Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
One of the surviving Victorian houses houses of Hornsey Lane
Interesting to see an old photo of one of the few surviving Victorian houses on Hornsey Lane.
West of the Archway Road, the north side of Hornsey Lane was built up from the late 1860s. Prior to this date, there was only Bridge Place at the Archway end of the road. About half way along towards Crouch Hill was Hornsey Lane Farm, still an operating dairy farm.
Wynnstay seems to have been built by 1871. It first appears in the records under the Wynnstay name in 1891 as a private girls school. However, both it and the house immediately to its east, later called Brooklyn seem to have been given new names from the mid-1880s.
A house on the same plot as Wynnstay, probably the same one, was occupied from 1871 by John C. Harker, a stock broker at the Stock Exchange. He was recorded in residence in the census of 1881. By 1884 he had moved to Denmark Hill.
A house on the same plot as Brooklyn, probably the same one, appears in the records from 1871 as Trevor House. It was home to Michael Hodson (or Hodgson) Tatham until his death at the house in 1883. Tatham worked at Tatham & Son, originally his father's law firm in Staple Inn. I have been unable to find any further record of Trevor House after this date.
From 1936 to 1973, the house served as the base for the private Crouch End High Schoo. The school had started in Weston Park, Crouch End, then spebt some period in Fairfield Avenue and Elm House Middle Lane, before moving to Hornsey Lane
-
Comment by Hugh on March 20, 2022 at 10:25
-
Well done Allen. Thank you for spotting my howler from eleven years ago. What a nice surprise to discover that Wynnstay is still standing. (Photo title now changed!)
As to the attribution of the Lawes painting, I think you're right, it looks very unlikely to be a view from Downhills. Lawes was a prolific local water colourist and he seemed to have represented things as he saw them. As to whether it's from the garden of Brooklyn, the line of sight would be right, but the problem is that by 1884, the view would have included the GNR High Barnet Branch line. By 1884 it would have been embanked and Brooklyn's garden ran down to the embankment. Unless Lawes chose to paint only the view beyond it, it would have stood our rather prominently. So I suspect that the image was painted from the other side of the line somewhat further north. However, you certainly have the line of sight about right. I've dropped a note to Bruce Castle referring them to your comment.
Below is a rough recreation (click to enlarge) of the line of sight from Brooklyn (Wynnstay is shown at the bottom of the pic next to the red-brick block of flats) to the Palace, on Google Maps Birds Eye View. You can see Christchurch in this view (constructed 1862) That doesn't show in Lawes' painting, but what looks like Holy Innocents does, as Ken has written. Viewed from Brooklyn, I wonder if you'd seen have Holy Innocents without getting Christchurch also in view?
I think the Hod/Hodgson I referred to had the surname of Tatham: Hod/Hodgson was, I believe, a middle name. Whether or not he went commonly by that middle name, I do not know,
I'm afraid I've watermarked your image. Bruce Castle have clearly asserted their rights at publication and I wouldn't want to upset them.
-
Comment by Allen Cullen on March 20, 2022 at 10:42
-
More great ideas & info cheers Hugh!
-
-
I only just thought to check one more thing: in the 1890s OS Map there are also still no buildings anywhere close to Downhills House in the direction of Ally Pally.
-
-
I think there’s little doubt that the Downhills description is a case of probably a well-meaning volunteer adding two and two and getting five.
-
-
Yep
-
-
I noticed a picture of a Wynnstay Hotel in Wrexham the other day. I looked it up and found that indeed the name seems to be linked to the area and a family named Wynn - more on Wikipedia.
Add a Comment
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Harringay online to add comments!
Join Harringay online