Work has begun on new housing to the rear of Green Lanes alongside the footpath which once ran across Clappers Green Farm.
There has been a footpath extending west in this location for over 500 years – the Clappers Green footpath once extended as far as the entrance to The Mall.
A section of the footpath between Green Lanes and the railway line will be narrowed by 70 cm to make way for an access road to the new properties.
Curtains were closed at The Woodman this afternoon, while local residents continued to campaign to persuade owner Marston’s brewery to reconsider closure.
We understand that the pub officially closed last weekend, but has been open a couple of evenings since to run down stock.
Campaigners on the pub’s Facebook page have blamed the closure on Marston’s anti competitive business practices – in which landlords are encouraged to invest and become increasingly indebted to the brewery – combined with high rents and beer tariffs for the beer which landlords are obliged to buy from the brewery and the effects of the current economic climate.
A petition was launched on Sunday when publican of the Queen’s Head, Sue Ritchie posted news of the pub’s closure on the Love your Doorstep Facebook group – the second recent closure in the area. Love your Doorstep went into action and set up the petition. Over 200 people have signed in the first week – and over 80 Palmers Greeners have already clicked on the story on this site in the last few days. We have also contacted David Burrowes MP and local residents associations in the hope that they will offer support.
This week the Enfield Gazette contacted a spokesman from Marstons who stated that they had been working with the tenants for some time to resolve issues with the business but these had yet to reach successful resolution. However, they continued to ‘hope that we can reach a resolution with the tenants of The Woodman.’
Local residents are being encouraged to write directly to Ralph Finlay, Chief Executive at Marstons. (Marstons website states that it is ‘at the heart of thriving communities across the UK’ ).
Meanwhile, if you haven’t signed the petition, please do it now, and tell your friends and neighbours. There is a link on the right hand sidebar of this site.
Following last week’s article on Warren Mitchell (Improbably famous in Palmers Green # 2 Alf Garnett), we have managed to piece together a little more information on Mitchell’s childhood and schooldays in the area.
Though born in Stoke Newington, Mitchell grew up in Southgate. The family moved to Raith Avenue sometime in the 1930s, presumably into a newly built home – all the houses on the north side of the road date from then.
Mitchell reminisced about his schooldays at Bowes School and Southgate Country School in an article about inspirational teachers in the Times Higher Educational Supplement in 2008
My teachers were all marvelous. But the one I remember with great affection was a tyrant called Mr Sinden. When we went into his class aged nine or 10 he said to us: “You’ll all be taking the scholarship exam next June and you will all pass; I have never had a failure. Heaven help any one of you here who jeopardises my record.”
He then hounded us for the whole year, the net result being that we all passed the scholarship exam. I realised that the man loved us and intended that we should have a good start in life.
He repeated the story to Jonathan Sale of the Independent in Feb 2000 and went on to recount memories of Southgate County School in Fox Lane.
I enjoyed my time at Southgate County School. The Blitz was on; it was exciting and there was not too much bombing around us…I was a pretty naughty boy. They used to say “you’ll never get anywhere” and then I would come top. This upset staff. The headmaster once said he was unable to congratulate me as he should do in the case of someone who came first because of …and then there was an asterisk referring to my 31 detentions that term.”
Thank you to Richard McKeever of Bowes and Bounds Green Connected and Joe Studman for the additional information and links.
Local tour guide and storyteller Joe Studman will be leading the latest in his walking tours of the area on Sunday 19 August. Entitled Welds, Walkers and Watering Holes, the walk starts at 2.30 at Southgate Underground station – further information from Joe at www.jaywalks.co.uk.
Joe has kindly given Palmers Green Jewel in the North two tickets to give away. To enter, all you need to do is tell me where the weather vane which once stood on the Weld Chapel is now located. As usual, the answer is somewhere on this website.
Answers to palmersgreenn13@btinternet.comby 12 noon Friday 10 August please. The winners will be the first two correct answers randomly picked from the proverbial hat.
The excellent Woodman pub on Bourne Hill is under threat of closure from Marston’s breweries.
The Woodman is the oldest pub in Palmers Green and one of the last remnants of a more rural age in the area. The building dates from 1727 and ale has been sold at the Woodman for nearly 150 years.
The pub still retains its old world atmosphere, has a cheery welcome from a committed staff and does delicious food – the generous Sunday lunches are particularly recommended. In winter, there are cosy fires. In summer you can sit out in the shady garden under the trees.
Enfield community group Love your doorstep have set up a petition to show the community’s displeasure at the threat to a local community pub. Please sign – and make sure you go the Woodman soon.
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Have you got 2 September in your diary?
Palmers Green Festival is little more than a month away, and looks set to be the biggest event yet. Featuring over 60 stalls, 20 bands and a range of events, the festival will include Community Games to celebrate the Olympic year, 7 hours of non-stop salsa and kizomba with lessons from current UK Champions, and the UK’s tallest climbing wall. All park features will be open, including the Community Orchard, Conservatory, Boating Lake, Boat Club and Crazy Golf.
The organizing committee are now looking for volunteers to help assist in the run up to the event and to help out on the day. Volunteers will be insured, and may even become the proud owner of a coveted Community Games T shirt. Tasks include seeing vehicles into the site, erecting gazebos and manning one of the Festival stalls, and the volunteer timetable is likely to be based on two hour slots. Every little helps – if you can offer some time to help make this a day to remember, please contact info@palmersgreenunited.co.uk
