Mackenzie Gardens, Finsbury Park, 1910

Comment by Gary Smith on December 7, 2023 at 21:52

I guessed that it was Finsbury Park but I have never seen it looking so beautiful.

Comment by John Shulver on July 8, 2024 at 18:36

They don't make parks like that no more !

Comment by Konrad B on July 10, 2024 at 11:46

Mackenzie Gardens - July 2024 courtesy of Live Nation.

Note the surveillance cameras and lighting.

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on Friday

Was there ever an ‘American Garden’? Or perhaps this is what we called the Mackenzie Garden

Wonderful Finsbury Park was part of my playground in the late 40’ and into the 50’s.

The gardens were so well tended. Just inside the Manor House gate on the left was the Park Keepers house. The ‘parkie’ was to be feared and any transgression (walking on grass marked Do Not Walk On The Grass) carried a stern warning.

He, they, wore a brown rough jacket and trousers and a trilby hat with a bronze badge.

Stealthy transport was a bicycle.

Inside Manor House gate on the right was always a splendid floral display, several times I remember clocks and royal coats of arms.

Cycle clubs raced on Sundays, the boating lake with tearoom, the model village, a good view of the steam trains leaving Kings Cross, it had it all!

Such Happy days.

Is ‘A Park For Finsbury’ by Hugh Hayes available to purchase? 

Comment by Hugh on Friday

There was indeed. I don't think the name is unknown locally these days. See also here. he American Gardens were a popular mid 19th century style of ornamental woodland gardening. They are to be found in a number of public parks around the country.

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on Friday

Thank you Hugh, just where I remember it.

Comment by Hugh on Friday

Re A Park for Finsbury, yes, here.

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