The earliest known recordings of a family Christmas have been discovered by the Museum of London – featuring the Wall family of New Southgate.
The 24 rare wax phonograph recordings dating from 1902 to 1917 were made by Cromwell Wall who on at least one occasion wheeled the phonograph in a child’s pram to record the Southgate Church bells.
Christmas was a rather more formal affair in those days. In one of the recordings, Cromwell thanks the inlaws for their hospitality
Dear Mr and Mrs Baker, I am very pleased we are able to gather once more at your Christmas party. All my little ones have enjoyed themselves very much and I also, as well as Minnie….
His brother in law makes a counter speech, hoping that they may gather again together for Christmas 2005. There are many cheers and “What ho – not ‘alfs!”
To read the full story and hear some of the recordings visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20772246
Thanks to Matthew Eccleston for alerting us to this story.
There’s nothing like a spooky tale or two at Christmas, and Joe Studman will have a few to tell on his Darker Side of Winchmore Hill walk on Saturday 22 December, including stories of old railway workers, black dogs and sinister doings in the woods.
The walk starts from Winchmore Hill Station at 7.30. Tickets are £5 a head from Hunter’s newsagents on Winchmore Hill Green, or direct from Joe on the night.
But two lucky winners can go along free by answering this simple question:
By what name is Elizabeth Sawyer, who was born in Winchmore Hill in the seventeenth century, better known?
As ever, the answer could be on this website. Entries by 5 pm on Wednesday 19 December to palmersgreenn13@btinternet.com
People turned out in their hundreds this weekend for Winchmore Hill’s first ever St Nicholas Fair.
The Green was transformed into a winter wonderland, with attractions including horse and carriage rides, storytelling, a petting zoo with a porcupine, music, dancing, food and drink, and the grand arrival of St Nicholas himself on horseback strewing the way with chocolate coins.
“ We’re really pleased that everyone came out on Saturday” said organisers Ann Humphrey and Zoe Ryder.
“Our events this year have been all about bringing the community together, and to see everyone meeting up with old friends, the children having fun and enjoying some food and drink, it’s just brilliant !”
Planning is getting underway for the 2013 Palmers Green and Open Studios and Art Trail weekend following the resounding success of this year’s event.
The event will run over the weekend of 8-9 June, and will involve designers, artists and artisans from all over N13, N14 and N21.
The Open Studios team is inviting applications from local creatives who would be interested in taking part. You dont need to have your own studio space to get involved – alternative spaces such as shop windows will be available to to exhibit (so if you are a local shop or business with a window to the world, the organisers would like to hear from you too).
“It would be particularly nice to attract some sculptors – we didnt have any last year”, says organiser Dan Meier.
The weekend is a rare opportunity to put the community in touch with artists, see how they work and buy direct from them. Twenty-eight artists and businesses took part last year, with an art trail around the area with participating businesses, and local eateries running ‘art trail’ menus.
Well, November seemed to go by in a whoosh. We confess to have been a little remiss on the posting front, so here’s an opportunity to catch up on all the news in PG…..
The Woodman reopened on 1 December following much local campaigning and bothering of Marstons. Its had a lick of paint but otherwise is just the same. Welcome back, and just in time for Christmas too…..
The Christmas lights were switched on at the Triangle to the ‘woos’ and ‘ahhs’ of Hazelwood School’s children, teachers and parents, and gave a public outing to MP David Burrowes impressive Movember face furniture. PGJITN was inexplicably humming YMCA for the rest of the day. Apparently the new look Burrowes rendered David Cameron speechless in the Commons, to the point where the PM forgot Mr Burrowes’ question. The ‘mo’ has not met with approval in the Burrowes household however so you may already be too late to witness the whiskers first hand. Its all for charity, in aid of men’s health and in particular the fight against prostate cancer, so please donate.
The Talkies Community Cinema presented the latest of its pop up cinema nights at Baskervilles couple of Fridays ago, with the film of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book Everything is Illuminated playing to a packed audience. The next showing is Baz Luhrman’s Strictly Ballroom at the Fox on 30 January – book now if you want tickets, its selling fast. Talkies are looking for some new venues so if you’ve any suggestions, please get in touch with David Williamson via their facebook page or the Talkies website www.talkies.org.uk. Its a really brilliant initiative, so please support it if you can.
Our neighbours in Winchmore Hill published a new hardback book of images of the area, past and present, following on from the fantastic exhibition at this summer’s Fancy Fair. If you would like to get your hands on one, the official launch is next week at the Queens Head from 7 and all are welcome…..
Winter is time for the shivers, and sure enough there were spooky goings on in Enfield. First of all Lazy Hound Productions staked out the Hop Poles. Then North London Paranormal Investigations spent some nervous hours in Enfield Fire Station. A NPLI film is in development. And closer to home, Joe Studman repeats his Darker Side of Winchmore Hill walk as part of the St Nicholas Fair events. Not to be missed but also not for the faint hearted. Wrap up warm and have some sturdy footwear.
Also this month we also learned that….
Joe Strummer was once a Palmers Green resident with his mate Tymonn Dogg, living in a house in Ash Grove they renamed ‘Vomit Heights’…. Ally Pally was subject of a £16 million bid to the Heritage Lottery fund, which, if successful, will restore the old TV studios, the Victorian Theatre, and the East entrance. And Alexandra Palace Park won a Green Flag Award and was voted one of the best in the UK (and second best in London)…..Fionn Wilson and Gosia Stasiewicz’ Space Art Gallery on Southgate High Street have fixed up a programme of exhibitions which spans well into 2014. The roster is truly amazing, so it should be a wonderful addition to local life, and attract visitors from much further afield. The gallery opens in December, with an exhibition of Fionn’s own work.
Finally, a last reminder that if you were planning a Sunday trip up town to see the Christmas lights and do some shopping you will need to do some serious planning – pretty much no direct trains to Kings Cross until Christmas on a Sunday, unless you get up early. If this is news to you, its probably because there has been virtually no information from First Capital Connect, including nothing at all in PG station – bravo chaps! – and just at the point where we are renewing our season tickets and feeling particularly begrudging.
But why not stay closer to home anyway, and attend one of the local fairs, events and bazaars happening in December. Winchmore Hill’s St Nicholas Fair on the Green from 2 til 7pm looks set to be fantastic. Snow, carriage rides, stalls and mulled wine and encounters with St Nicholas are all promised. And if you havent bought your Christmas Cards yet, there are some excellent options locally. Palmers Green’s Art Cove cards, available online or from Annita at the station kiosk, feature local artists. Local photographer, architect and urban designer Richard Crutchleys London Letters cards are also on sale at various local events, online and through Baskervilles. There is also still plenty of time to buy your charity cards at the United Reformed Church.
On into December then. May your tinsel sparkle and the needles stay on your tree.
Merry Christmas!
Sue, Palmers Green Jewel in the North
If there is a topic you would like to write about, why not get in touch, especially if its about history and people? We would love to hear from you. There is a huge knowledge about Palmers Green out there … lets try and put it all together.
