Hornsey station

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Colin Marr on April 27, 2015 at 21:58

I would be interested to see this film, but I couldn't get the link to work. Does anyone have a better link? Colin

Permalink Reply by SarahC on April 27, 2015 at 22:38

I think it's this:

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/london-bomb-damage-2

Right at the end. There's one building that looks like that white shisha lounge pub, which would put some of the bomb damage at the entrance to Jewsons. It would be interesting to know more!

Edited to add, looks like this photo is the same event.

Permalink Reply by John D on April 27, 2015 at 23:29

It's odd. The Pathe says it's 1942 but that is definitely the Railway Hotel ( now Funky Brownz ) and the bomb crater is that from a V2 in 1945, just up from what is now Jewsons Sadly a little girl was caught in the explosion and completely vanished.

It's difficult to imagine now what it must have been like and amazing how the people could laugh and fool around chucking bricks at each other.

Permalink Reply by SarahC on April 27, 2015 at 23:42

I've just noticed there's another photo here that puts it in November 1944, just to confuse things further.

http://www.topfoto.co.uk/imageflows/preview/t=topfoto&f=1199541

I agree - I walk up there quite a lot and find it almost unimaginable.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on April 28, 2015 at 0:11

Topfoto has it right. It was 10th November 1944. See this photo. I've spoken with the author of the book whose family member took the photo.

Permalink Reply by John D on April 28, 2015 at 0:20

Sorry about getting the year wrong. I was only two at the time

Permalink Reply by Hugh on April 28, 2015 at 0:25

We forgive you. You got it right a few years ago. 

Permalink Reply by SarahC on April 27, 2015 at 23:36

Going off a bit at a tangent, googling that brought me up some references to two IRA bombs that went off with no injuries in October 1993 in Tottenham Lane. I don't remember this at all, but didn't  know the area then - does anybody remember any more about this?

Permalink Reply by John D on April 28, 2015 at 0:22

I seem to remember reading that there was an IRA bomb factory in the area.

Permalink Reply by Alan on April 28, 2015 at 15:28

One morning, on my car trip to work, I passed the Hornsey Journal offices all taped in, and Archway Rd by Shepherds Hill the same. I think these were due to IRA action. Where I worked in the West End there was often police moving us on or away from glass buildings, and even had sniffer dogs in the back of my van !!

Permalink Reply by Straw Cat on May 3, 2015 at 12:00

I heard the boom of this in my Hillfield Avenue house one morning together with another one in I think Muswell Hill a few minutes afterwards.  Wondered what on earth the IRA had against the Hornsey Journal, whose then chief reporter was a well known Irishman and local character.

Permalink Reply by Tam Neal on May 1, 2015 at 11:01

Hi, yes that's definitely 'Funky Brownz' in the background and the V2 bomb looks like it impacted directly on the corner of Ribblesdale Road and Tottenham Lane (where the YMCA is - hence the land was never built on again for residential purposes). Incidentally, to view the location of bombs that hit this area (but also the whole of London and the home counties during the early part of the 2nd World War (the blitz), visit this rather amazing website http://bombsight.org/#17/51.58562/-0.11316    

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