Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Ally Park's a bit posh innit.
On a pleasant 2 hour stroll through much of Alexandra Park today, taking in the cricket ground, the deer enclosure and then to our surprise the beautifully improved boat lake, cafe and children's play area, complete with skateboard zone and graffiti wall, I've come to the conclusion this park easily rivals Finsbury Park to the south.
They have done a fantastic job of presenting an inviting area at the back of Ally Pally with the boat lake improvements (no smelly bird bank here), a beautifully refurbished Victorian building housing the cafe, which serves up excellent milkshakes, cappucinos and the like, complete with very nice landscaping.
We passed around to the front of the palace (which as we all know desperately needs care and attention), the kids enjoyed using the 50p for 2mins telescope which shows up incredible detail right into 'the city'. We then dropped down into the park with its bright newly planted flower beds and freshly mown grass, where a young Dalmatian was hurtling around and grabbing all the attention (I want one!).
Then headed back into the fields below where the race course used to be and a helipad now is. It's a strange empty space around these parts. Could do with a couple of football pitches and an area for much in demand allotments .... or something at least.
But all in all a pleasant afternoon with a few nice surprises. Investment in our largest park and in our grandest building must increase. Ally Pally and its park have the potential to be our true 'heartlands'.
They have done a fantastic job of presenting an inviting area at the back of Ally Pally with the boat lake improvements (no smelly bird bank here), a beautifully refurbished Victorian building housing the cafe, which serves up excellent milkshakes, cappucinos and the like, complete with very nice landscaping.
We passed around to the front of the palace (which as we all know desperately needs care and attention), the kids enjoyed using the 50p for 2mins telescope which shows up incredible detail right into 'the city'. We then dropped down into the park with its bright newly planted flower beds and freshly mown grass, where a young Dalmatian was hurtling around and grabbing all the attention (I want one!).
Then headed back into the fields below where the race course used to be and a helipad now is. It's a strange empty space around these parts. Could do with a couple of football pitches and an area for much in demand allotments .... or something at least.
But all in all a pleasant afternoon with a few nice surprises. Investment in our largest park and in our grandest building must increase. Ally Pally and its park have the potential to be our true 'heartlands'.
Tags for Forum Posts: alexandra park, ally pally, parks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Caroline;
:) No haven't tried the P'n'P as it's on a steep hill, no?
Danzigger;
Agree that once again that a fantastic opportunity is currently being missed for a decent pub located in an amazing spot with views over London. They used to have far more tables out the front too.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Ice Rink
I've always wondered about this word and it's origins-- it's not very English sounding at all - thought it might have come from the German pronunciation of 'ring' ( circle )
Rink was in use after 1790 as 'Ice Rink' .. taken from the word Rink - 'a jousting area' - by 1375 until 1600s
well I never..
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Permalink Reply by rahman on
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Went to the farmer's market last weekend. It was great - though not a lot of fresh produce! :D
Its the first time Ive been up to 'ally pally' in a few years and it was sad to see how neglected the building is. i now understand why there are so many discussions on here about poor management of the place.
Might try out the pitch and putt place one weekend as that looks like it will be fun!
(On a side note, hasnt that horrible new development near hornsey bridge seriously scuppered the beautiful views that you can take in from the palace gates. It looks horrid. I cant believe that place got planning permission!)
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Matt: the AP park is the best and biggest in the Borough. I bet you didn't know there's a nuclear fallout shelter in the bushes?! This is hidden away in a corner.
You've captured the flavour of the place well and I think you can see the potential: not as a side-gift to a property developer, but as a public asset.
The assets of our Charitable Trust are world class; but in the Trust Board, we're working with sub-optimal material with the governing body that controls all this, on behalf of the council.
Unforgivably, Haringey connived in the threatened destruction of the first TV studios in the Palace. One day, well after the local council has withdrawn from active mismanagement, I can see the world's first television studios being awarded the status they richly deserve: UNESCO World heritage site.
