Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Turnpike Lane Dairy, c1990

This old fashioned store at 1 Turnpike Lane, lasted until the nineties, or perhaps later. Previously it had been the Express Dairy.

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Comment by Tony on September 9, 2018 at 10:24: I remember this when it was Express Dairy. I also seem to remember another shop close to this one that sold both wet fish and fish and chips, I believe it was called Elliots.

Comment by irene rose neil on September 14, 2018 at 7:57: I thought Elliots was in Westbury ave opposite Webbers bakers and Mays greengrocers

Comment by Lydia Walter on September 14, 2018 at 8:22: This is a great photo and brings back childhood memories. It used to be called “The Diary” by locals, and was, I believe, owned by a couple from Wales. The male owner delivered milk on a cart which he walked in front of. He operated the movement by a handle on a lever which was at waist height and when squeezed would move the cart. I think it also engaged the brake. I guess it was battery charged. He was up early and out in all weathers, delivering in many ladder roads near to Turnpike Lane. When finished his round he would go home and sleep, after which he would join his wife in the shop. They sold dairy related products but also many other food provisions. The shop was based on pre-supermarket service design. (It was one of two in TL in the 1950s/early 60s). To the left hand side of the shop was a driveway which gave access for the milk cart to be parked at the rear of the shop. The shop itself had wooden floorboards!! Sadly, the male owner died young, heart attack or stroke, as was common at that time. It may have been after that that Express took over.

Comment by Lydia Walter on September 14, 2018 at 8:24: Hugh, your photos are sublime. Ever thought of an exhibition? Or using them at a reminiscence cafe?

Comment by Tony on September 18, 2018 at 11:15: I know there was a shop that sold both wet fish and fish & chips that was close to this dairy and I'm fairly sure it was called Elliots but as with anything a long time ago I can't be 100% sure on the name. My grandmother worked there for a while but is no longer here to ask. Can anyone else remember this?

Comment by Richard Woods on September 25, 2018 at 16:57: What a picture for memories - I worked as a paper boy (evening round) for the newspaper shop next door in the later 50s. This had been an Express Dairy I think but changed later. Turnpike was a key road for us down at Frobisher - we thought it slightly posher than Green Lanes, Harringay but neither were as posh as Wood Green High Road (not counting the spivs selling out of suitcases!). After that is Oxford Street or nothing!

My memory fails on which shops were where but there was a wet and fried fish shop, Garrison toys and models plus next door Garrisons bike shop.

My first crush lived at 56 further up on the 'right' (oh Pat where are you now?) and for a few weeks in the 60s Ron Moody (Oliver!) lodged in a flat nearby - I interviewed him for the Hornsey Journal.

Comment by Tony on October 5, 2018 at 9:58: I know that Ron Moody's mother lived in Turnpike Lane for a while as my aunt used to work as a cleaner for her.

Comment by Alan on April 29, 2019 at 15:26: Interesting. I remember often seeing an electric hand cart as described parked outside the diary lots of times when we used to bus it to Wood Green on Saturdays.

Comment by Alan on April 29, 2019 at 15:28: Make that Dairy, I've put a note in my diary which I bought in Greenaways.

Also lovely reference to Garrison's model shop.

Comment by Simon cleaver on August 30, 2019 at 8:34: I love this photo it would be great to get a copy of it. My late father worked at the dairy circa 1960 he was 15 and worked on the milk cart. When I was little everytime we drove past when visting my nan in hornsey rise he would point out the yard and shop.

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