Makeshift Practice Ring at Harringay Arena For Horse of The Year Show, 1957

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on October 18, 2024 at 9:11

Is that the demolished Harringay Park (now Harringay Green Lanes) wooden station in the background?

Comment by Gordon T on October 18, 2024 at 10:46

Roy, if you mean the large pile of timbers to the right of the booking office then that's quite likely.

You also see the booking office (brick, still standing, though now a cafe when open) and the very western ends of the two wooden platforms.

Out of shot to the right would have been the bulk of the wooden platforms and buildings which indeed were replaced in 1958, just after this picture was taken.

A book about the railway line frustratingly only has one pre-1950s picture which doesn't show the station buildings!

Comment by John Hough on October 25, 2024 at 9:57

Trying to recall where 'Bartons' were. I think it was Wood Green High Road.

Comment by John Hough on October 25, 2024 at 9:58

Comment by Barbara on October 25, 2024 at 20:59

Better than the dreadful MacDonalds now there!

Comment by Jeremyb on October 26, 2024 at 14:15

Yes, Barton's department store was in Wood Green High Road, just north of Turnpike Lane. It burnt down in 1968 and wasn't rebuilt...

Comment by Glenn Wallis yesterday

Further to Roy & Gordon's comments, the photo does indeed show the demolition of the wooden platforms of Harringay Park station and the start of the installation of new concrete piles for the new up platform of what will become Harringay Stadium station.

Since in the 1950s, the idea of closing a station to rebuild it would not be entertained, how was this rebuilding carried out while trains were still calling? My best guess is that it was done in two halves. The station had a separate entrance/exit at the country (eastern) end which was normally only opened for events at the arena and stadium, this was located where the Sainsbury's petrol station now is. I do not know if there was a booking office at this entrance, but if not passengers would still have to obtain tickets from the booking hall on Green Lanes while the platforms at the London (western) end were being rebuilt and then then walk round to the country end to board their train. In the book to which Gordon referred, St. Panras to Barking by Jim Connor, published by Middleton Press, photo 61 shows part of the up side staircase at the arena entrance/exit. During the rebuilding, some trains would be longer than the available platform and would have to "draw up" to give all passengers access to the platform. This would have added around five minutes to the journey, possibly longer if there was an event taking place at the arena or stadium.

Incidently, the Victoria Line follows the Tottenham & Hampstead line in this area and during construction there was severe subsidence in the railway embankment, causing the line to closed for at least a week while the track line and level was restored. This is why the speed limit in this area is only 30 mph.

Glenn Wallis

Secretary

Barking-Gospel Oak Line Rail User Group

barking-gospeloak.org.uk

@RidingtheGoblin

Comment by Hugh yesterday

Thanks, Glenn.

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