Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

The Archway of Highgate

Have you ever wondered exactly where the Archway name came from?

By the late 18th century Highgate was a prosperous village with a tollgate on the Great North Road and a good coaching trade. It was a popular place for early commuters. However increasing levels of coaching traffic meant something had to be done about the hill. Ackermann’s Repository (November 1822) records that “At Highgate-Hill, over which one of the great north roads branches from the metropolis, a formidable steep presents itself, and which, until about ten years ago, was endured, but liberally abused, by the sufferers obliged to pass it.”

First, attempts were made to tunnel through it but the tunnel collapsed. The tunnel was abandoned and a great cutting driven through, bridged by a massive archway designed by John Nash to carry Hornsey Lane. Opened in 1812, It took up a considerable width of the carriageway and was eventually replaced in 1900.

Incidentally, it was north along the Great North Road road that young Dick Whittington, a poor apprentice who had failed to make his fortune in London, was trudging one day, with, so legend tells us, his cat. He paused near to where the Whittington Stone now stands, to rest before tackling Highgate Hill and there he heard the bells of the City calling, “Turn again Whittington, thrice mayor of London.” The rest is legend.

A succession of Stones has marked the spot – the current one was erected in 1821, the previous version in 1608.

2 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John D on November 23, 2015 at 12:25

And there's a small statue of the cat on top :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on November 28, 2015 at 7:53

There seemed always to be a can of cat food next to the statue when I walked by it. Wonder if the tradition has died out?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by StephenBln on November 23, 2015 at 14:10

Nice print Hugh.

My great grandmother was born in 1870 in the house (or site of) in front of the castle styled building. Her grandparents lived on Pond Square, which wasn't quite so exclusive back then, the widowed great grandmother moving to Southwood Lane in 1868.

A 2012 view in the other other direction. Of course, born and bred North Londoners always referred to the place as 'i-gitt'.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John McMullan on November 23, 2015 at 15:47

It will take some effort to replace the image of a nasty looking office block in my head but I'll try. Thanks Hugh, very nice.

CGP Grey has a nice YouTube presentation on how to become Lord Mayor of London.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by anthony n on November 23, 2015 at 17:23

Two more pics from looking from Highgate (Hornsey lane). The second picture you can make out the dome of St Joseph's church at the top of Highgate hill - a very beautiful church inside though.

Attachments: