Grand Parade panorama - Salisbury to Kimberley

Comment by Simon T on July 26, 2008 at 12:12

I know the Iceland site used to be Woolworths anyone know why it was built? Was it a bomb site from the war?

Comment by alistairj on July 26, 2008 at 23:06

I didn't know it used to be Woolworths but have speculated whether a WWII bomb could be responsible. Whatever caused it, a real shame that something more 'in keeping', could not have been built.

Comment by Hugh on July 26, 2008 at 23:58

Are you sure it used to be Woolworths? I was told by a long-time resident who remembers Harringay's Woolworth's as being in Salisbury Promenade (i.e. where the row of shops where the Tesco Express now is).

I'd love to know why it was built. As far as I can imagine it must have been a bomb.

Comment by Hugh on July 27, 2008 at 0:01

BUT, if you look at this post-war ariel photo, whilst the damage in Warwick Gardens and on Falkland, Fairfax can be clearly seen, there's no visible damage on Grand Parade.

Comment by StephenBln on July 27, 2008 at 0:04

Wasn't it originally 'The Egg Stores' ?
I think I can vaguely remember that this building was burnt out in the late 1950s and that it wasn't a bomb site. Come to think of it I vaguely remember a Woolworth's somewhere burning out too. Am I confusing something here?

I actually think it's a quite a stylish building and is typical of those 1950s buildings that were built to replace bomb damage, as well as those built in the new towns around London. It's nice to see that the original window frames have survived and how they give the building style. BUT like most other Harringay buildings.. it is ruined by the shop frontage which doesn't have the correct proportions for the building.

Comment by StephenBln on July 27, 2008 at 0:15

p.s.
The Egg Stores were a grocery chain very similar to Home & Colonial & Sainsbury's, before that became all supermarket. There was also an Egg Store at Bruce Grove.

Comment by alistairj on July 27, 2008 at 9:16

The other reason for thinking of bomb or major fire is the sheer physical size of the building (Birdseye view here) - most of the Parade has a mews running along the back, but this building doesn't.

Comment by matt on August 4, 2008 at 21:05

Interesting ariel picture. How on earth did they get planning permission for that! Maybe it was a hall of some sort. Damned ugly building imho.

Comment by Richard Woods on January 8, 2021 at 13:17

Perhaps sadly this could not have been a bomb. I was a regular user of Woolworths in that location throughout my years in Harringay (46-64) . Recollection is of a fine row of Victorian/Edwardian shops. No doubt the developer did not agree with me. 

Comment by John Shulver on January 8, 2021 at 18:45

The original Woolworths store was situated between the Coliseum cinema and Salon Bal on "Salisbury Parade".  You could walk through the store from Green Lanes to Harringay Road if I remember correctly.

I recall Woolworths being on that site from early fifties before moving up to the Iceland site in around late 50's/early 60's.  And yes possibly the old site suffered a fire.  So maybe the Iceland site was purposefully modernised and extended to house the new Woolworths.  There must be someone out there who distinctly remembers. And possibly be photos of both sites ?

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