Northumberland House, Green Lanes, 1955

Comment by StephenBln on June 29, 2008 at 8:45

This destrustion of North London's heritage has really been going on since the 1920's, when investors realised that you could build 20 or so flats, generally ugly and without any consideration to the local environment, on the site of one building that usually had a lot of character. So much has been lost.
The Coliseum in Harringay was a prime example. I expect the new 'a--parte--ments' or 'McFlats', built for quick profit with no gain to the community to will look very run down within ten years...

Comment by StephenBln on June 29, 2008 at 8:48

BTW, the name "Northumberland" has a long history in the area: i.e. Northumberland Park. see Hugh's History of Harringay for that.....

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on April 4, 2009 at 17:04

The lion with the straight tail is an heraldic connection to the Percy family - Dukes of Northumberland. Presumably they owned the land.

The building was a very beautiful one inside and out. When it emptied of patients in 1951 (?) we had the run of the place, it became our playground. It was corporate vandalism to knock it down - today quite rightly it would be saved.

From memory it had vast rooms, with wood panneling and parquet floors. There was a large strong room where originaly the butler would have kept the family silver plate.

The front, seen here looked onto the New River across the gravel drive.

Note the bell pull on the left if the wicket gate. When the asylum was in use us kids would pull it and run away, quickly.

We never knew if it worked or anyone came to see who'd rung the bell.

On the far right of the picture is the letter box.

Both the very fine iron gates were always kept closed.

Comment by Hugh on March 29, 2013 at 14:20

Yes, it is. See my my Manor House Wikipedia article for references. Also I dug up a great set of photos of the building recently.

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