Harringay Warehouse District, 1934

Comment by patrick byrne on August 8, 2021 at 15:38

Continuing the memories of my young days, I had a happy Harringay/ Tottenham/ Hornsey hybrid childhood - living at the Green Lanes end of Hermitage Road and attending school at the St Anne's Road end in St Mary's Priory. Subsequently living in upper Pemberton Road and school in St Ignatius College, Stamford Hill.

Simple days when postcodes and labels were less important.

So let's just enjoy the history of the neighborhood, discover why the area developed in particular ways and share relevant memories of the past.

Comment by StephenBln on August 8, 2021 at 16:19

Anyone can dig up advertising to support their case. Here's one for Courtney Pope.. slap in the middle of the photo. Warehouse District? No, Tottenham.

https://picclick.co.uk/1960s-Courtney-Pope-Brite-Glo-False-Ceiling-...

Comment by Hugh on August 8, 2021 at 16:34

Well, that’s exactly what I said on the other article, Stephen. Have you read it? The area was referred to under four different district names by different people. In fact, Courtney Pope, more usually used Seven Sisters, whilst their neighbours used Finsbury Park. I'm happy to acknowledge that all four versions were used. You're not, it seems. You'll only allow Tottenham. 

As to the epithet Warehouse District, I’ve said countless times, that as far as I’m aware it was the present-day residents that came up with that. That’s their construct. They live there now. So I’ve gone with their flow. 

Comment by Don on August 8, 2021 at 17:45

It’s so easy to end up going down this rabbit-hole from different angles that there must be a danger of traversing the whole warren. Street and area naming seem to be subject to various arcane rules, many of them involving the Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File, which many commercial organisations (and councils) take as gospel. Trying for a memorable address for a new entertainment venue in south-west London, I discovered that neither RM nor the council would accept our proposal (even though it incorporated a name already used by all the adjacent businesses) and insisted on something more mundane — “you can call it what you like, but the street address is xx High Street” I was firmly told.

For what it’s worth, my road off the north side of St Ann’s Road, very close to Green Lanes — and which I think of as “Harringay”— regularly comes up on PAF-addressed mail as “South Tottenham”, even though it must be at least a mile from the station of the same name and the A10.... Make of that what you will.

Comment by Gordon T on August 8, 2021 at 18:13

Not to join the Harringay/Tottenham/Warehouse District commentary since I've only lived here since 1978, but picking up on Don's comment, we (south end of Ladder, N4 Post code) still occasionally receive post addressed to

XX Ladder Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 1XX so organisational 'memory' persists for a good long time.

Comment by Hugh on August 8, 2021 at 18:23

Don and Gordon, both of those are just the result of divisions made for administrative convenience. They reflect the sorting office that delivered your mail, nothing else. But they’re yet another construct. They make my point that neighbourhood names end up being personal, or in this case administrative, constructs. All we can do is smile and welcome all the versions. 

Comment by Richard Ross on August 8, 2021 at 18:25

I also live in N4 and  occasionally receive post similarly addressed.

Comment by Gordon T on August 8, 2021 at 18:26

Indeed. Here's another one, from the excellent Diamond Geezer blog:

https://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2014/03/cazenove.html

Comment by Gordon T on August 8, 2021 at 18:28

And proximate to Harringay.

Comment by patrick byrne on August 8, 2021 at 19:38

And this all dialogue leads us away from Hugh's wonderful aerial photo of industrial units on Hermitage Road in 1934 - a reminder of how much employment and manufacturing and entertainment (Harringay Stadium) once existed in the area.

As a child (1950s) , when such things were still considered normal, in early November, I would sit outside my house with a stuffed "Guy Fawkes" collecting " a penny for the Guy" - essentially begging for money to purchase fireworks. 

With the crowds of workers walking along Hermitage Road after work in these industries and the crowds dashing to events in the Arena and the Stadium - it was a very profitable location. Significant amounts of pennies were collected and we had great street parties, bonfires and local firework displays on November 5th.

Thanks Hugh for your continued investigation and recording of local history. Many of the images and articles bring back great memories of my younger years in Harringay. 

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