Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Western Road Swimming Pool, Wood Green

Before the pool was built, an old house used to stand on its site. It dated back at least to the 17th Century. The fact that it was variously called "Moat Cottage" and "Moat House" in the nineteenth century suggests that it might have had an even older provenance. (The nearby Ducketts Manor/Farm also used to have a moat and it dated back to to Medieval times).

Moat House and its grounds were purchased by Wood Green Council. Various proposals were made for its use, but eventually a dust destructor (waste incinerator) was erected in 1908 and the pool was built and opened in 1911. (The destructor went on the provide the power to heat the pool!)

The pool eventually closed in 1997. The building survives in use as a banqueting venue.

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Albums: Historical Images of Wood Green | 2 of 2

Comment by Hugh on October 18, 2024 at 12:00: Thanks for those additional photos, John.

Comment by John Hough on October 18, 2024 at 15:18: What very few people know off or remember is that there used to be an open air Swimming pool at Alexandra Palace. It lay against the fence that separated the racecourse from the reservoirs. One used to approach it from the gated entrance at the foot of Ally Pally hill adjacent to Wood Green mainline railway station and take a path on the left through a small wooded area, passing the watchman's house within the wood and across the start of the Racecourse. Then follow along the fence to the reservoirs. There was one building which I presume were changing rooms. I have no idea when it closed, probably between the wars as it was in ruins when we as children used to sneak in there to catch newts & frogs. One other forgotten thing here, there used to be a 'live' firing range behind these woods nearer the railway yards, real guns and rifles. A red flag used to be raised at the aforementioned path when it was in use. It's all now almost entirely covered with trees.