Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

South Harringay School and the Passage from Pemberton Road, c 1910

I love the finials on the Passage entrance. They're still in situ. I'd never noticed then before.

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Comment by Christine Killick on October 3, 2025 at 18:26: Yes, Barrie Maskell the swimming instructor was Mr Cornell when I was there from 1954 until 1961. Didn't like him at all.

Comment by Geoffrey Walker on October 3, 2025 at 18:51: I remember Mr. Cornell from 2 lessons in September 1959. Didn't like it at all and invented various excuses not to go (last year at St. Aidans Junior School). Didn't go either when went to North Harringay Sec. Mod. 1959-65 except the final few weeks there when I conquered my fears and learnt to swim with the aid of my form masters who accompanied us.

Comment by tigha on October 4, 2025 at 18:04: Doesn’t look that difference now tbh

Comment by andrew simmonds on October 6, 2025 at 9:14: Christine, I don't know if you remember the year of your event at the pool. I believe I was the kid that may have pulled you out and received the rollicking for my trouble. If not it either happened regularly or it was a huge coincidence.

Comment by Christine Killick on October 22, 2025 at 20:47: Sorry Andrew Simmonds I do not remember the year but if it was you then thanks for saving me. Would you have been at South Harringay between 1954 and 1961? Probably started the swimming lessons when we were in the juniors from about 1956/57.

Comment by andrew simmonds on October 23, 2025 at 7:00: Seems I was not your saviour, because I went to North Harringay school. Perhaps Mr. Cornell was intent in thinning out the primary school population in North London.

Comment by Geraldine on October 23, 2025 at 23:36: I remember Mr Glass and Mr Head. Headmaster was L.A. Wilson. Other teachers: F.N. Garratt, M.E. Waugh, Mr G R Lewis (the only teacher I liked), Mrs Hayward, Mrs Gaze(?). Most of these names come from my school report book which I still have.

Comment by Christine Killick on October 24, 2025 at 13:58: Yes Geraldine remember Miss Garratt who married Mrs Gaze's son. I think I have a photo somewhere of the wedding in the church at Crouch End. There was also Mr Smith and Mrs Dunn that I can remember. From the infant school my favourite teacher Miss Diprose. Lovely memories of my childhood.

Comment by Geraldine on October 24, 2025 at 22:51: Interesting about the wedding. We never learned about our teachers' private lives. I remember hearing of Miss Diprose but I wasn't at the infants school. Until the juniors, I went to a little private church school in Seymour Road next to the alleys. We called it "Mrs Wainwright's" but later my sister reminded me it was the Misses Wainwrights. There were two of them, two sisters. It was Alpha House School. No one seems to remember it now and I can't find any history of it.

Comment by Hugh on October 25, 2025 at 10:55: Geraldine, there are a few updates on the history of the school in "1 of 3" in this set of Alpha House School photos.

Which reminds me. On researching the school, I came across the Alpha House Rescue Home at 43 Hanley Road N4. Almost certainly not connected to your alma mater in any way other than by a coincidental name similarity, it was a 'preventative and rescue home for fallen women' established in 1885. Through that, I learned about the 'White Cross' pledge and 'White Cross Army', which I'll leave you to google - sad but fascinating stuff.

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