THE OLD PUBS OF TOTTENHAM

The pub is a British institution under threat. With a handful of pubs closing every single day, I fear it will not be long before we hear last orders called on one of our great historical and social traditions.

Loved and envied the world over, the pub is a recognisably British institution that has long formed a cornerstone of our community life. Nowhere else can you relax in cosy surroundings that are part homely living room and part rustic farm building, and share a beer with people from all walks of life. The stresses and strains of everyday life and the steely British reserve all fall away at the utterance of the immortal phrase, “Fancy a pint?”

Sadly the situation has not been helped with the trend of our younger generation deserting both our pubs and the drinking of traditional ales, in favour of bottled 'Euro-Fizz' beers being consumed in trendy bars and clubs that have also contributed to the pub’s gradual decline.

So let’s raise our glasses and say ‘Cheers’ to many of the old time pubs of Tottenham that have served us so well over many centuries.
But first let us remind ourselves of some of the famous London Brewery Companies that once stood proudly above the signs of Tottenham’s favourite pubs: I have listed just a few and I am sure there are many more, so please let us know of your favourite tipples.

• CHARRINGTONS

• COURAGE

• FRIARY MEUX

• IND COOPE

• MANN CROSSMAN & PAULIN

• TAYLOR WALKER

• TRUMAN'S & HANBURYS

• WATNEY COMBE REID

• WHITBREAD

• YOUNGERS

NORTH TOTTENHAM

We have been contacted by Mike Smith who's grandparents (John & Dolly Smith) once owned 'The Nags Head ' at 880 High Road Tottenham- This was once situated between Brantwood Road and the old Wagon Lane.  They also managed 'The Seven Sisters' in Broad Lane and 'The Castle' in Church Road

At the end of a dank alleyway on the boundary of Tottenham and Edmonton stood the abandoned Rifleman Public House.  It had closed during the war, its heavy pint glasses no longer in need of a polish, its pumps no longer worthy of the name.  Since then its piano had been wheeled away, its frosted window panes had been broken by little boys' stones and its bar top chopped up for firewood.  On 19th June 1947, two men made The Rifleman their headquarters, their office and their factory floor.  Pooling their savings of £600 Leslie and Rodney Smith, no relation to one another, bought a second hand die-casting machine and installed it in one of the rooms of the old pub. When they had done that, they die cast their Christian names at Companies House and became Lesney Products.
 In 1953 the year after the Korean War had ended and with zinc restrictions lifted Lesney Products designed a miniature replica of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation carriage. Lesney Products sold one million of them and The Rifleman had suddenly become a goldmine. Initially they were oblivious to the financial implications of their million-selling carriage and, when the daughter of one of the partners returned home from school one day complaining that the only toys she could take into the playground where ones that fitted inside a matchbox, they set about making a replica of a diesel road roller that would fit the spec. When they then saw the commercial possibilities the Matchbox Series was launched.

(Extracts from the history of The Red Lion Brewery – Hoare & Company)

THE RIFLEMAN  - UNION ROW (TOTTENHAM BOUNDARY) BIRTHPLACE OF LESNEY PRODUCTS - MATCHBOX TOYS

SCOTLAND GREEN & BRUCE GROVE

HIGH CROSS

For those of an older persuasion it evokes memories of the 'You're never alone with a Strand' cigarette advertisement from the 60's. Any moment you expect a man in a light raincoat to emerge from the shadows. Note the reflections of light on the road studs.

We acknowledge the permission of Ken Haynes to publish this photograph

Pictured left is a wonderful old photograph of 'The Eagle' taken in the 1890S. It has been sent to us by Ann Gorwyn and is shows her Grandfather, George Bowerman, who was a Dairyman in Tottenham Hale

SOUTH TOTTENHAM

TOTTENHAM HALE & BROAD LANE

EDITORS PERK - MY DAD WAS THE  VICTORIOUS CAPTAIN

WEST GREEN ROAD & PHILIP LANE

LORDSHIP LANE & THE ROUNDWAY

We have probably forgotten quite a number of pubs that once graced Tottenham so please let us know of any that we have missed !
We would also like to receive any photographs that we can share on this feature with residents of Tottenham both past and present.

Can you remember those early television advertisements featuring Bernard Miles that sold the virtues of a good glass of beer ? Although originally for Mackeson Stout we recommend that we now adopt the slogan for all British Beers !

IT LOOKS GOOD IT TASTES GOOD AND BY GOLLY IT DOES YOU GOOD !

Thanks for joining us on this nostalgic visit to the old pubs of Tottenham