Stadium & Arena from the air

Comment by StephenBln on October 28, 2008 at 1:58

By the amount of coaches parked up and the lack of people in the stadium; I would imagine this photo was taken in the 1950s, when the Arena was still open.
Probably in 1954, when the Arena was quite a bit in the news because of Billy Graham's tour of Britain.

Also of interest, the side entrances into the stadium from Hermitage Road via the steep staircase and Finsbury Park Road can clearly be seen. As well as the entrance out into Stanhope Gardens plus the building with the Harringay Stadium sign on it (where the 'Y' in society is).

Comment by Hugh on January 30, 2011 at 2:10

Here's a slightly better version:

 

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on November 9, 2012 at 16:12

At the rear (bottom of you superb picture) there was a very steep drop down to what we imagined was a stream, though it was probably a drain or soak-away. We often dug in the bank and found old pieces of pottery, porcelain and bottles. Dad said that the stadium and arena were built on old Victorian rubbish dump in that area also spoil from the building of the Picadilly Line.

The arena didn’t have security as we know it now but there was a watchman who we called ‘Bigboots’ and like all these fearsome and possibly fictitious characters we were terrified of being caught by him. I never saw him but that didn’t stop you always looking over your shoulder!

Speedway. Wonderful, noisy, smelly, cheap to get in.

Banger and Stock Car Racing, ditto!

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