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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

The power of branding in creating positive change in your 'hood

An article from GOOD suggests that while a powerful brand identity isn't a cure all for a neighbourhood's problems, there's evidence that it can be a powerful symbol and rallying cry that galvanizes people to action.

How can we use the power of branding to strengthen a shared identity and spark positive change in the neighborhoods and cities where we live? An effective visual identity references the culture and history of a place’s people and reflects their hopes and aspirations.

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I have found 'The Ladder' concept useful, you only have to look at an A-Z and the shape of the 'ladder' jumps out, it makes it easier to visualise the area and to give directions, so maybe that's its origin....

I've always made the same assumption about the origin of 'The Ladder", Maggie - but would be fascinated to hear alternative hypotheses!

It may have been where Jacob slept when he dreamt of the ladder to heaven. We may be living in God's own 'hood.

Although not linked to the name of our area, an art project during the re-development of Fairland Park a few years back did attempt to reflect the input from local residents (kids & adults), who aimed to tell something they liked about Harringay. They came along to workshops held at North Harringay Primary. Click on the resulting sketch below for some detail;

 

And funnily enough the blog the above image comes from uses 'the ladder' as a part of its address; http://theladderopenspace.wordpress.com

I must have deleted the text on my last post by mistake when uploading it. Anyway, all I was saying is that the derivation of The Ladder/Harringay Ladder is from the configuration of the roads with Wightman Rd and Green Lanes being the 'rails' and the 19 'Ladder' roads being the 'rungs'. In effect a micro-version of the 'gridiron' road plans so common in the US and elsewhere. As far as I am aware there are no similar configurations of roads in north London, so the Harringay Ladder might be a unique local road plan, but somebody may know more than I do!

I'd love to know when the term The Ladder/Harringay Ladder came in to general usage - and, of course, the LCSP is the Ladder Community Safety Partnership.

Geoff

I understand the concept of The Ladder but I've never been that keen on the sound of it and its association (clearly only in my mind) with knackered tights. Also it seems that there a lot of people around here who don't understand how the other kind of ladder works since they frequently fail to take into account the rails of Wightman and Green Lanes when doing any kind of planning for this bit of the neighbourhood (see traffic). 

The point about the post above is to think about how by creating a brand that encompassed the whole neighbourhood; Ladder/Gardens/roads off Green Lanes that are not covered by the GRA/the bit up by Ducketts Common/around Finsbury Park we see a stronger visual identity emerge; one, for example, that doesn't pit one part of the hood against another over traffic issues or create a sense of divide because of arbitrary postcodes.

If the benches, bins and bridges across the area had one clear strong name/logo that should serve to make people feel part of a bigger and more cohesive community. Historically, Harringay serves that purpose well given the long history and associated heritage of the name.

Playing cricket for Adam's team was slightly excruciating at times. As the team big mouth I thought it my job to encourage the team when in the field: "Come on The Ladder!". He recently had an opportunity to impose a wonderful new name on it as it merged with the Archway Graces (whose home ground is in Hertfordshire) but unfortunately gave up that right to the rest of the peasantsteam and they chose the Archway Ladder. The original option that Adam had was The New River Cricket Club. Not sure I can bring myself to play, let along open my mouth in encouragement on the field, knowing that opportunity has gone by.

I hate "The Ladder" too. In the modern age of Google, Harringay is much more of an "identity".

Whenever I mention it to friends they assume it means 'property ladder'. One even asked me if the house prices went up with every rung...

Thérèse! When people ask me where we live I am more than happy to say 'Harringay' - because it's cool (now!). They then ask where in Harringay and when I say 'The Harringay Ladder', they usually know exactly where that is - it's such a well known feature/landmark - and they often respond by saying they used to live there or know somebody who does. It's one of those areas people are hearing more and more about because it's getting positive media attention for its ever-improving quality of life and excellent transport.

On Hornsey - the overall local postal area for the Ladder is actually Hornsey for Royal Mail purposes (although I don't know its exact delineation).

Don't worry about Google! Like many technology nav devices it gets many things wrong - I keep running past Hampton Court near Ally Pally - that's the one that sat-nav famously takes unsuspecting drivers to!

Geoff

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