Rear of 64 Highgate, High Street, N6
Underground rainwater cistern for mineral water production (see Hornsey Historical Bulletin, no. 26, 1985).
Former Brewery, 4 North Hill, N6
Underground vaults, late 18th or early 19th century.
Former Fire Station, Conway Road, N15
Built around 1900 by Tottenham UDC in distinctive Accrington Stock red engineering bricks. Four arched doorways for horse-drawn fire engines on ground floor and flats for firemen on two upper floors. Backs onto former Council depot of similar date that has been converted to housing (Priscilla Close).
Cambridge House, 109 Mayes Road, N22
Former head office of Barratt’s Sweet Factory which stood behind a very grand Baroque revival office building, dated 1897.
Former Sewage Pumping Station, 23 Burghley Road, N8
Small Hornsey borough pumping station from 1885 onwards with elaborate “Queen Anne style” façade dated 1897 and cast iron cor cart shed to cobbled yard. Converted to play club in 1983. Air compressors from this site now at Markfield Road pumping station museum.
Source: Greater Londustrial Archaeological Society (GLIAS), May 2004