Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Mapping late 19th Century Harringay Roads & Trackways on to Google Maps
I just came across a map I'd not seen before - the Electoral Boundaries map from Middlesex published in 1885 (Edit: It looks like this is now pointing to a different map - no trackways are shown). I noticed a few roads and trackways on it that either weren't in existence on other maps I've seen or weren't shown.
The map was published in 1885, but it clearly represents a geography at a somewhat earlier date. (I know that the 1873 Ordnance Survey map, for example, was based on a survey carried out between 1862 and 1869). So, on that basis, if we take the 1885 map as showing the geography at between ten and four years before publication, it would be showing the situation between 1875 and 1881; in other words just before the major development of the area started. However, even these dates are far from certain since Finsbury Park is not yet shown and that was opened in 1869. So the map may well be a hybrid of the 1873 OS map with some updating.
In trying to find out where the roadways marked on the map would be in today's geography, the easiest way ended up being to overlay the older map on to a Google map in Photoshop. (This allowed me to reduce the opacity of one map and get a visible overlay). Whilst the older map wouldn't have had the same accuracy as today, the match is excellent, but not perfect.
So I was able to trace old roadways onto a Google map to show their routes in today's money (EDIT: map seems now to have disappeared) (it took a lot of little lines. So give the map a minute to draw on your screen).
I've tried to show parts of the major roadways to the east and west of Harringay, but they're not shown in their entirety - for example Priory Road stops at the foot of Muswell Hill on my map, whereas of course, in reality, it's carried on up the hill for many a year.
However the interesting thing for me are the roadways that lead to Harringay House and Finsbury Park and how in some cases they can be mapped directly on to existing roads.
There's an old road running pretty much along the line of today's Ridge Road. On the 1885 map it's shown as carrying on East beyond where it ends today at Chettle Court and crossing the railway into Harringay Park somewhere opposite Hewitt Road. The other road leading into the park tracked over from Tottenham Lane and under the railway line just opposite Effingham Road. That roadway was, I think, established around the time the house was originally built.
Then there are a number of interesting road converging on the centre of Finsbury Park where the old Hornsey_Wood_House stood as an attraction for Londoners to have a day out.
Harvey, Denton and Oakfield roads appear to follow the old route to the park from Crouch End. Oxford Road and the crossing across the railway line into the park seem to have formed part of the old route from Stroud Green Road.
(Good grief............and so what!! I guess this post is a hugely strong advert of the dangers of staying up too late!!)
Tags for Forum Posts: crouch end
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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Ah, just my sort of thing.. thanks for setting this up Hugh.
Interesting that the roadways in today's Finsbury Park are actually older than Seven Sisters Road.
Before Seven Sisters Road was constructed in 1833, the junction at Manor House was laid out differently - The West-east road continued from the park along today's Woodberry Down (which was probably originally known as Woodberry Town) as far as Lordship Park.
I have this original map in my collection.. published in 1781, it depicts the Harringay area, a hundred years before the 1885 maps.
The road shown between Hanger Lane (St Ann's Road) and West Green is most probably Cornwall Road, although the settlement around North & South Groves is also older than the surrounding area. -
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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So that was done about 10 years before Harringay House was built. Troublesome accuracy, but with some useful info nonetheless.
It looks like the route along Ridge Road may already have been established; so older than I thought, although it makes sense to have had a road along that ridge of land, what used to be known locally as the Hog's Back.
The route from what became Tottenham Lane to where Harringay Park was built was also already there. Also looks like it used to continue and connect up with Hangar Lane (what became St Ann's Road).
Useful, thanks. -
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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on
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And what and whence comes Cuckholds Haven, near Finchley Hall?
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Don't know OAE - I wondered too - perhaps it was a place, where well situated-men got away from London for the weekend.. The House is still marked on a 1822 map, but not named.. I think it's the site of today's Chandos Road.. nearby a new name had appeared in 1822; Brown's Wells!
I think we should rename Alexandra Park, back to it's original name, Tottenham Wood. That wouldn't please our dear friends in N10, wouldn't it .. :o)
John D, I Think Hornsey & Crouch End are correct - What makes you think they aren't? -
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So.. to join up the 1781 map to Hugh's 1885 stuff, here's a 1822 map (ten years before Seven Sisters Road was completed).
The connection from Hornsey Wood House via Woodberry Down & Lordship Road to Stoke Newington (the nearest village of importance) can be seen.
What I wrote above seems to be incorrect - On this map Black Boy Lane is the connector of Hanger Lane and West Green.. with it's curve where it crosses the Stonebridge Brook.
The section of Seven Sisters Road between the Hornsey Road & Finsbury Park Gate is also an older road..
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Does it say 'Harringhay' on this 1822 map ?
something to do with hay fields ? -
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Read my etymology section on the Harringay History overview article on Wikipedia. This is one of 162 known variations for spelling Harringay.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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I thought Crouch End would be at the Clock Tower, not at the foot of Muswell Hill. And Hornsey is usually East of Priory Park ? (Talking about the modern map )
Well, to be confusing, Hornsey Town Hall is in what I would call Crouch end - hmmm -
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There is a very interesting old map of the surrounding area etched on a huge window on the staircase of hornsey (crouch end) library. It even lists the shops etc.
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