Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Fancy Your Own New River Tower with Large Garden for just £1M?

Photo: Selling agent. See final paragraph for details

I was amazed to see this rather unique water tower on sale for just a million pounds in one of the best roads in Winchmore Hill.

It was originally built as part of the development of Bush Hill Park in the early 1880s. The developer, North London Estates Company, was responsible for laying roads, building drains and sewers and providing a water supply.

The water supply was achieved through the sinking of an artesian well (apparently in 1877), and the construction of a water tower and pumping plant which provided piped water from the start. The tower and waterworks were later sold to the New River Company.

The tower is described on early Ordnance Survey Maps as "Bushill Tower (New River Water Works)".

The first resident I can trace is one Reginald George Frederick Turpin, who is recorded as living there by 1929.

Born in Mildmay Grove in 1883, Turpin had moved with his parents to 121 Marlborough Road Bowes Park by the time he was 18. Both he and his father were clerks, Reginald for an insurance company. Five years later, he met and married local girl Isabel from just round the corner at 147 Whittington Road.

The Turpins moved in to the old water at a time when the unnamed track on which it had been based had just been named as Quaker's Walk. The road was just starting to be developed as a relatively expensive residential road. They named their new home "The Towers".

I can only think that either Turpin had made money since returning from his army Service in WWI, or that he had managed to pick up the tower very cheaply.

The Turpins moved out of the tower in 1940 and it was then occupied by the family of Frances Bell. The 'Bell family' lived there it until the end of the war. Frances commented, "I remember my parents saying they were very reassured during bombing raids that their home was so strong."

She has provided the following two photos for which she cannot provide an exact date. But it is interesting to contrast them with current photos and the birds-eye view on Google Maps.

The most recent owners apparently bought the property in 1965 and undertook some modernisation.

It would be a great project for someone! Further details and interior photos are on the estate agent's website.

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Permalink Reply by Chrisandsally on July 24, 2020 at 8:27

Wow. Thank you Hugh. You are amazing and always find us fascinating historical snippets but this place for sale is in a whole new league. What a find!

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on July 24, 2020 at 9:10

You must invite me round for tea after you’ve settled in!

The history with this building, was, as so often seem to be the case, smothered in half-truths. It only took about an hour’s research to get to a good accurate framework of its story. (Of course, I rarely mean to spend that sort of time. It’s a bit like when you go out into the garden and pull out just one weed only to find yourself on your hands and knees an hour later having weeded the whole border. There must be a name for this. )