Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

The Salisbury 1909

If you'd like to learn more about the history of Harringay , see my article on Wikipedia providing an overview of the History of Harringay. The series box at the top of that page will take you to more detailed articles I've sketched out on periods in Harringay's history.

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Comment by StephenBln on February 11, 2008 at 10:04: I like this shot very much. It clearly shows that Harringay was/is something special as far as the architecture goes.
Does anybody know if Grand Parade was built by the same developer of the Gardens and at exactly the same time?
The reason I ask is that I was thinking..
Grand Parade is of undoubtably "superior" design to the parades of shops on the west side of Green Lanes. It also lay/still lies on the, shall we say, cheaper side of the street. Was it perhaps postioned so as "a backdrop" for the ladder streets? Did perhaps the Gardens not need such a smart backdrop?
BTW, Trams first worked this section of road in 1887, when a "steam!" tram service began operating between Finsbury Park and Wood Green. (A steam service from Finsbury Park to Tottenham, Edmonton and Ponders End had opened in 1885.) These steam vehicles were just too heavy for the running tracks, had high maintenance costs, so that the company went out of business in 1890. Horse Trams were then instituted and worked the routes until electric trams were introduced by the Metropolitan Electric Tramways in July 1904.
It is not that clear from the postcard, but MET trams carried a "vermillion and ivory" livery.. bright red and cream to you and me in 2008!

Comment by Hugh on February 11, 2008 at 12:47: JC Hill built the Salisbury, Grand Pd & the Gardens. I did a Wikipedia article on him a couple of months back. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cathles_Hill)

Comment by StephenBln on February 11, 2008 at 14:10: Thanks for the Link Hugh.. A bit OT I know, but are you a J Cathles Hill buff? Do you know perhaps if he only built in the Northern suburbs of London? There are houses very similar to the gardens houses in Fulham SW6 and Clapham SW4. Any idea if he built those too?

Comment by Hugh on February 11, 2008 at 14:20: Not a JCH buff. Most of what I know is in the article from the sources quoted. Sorry.

As far as I'm aware he built in N London and Peterborough.

Comment by alistairj on June 21, 2008 at 11:17: The signage on 'Harringay's favourite building' has changed a lot over the years. 'Then', the building looks great but with ten foot high 'R.J.Brinkley, Commercial & Family' lettering completely dominating the small and ornate 'Salisbury Hotel' doorway sign that remains nowadays. It must have been quite confusing ('fancy a pint at the Brinkley'?).

'The Salisbury' sign now better indicates the purpose of the building with lettering that doesn't actually obscure windows (though with a rather forlorn pub sign on the right).

Comment by StephenBln on June 21, 2008 at 14:17: I think today's 'The Salisbury' signage is at least forty years old. It doesn't look any different to how I remember it in the 1960s.
BTW, under that sign is a rounded window. On the 1909 postcard the rounded part looks like it has 'lightbulbs?' (or cats-eyes?) on it.. Anyone any ideas on what they were?

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