Busy Parade of Shops on Wightman Road, c 1905

Comment by Hugh on July 4, 2016 at 12:22

Here's a present-day view of the scene shot by Alistair J when I published a small version of this picture back in 2008.

Comment by Karen Alexander on July 4, 2016 at 13:06

What a lovely quiet road it was in 1905 - great photo Hugh

Comment by andy h on July 4, 2016 at 18:44

I bet it wasn't ! A couple of pubs, butchers slaughtering animals out the back , and those pesky kids having all sorts of larks! Not to mention the horse s**t!! And contaminated milk.

Comment by Laura on July 7, 2016 at 21:32

I don't know if anyone else has noticed but there are still three or four tiles on the outside of the building that used to be the butchers. I assume there was a fashion or standard for the way a butchers shop was decorated outside and in, as places that have not been gutted show similar styles. Cream and green, that sort of thing. There is a great ex-butchers shop on Hornsey Road that sometimes is opened for Open House. However, back to the Wightman Cyclesuperhighway; last time I looked a few interesting old tiles were still present on the outside of one of these buildings.

Comment by Hugh on July 7, 2016 at 22:59

I have indeed, Laura. There are three strips of tiles along that parade, all quite different. It's so tempting to 'rescue' them, but of course that would be quite improper. It seems inevitable that one day they'll disappear.

Comment by Richard Woods on July 8, 2016 at 16:16

This screencap is interesting as the turret-like top of the corner house on the corner of Umfreville is virtually intact - at the top!

Comment by deepajourno on September 19, 2016 at 16:49

Fantastic pic! Thanks for sharing. Shame that that strip of shops is no longer such a thriving hub but great to see the road car-free and being enjoyed by pedestrians and local residents.

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