Category: History

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Lordship Rec: ‘People Need Parks’ and Friends Anniversary Festival – Saturday 26th June, 12-5pm

UPDATE – 2,000 attended!
Video report here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piKdcfq6EBQ
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In and around the Lordship Hub we will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Friends of Lordship Rec [See Friends Timeline link below] and the 8th Birthday of the Lordship Hub. There will be…
– an 11-12noon pre-festival guided WALK ON THE WILDSIDE in the Rec discovering its hidden natural secrets. Meet at the Hub 11am
– a FRIENDS STALL with info on how our park has been transformed over the last 20 years, and how everyone can get involved [See Friends Volunteering Map below]
– EXHIBITION on the history of the Friends
– a BBQ by Bolland & Crust catering for all tastes
– the Hub CAFE
– CREATIVE WORKSHOPS floristry and natural crafts, children’s papercrafts, and graffiti/spraypainting
– DRUMMING 2-5pm, and PARKOUR 2.30-4.30pm around the Rec
– CELEBRATION CAKE CUTTING at 3.30pm
– MR SQUASH, CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINER at 4pm
– STALLS including Kidstrove diverse toys, jewellery, plants, handmade decorated brownies, and other craft stalls
– CARIBBEAN LINE DANCING at 4.30pm

– WHEELY TOTS will be in the Model Traffic Area from 1-3pm, plus ROLLER DISCO there from 3-5pm.

– Activities in the OUTDOOR GYM 12-2pm, and at the TABLE TENNIS tables 1-5pm                                                                                                                                                           – PARENT AND TODDLERS GATHERING AND GAMES by the tree on the hill

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In and around the main field a range of events – mainly coordinated by the Council – sees the launch of a summer of ‘People Need Parks’ activities throughout the borough. There will be…
– MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE at the open air Shell Theatre 12-5pm
– ACTIVITIES for all ages, including sports, inflatables, bush craft, hula hoops, Xplorer, Tai Chi, Self-defence
– PONY RIDES
– GIRLS FOOTBALL in the enclosed sports field
– BREAKTHRU mobility cycling in the MUGA, 1-3pm
– HARMONY GARDENS food growing, 1-4pm
– STALLS for health, food growing, food and refreshments, smarter travel, information, face painting, women’s group, crafts
– AND MUCH MORE!
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Full Festival Timetable and Map below [first 2 links].
Please come along and help CELEBRATE YOUR PARK, THE FRIENDS OF THE REC, AND YOUR LOCAL HUB AND HUB CAFE!
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Getting involved with the Friends and the Hub:

 

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20 years of the Friends – Timeline!

FLR Timeline first 20 yrs

Click on this link above to see how Lordship Rec has been transformed by 20 years of community action, 2001 – 2021. This has included organising festivals, public consultation, supporting and developing specialist user groups and activities, a wide range of volunteering and fundraising efforts, managing parts of the park, running improvement projects, continuous partnership with the parks service, opening the Lordship Hub, and much more! Also actively supporting the coordination and empowerment of the Friends Groups’ movement in Haringey, London and nationally.

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Mal Hawley 1942-2020

We are sad to report the passing away of Mal Hawley, the former Secretary of the Friends of Downhills and an active participant in many Friends of Lordship Rec activities and meetings in the last 10 years. In his life he had travelled widely, was an experienced carpenter, played double bass for jazz bands, made unorthodox musical instruments and was very keen on wildlife (including organising annual bird and butterfly counts in Lordship Rec and Downhills Park). Mal was kind, thoughtful and committed to a better society, with a lifelong love of music and people.  Full tribute here: Mal Hawley Tribute & Celebration of His Life

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Lordship Rec – past, present and future

We did a talk at the Haringey History Fair at Bruce Castle Museum on behalf of the Friends about the history of Lordship Rec. It went down well, with up to 80 people attending (standing room only!).

We showed our 2007 film about the Rec: http://www.lordshiprec.org.uk/video/ And we circulated the information below explaining how we are bringing history alive through the current regeneration of the Model Traffic Area and Shell Theatre, and the river restoration…

The following is just a rough summary of the history of Tottenham’s largest open space. Apologies if key points missed out, or some facts wrong!
–  Friends of Lordship Rec (2012)

1800s-1900s Downhills manor/estate straddles area – to become Downhills Park and Lordship Rec in the 20th century. Included Moselle River and adjacent ornamental lake (thought to be on the site of a Saxon ‘moat’). Green spaces were also known locally as ‘uplands’, ‘downhills’ and ‘mount pleasant’ at different times.
1910-20 Tower Gardens Estate built. To the south there are allotments + river + marsh + a ‘Broadwaters’ farm
1932 Lordship Rec created by Tottenham Council.
1936 10,000 local people attend Lordship Rec grand opening
1938 Model Traffic Area (MTA), unique in UK, opened.
1940 Downhills Shelter (in southern part of park) suffers wartime bomb direct hit. 40+ local people killed. Continue reading “Lordship Rec – past, present and future”

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Tottenham Shelter Tragedy Commemoration Day – 70th anniversary

For the 40+ Tottenham Civilians killed in 2nd World War Air-Raid Shelter Tragedy in Lordship Recreation Ground on September 19th 1940

Sunday 19th September 2010

2pm – 5pm @ Lordship Rec

By Lordship Wood, at the southern end of Lordship Recreation Ground (by the Downhills Park Road entrance), London, N17

Information display + refreshments available. All welcome.

Continue reading “Tottenham Shelter Tragedy Commemoration Day – 70th anniversary”