Your stories 2
Parks past
London-RIP reader Mick Brotzel remembers some north London playgrounds
Finsbury village
Finsbury Park was a regular playground. Remember the model village next to the lake? The trainspotting platform adjacent to the cinders pitches was always crowded with spotters looking out for the 'streaks' (Mallards) from Kings Cross. The American Gardens, now defunct, was often used by a gang from my street to play (to us a grown-up version) of hide and seek. How times have changed: I could not imagine a mixed group of children aged between six and 12 being able to run free in an area full of trees and bushes and to stay there until early evening.
On your bike!
Remember Downhills Park miniature road system? As a kid you could pay a penny and hire a bike to ride around the road system, which had traffic lights and crossings and various traffic signs. I do not believe I was neglected as a child - far from it - but in the 40s and 50s I was free to roam in a way children are surely not allowed to do today.
Wallabies and deer
As a youngster I spent a great deal of time in Clissold Park. There was an enclosed field (over the river from the "White House") which used to contain wallabies and deer. When I recalled this later, no one in my immediate family believed that this could be right, especially when I told them that the actual fence, although about five foot high consisted of just a few horizontal bars, which as a boy I could squeeze though or easily climb over. At this time, the New River actually flowed through the park. Can anyone else verify my story?
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Next page [2/2] »| Message: | 11/11 |
| Date and time: | 05/12/2011 at 20:28:31 |
| Sender: | kathy |
| i used to love the model village in finsbury park and also the deer in clissold park most of my childhood days spent in these parks i went to finsbury park secondary school and used to go to the model village all the time it facinated me loved it there is a photo of the village on i lived in stoke newington site | |
| Message: | 10/11 |
| Date and time: | 05/11/2011 at 12:49:35 |
| Sender: | jennifer |
| my kids loved this park with the little road you could ride your bikes on that was about 26 years ago. now i have grand kids it would have been nice to go there again. | |
| Message: | 9/11 |
| Date and time: | 16/05/2011 at 09:24:28 |
| Sender: | gary |
| I remember the Downhills Park Miniature Road System. This would have been in the 60s (1966 onwards). It might even still be there. I seem to remember it was still there about 20 years ago but I may have imagined this. You could take your own bike or hire one. The hired ones were yellow I think. Also remember a sort of paddling area for kids which consisted of sort of layered fountain areas. My memory was that you would paddle about a bit and then step down to another level and there was another paddling bit....and so on. I used to love that traffic area though. It was basically a miniature road layout, together with traffic lights and zebra crossings etc.and you would ride around it on your bike. A brilliant idea and very popular. | |
| Message: | 8/11 |
| Date and time: | 12/05/2011 at 07:22:14 |
| Sender: | lesley |
| Hi yes, I remember the model railway in Clissold Park. Thanks goodness someone else does. Thought I was going mad. and i remember the model village in Finsbury Park. It was so exciting then. could see kids these days liking it. | |
| Message: | 7/11 |
| Date and time: | 15/03/2011 at 08:40:32 |
| Sender: | Mick |
| I remember Clissold PArk with find memories. Yes, I remember the deer, the New River which flowed through the park, the miniature railway which I recall was on the north side of the park behind the two lakes - one of which was used for fishing and the other for boating. Also the bandstand to the right of the facia of the large manor house. memories go back to 1953! | |
| Message: | 6/11 |
| Date and time: | 21/01/2011 at 19:45:03 |
| Sender: | John from Luton |
| Yes I remember the train you mention, although it was a long time back, as i recall it only run in a straight line, no curves in the tracks, think it was 6p a go 2.5 pence in new monies, glad someone else remembers it. | |
| Message: | 5/11 |
| Date and time: | 20/11/2010 at 11:09:26 |
| Sender: | Harry |
| Hi, I can remember as a kid going for a ride on a miniature steam train in clissold park. It ran along the south side of the park by church street. This would of been in the late 50's or early 60's. Is there anyone else who also remembers the train. | |
| Message: | 4/11 |
| Date and time: | 16/09/2010 at 09:39:16 |
| Sender: | Leanne |
| Hi there I have a photo of me standing by the side of the miniature village - the photo was taken in 1969 (I was three!) I loved that place! I'll post it to the Flickr group | |
| Message: | 3/11 |
| Date and time: | 06/09/2010 at 11:42:34 |
| Sender: | Sue G |
| I too remember the minature village, I loved it! In fact I was so taken with it, that I now have in my garden, serveral stone models of houses, bridges,cottages etc,simply because I wanted to create a lovely memory of my visits to the park in the early sixties. | |
| Message: | 2/11 |
| Date and time: | 13/11/2009 at 18:14:11 |
| Sender: | ann |
| l also remember clissold park with the deer etc. and the minature village in finsbury park. | |
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