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For those interested, various links regarding the BBC studios;
1. Detail of open day tour, by Martin Belam.
2. BBC News 50 Year celebrations (2004), held at Alexandra Palace BBC studios, by Martin Belam. The opening bulletin by Richard Baker was on 5 July 1954. The studios were in use for news broadcasts until BBC News was moved to the Television Centre in 1969.
3. BBC buildings - Alexandra Palace (by the BBC);
From 1936 until the early 1950s, except during World War 2, Alexandra Palace remained the major production centre for BBC television, broadcasting landmark programmes such as The Grove Family and historic events including the 1953 Coronation. After 1956 it was used exclusively for news broadcasts.
The BBC continued to produce television programmes at Alexandra Palace for the Open University until 1981 when the University moved out to purpose-built premises north of London in Milton Keynes.
4. Detailed plans produced in 1936 showing the studio complex.
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Sorry, but no UNESCO World Heritage site for AP, because the studios there were not the first TV studios in the World.
On the Blue Plaque you'll notice... The first 'High Definition TV' in... That's the cop out..
The Germans already had a regular TV service up and running in 1935- a different system, but TV all the same. If you'd like a photo of the first TV studios (the building) I can get one for you..
They were also BTW, ahead of the BBC as far as radio goes too..
Trouble is, countries that loose wars, tend not to be so full of themselves and these things get forgotten.
BTW, the British and one person in particular Sir Hugh Greene were responsible for the first development of post-war TV in Germany.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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Since both Baird and the EMI lot were sharing the premises, it could claim to be the first Facilities House ? :-)
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Matt - something's bugging me about the title you chose for this thread..
Please could you explain what's posh about Ally Park ..??
Apart that is, from those that go there thinking that they are a cut above the rest.. It's a regular park in a regular part of London..
What is posh anyway-? apart from being an inverted inferiority complex.. One of the main problems in Harringay I imagine, is the 'posh problem' - those that think that 'they on the Ladder' are better than 'the Gardens' but not as good as 'CE'- I really dislike this kind of thinking and I do think it's about time that WE did away with it..
We've had this theme before.. there are those who 'have to work for a living' and 'those that don't' - apart from that no- difference..
sorry, but I see no need to use 'posh'...
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Everything is relative isn't it Stephen and perceptions differ from one person to another. The title is slightly tongue in cheek but is also saying to the many of us that don't currently use Ally Pally or the park that much, that improvements have been made (see my post) and it's worth a re-visit. It's surprising the number of people who have said to me since our weekend visit that they didn't know about the boat lake area improvements and would now like to re-visit, having not done so for a number of years (because of the general decline of facilities).
Extending from that point the aim of the post is to get people talking about the palace and the park, to give personal memories, likes & dislikes and what they'd like to see done with it going forward. Posts on HOL have concentrated on the running of the palace regards the council so it's good to discuss other aspects of the place for a change.
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Thanks for the answer Matt: Yes you're right, it is about perception.. I must say, I personally found the 6 pounds price tag on the menu quite reasonable.. BUT.. but 'Posh' always infers something better - therefore more expensive - than it should be/needs to be.. That was my point and I'm not sure it's good idea to talk that sort of thing up.
I remember the park in Horserace days and was there occasionally.. - It was anything but posh - in fact, a People's Palace and I would be most happy for it stay that way.. 'Creeping gentrification' should IMO stay in Islington and Hackney, thank you..!
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Do we have photos of 'Horserace days' on this site? I don't think we do, in fact I know little about it at all.
I wonder if Ally Pally has ever had a 'Alexandra Palace/Park history day'. It could combine with a decent fair and music events for the evening.
Actually one way to raise money would be to ask bands that have played there in the past (including recently) to come along to a charity gig, play a couple of songs each; charge something at the gates for the public with all proceeds to upgrading a chosen part of the palace.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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When LNZCC played there a couple of seasons ago and I told them that they were playing in the middle of an old racetrack, the Aucklanders amongst them suggested that perhaps Alexandra Park in Auckland is named after it.
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