Finsbury Park "Lake"

Comment by Andrina Bamber on May 21, 2017 at 14:58

There are always these huge puddles when there has been heavy rainfall.Many reasons why.The ground has been too dry to soak up heavy rainfall.Some grassy parts near the paths have been eroded by runners/joggers.Many of the drains are left clogged up over the winter no doubt due to staff cuts.So without adequate funding ,more puddles,and more soil being washed down the hills.Soil erosion is a well known phenomena the world over .

Comment by Victor Farthing on May 26, 2017 at 8:43

This used to be a lovely park back in the 50/60's with so many park keepers all in brown uniforms maintaining the flower beds,cleaning up the fallen leaves. Used to be able to fish a part of the boating lake too. There used to have a train spotting platform overlooking the railway next to the cinder football pitches, all gone because of cutbacks,very sad indeed.

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on May 26, 2017 at 16:50

Victor is quite right, the ‘Parkies’ did a good job and maintained order well. The park had a large staff of gardeners too. The flower design of the circular bed inside Manor House gate was always something to see. The Festival of Britain logo I remember.

The park keepers carried a walking stick with a spike in the end for picking up the odd bit of litter.

Watching the trains was something special. One of my friends was very knowledgeable and would tip me off if some ‘special’ was coming through.

Best of all was the glass of Tizer in the tea room by the lake – I can taste it now!

Comment by Victor Farthing on May 26, 2017 at 21:32

Roy the park keepers used to chase you off the grass if you were playing football on it! I remember the beautiful flower beds at Manor House gate. The American gardens were very special, the model village now gone. Sign of the times I'm afraid. I was over there last week and shocked to see a tent in the park,I'm sure someone may be living in it as it was almost in the bushes. Went over to where the train spotting platform used to be and see another tent on the Railway side of the park boundary next to the rail line. Never see one park keeper. I lived at Manor House on the Woodberry Down Est from 1950 to 1972 and have so many happy memories of going in that park. Don't get me wrong it's not disgusting in there but not as it used to be.

Add a Comment