Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Aerial View Of Finsbury Park, circa 1906

Shot from a spot over the edge of the park near Green Lanes, probably just south of the New River, looking south-west across the park.

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Comment by alistairj on April 23, 2008 at 9:54: Nice! Anyone up for doing a 'now' version!

Comment by John McMullan on April 23, 2008 at 12:18: That plane is very low, illegal these days I would say.

Comment by Joe H on August 13, 2017 at 3:07: Interesting! Judging by the style of the titling, this appears to be published by the same company as the shot I submitted of the bandstand. The photograph is taken just NE of the lake (the tea room is clearly visible; the bandstand is obscured by the trees to the left of it)—see the OS map detail added by Hugh on the bandstand photo. From the trees, taken in the winter; from the shadows, taken in the morning.

Comment by H Fenton on September 4, 2017 at 21:14: This photograph is from the "Aero Photo Co" of Stoke Newington, they were not registered as a company, as far as I have found they were active 1905-8. They seem to have been good at registering copyright so we get some records from the National Archives. They used kites to lift their cameras not aeroplanes which is why the photo appears to be so low a position. Saying that the photo was taken using an aeroplane on their postcards seems just to be a ploy to help sell them - aeroplanes were very new and exciting at the time - more exciting that a kite.

The copyright on this image was registered in April 1907, so the lack of leaves on the trees suggest take in the winter of 1906-7. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14231434

I'm just at an early stage of researching "Aero Photo Co".

Comment by H Fenton on September 4, 2017 at 21:23: Any idea what number is under the copyright? I can't see it clearly from the scan it looks like 37 although 97 would fit better in the Aero Photo Co numbering sequence.

Comment by Hugh on September 4, 2017 at 21:34: Sorry, that's the best version I have. I'd go with. 37.

Comment by Madeline on February 6, 2022 at 2:24: I see it from a different angle. To the left would be Seven Sisters Rd, past that wide track which is inside the park. On the pond you can see the island and towards us that horse shoe shaped part of the pond now has a timber barrier across it to stop the boats from straying into the fishing area. Well it used to be there when I was last there. Underneath the camera would be some where near/over the running track. The bowling green and council buildings would be on the right. Top right, about an inch down in the photo would be the Parkland road bridge, probably not there at that time as the Parkland walk was probably still an active railway line.

Comment by Richard Woods on February 6, 2022 at 12:58: Even more amazing is the date - the Wrights only flew the first aeroplane in 1903!

And if the copyright is 97 that means someone took a further 96 with a similar plate camera and developed them!

By the way, given lens and cameras back then the plane may not be quite as low as it seems.

Comment by Richard Woods on February 6, 2022 at 13:06: But wait - it could have been from a balloon - much easier and lower.

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