Palmers Green
Coordinates: 51°37′04″N 0°06′33″W / 51.6178°N 0.1092°W
| Palmers Green | |
 Palmers Green
Palmers Green shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | TQ309927 |
|---|---|
| London borough | Enfield |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | N13 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Enfield Southgate |
| London Assembly | Enfield and Haringey |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Palmers Green is a place in the London Borough of Enfield. It is a suburban area situated 7.6 miles (12.2 km) north of Charing Cross. Postally, it is in London N13. Palmers Green today is home to the largest population of Greek and Turkish Cypriots outside of Cyprus, and, as such, is often nicknamed "Little Cyprus" or "Palmers Greek".[1]
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[edit] Etymology
Recorded as Palmers grene 1608, 'village green associated with a family called Palmer' (mentioned in local records from the 14th century), from the Middle English grene.[2]
[edit] History
The area of Palmers Green was once a minute hamlet in the parish of Edmonton, formed at the junction of Green Lanes and Fox Lane. Its population was very small, the village being no more than a few isolated houses in the mid 17th century. There is a mention of a Palmers Field in 1204 and a Palmers Grove in 1340 in local records. Palmers Green was mentioned as a highway in 1324 (in Westminster Abbey Muniments).
By 1801 the area had grown to a village of 54 buildings, including two inns (according to the Middlesex Record Office). In 1871 the railway line from Wood Green to Enfield was opened and a station was built in Aldermans Hill to serve Palmers Green (half a mile away from the nearest houses).
The area remained largely undeveloped for thirty more years, as local landowners refused to sell their large estates for building. In 1902 large tracts of land were sold for building, and the area began to develop rapidly. The first large-scale developments were on the old park estate between Fox Lane and Aldermans Hill, and the Hazelwood Park Estate between Hazelwood Lane and Hedge Lane. Within this development, the building which serves as Hazelwood Infant School and Hazelwood Junior School was built in Hazelwood Lane in 1908.
Notable local buildings include Broomfield House and Truro House, both sadly in a state of some neglect. The library (formerly Southgate Town hall) is intact but is often the subject of redevelopment rumours. The former Pilgrims Rest (reflecting the name Palmers - "medieval pilgrim who carried a palm branch as a token of having visited the Holy Land") has already been demolished for housing. The Fox public house has stood in its present guise since 1904.
Stevie Smith, the poet and novelist, lived in Palmers Green from 1905 until her death in 1971, also that year, Joe Strummer shared a flat at 18 Ash Grove with Tymon Dogg and several others. Paul Scott, the author of "The Jewel in the Crown" trilogy was born in Palmers Green on 25 March 1920. Victoria Cross recipient Alfred Herring lived locally. Local author Douglas Hill was killed by a bus on a zebra crossing at The Triangle in 2007. Paul Dean, British/American Pulitzer Prize winner[1] was raised and educated there between 1946-1957.
The Intimate Theatre was opened in a building that had been built in 1931 as a St. Monica's Church Hall. Among the actors who performed there were Richard Attenborough, Vivien Leigh, Roger Moore and David Bowie (mime production). It is no longer a repertory theatre, and although the building is no longer used exclusively for theatrical performances, it is still often referred to as the Intimate Theatre.
[edit] Palmers Green today
Today a large parade of shops known as Palmers Green Shopping Centre exists along Green Lanes, with many restaurants, pubs, clothing shops, independently owned cafes and beauty salons. Superdrug, Wetherspoons (The Alfred Herring), Waitrose, Morrisons, WHSmith, The Carphone Warehouse and Starbucks are also present. Palmers Green High Street was used to film the fast-paced Knight Bus sequence in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.[3] The Fox Pub was featured which is also the site of the Electric Mouse comedy venue. Broomfield House remains a burnt-out shell despite numerous redevelopment proposals and an appearance on BBC2's Restoration programme. The Conservatory has recently reopened after a refurbishment.[citation needed]
Palmers Green railway station car park is the location for a Sunday farmer's market and also the Waiting Rooms cafe ([2]) which boasts live blues a Friday evening with performances from masters including 'Mad Dog' Dave Barnes and Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts guitarist Graham Hine. There is also a small platform coffee counter and occasional art exhibitions in a second waiting room.
Widening of the North Circular Road single-lane section at Bowes Road/New Southgate is almost complete after over 20 years of discussion. Public access to the New River has been improved recently with waterside paths and access gates.
[edit] In popular culture
Palmers Green is mentioned in Jona Lewie's 1980 song You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties.[4] The song's lyrics were penned by Lewie's friend and fellow Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts member, Keef Trouble. The Palmers Green reference was prompted by the fact that Trouble had just split up with his girlfriend and was at a party thrown by his friend, Charles "Charlie Farley" Hallinan, near The Fox public house in Palmers Green.[5] Jona Lewie slightly amended the words but still mentioned the "do in Palmers Green".
[edit] Transport
A train service runs from Palmers Green railway station, operated by First Capital Connect, with southbound trains running on weekdays to Moorgate and on weekends, early mornings and late evenings to Kings Cross. Northbound trains run to Hertford North, Stevenage and Letchworth. Bus routes 34, 102, 121, 141, 232, 329, W6, W9 and the N29 operate locally. The North Circular Road and A10 are the main trunk roads. The A111 through Southgate gives access to the M25 motorway at junction 24.
An electric tramway along Green Lanes as far as Winchmore Hill was developed in 1907 helping to further develop the area. The tramway is now long gone.
[edit] Nearest places
[edit] Nearest tube stations
[edit] Nearest railway stations
[edit] Education
- Hazelwood Primary School
- Firs Farm Primary
- Oakthorpe Primary
- Palmers Green High School (Independent)
- St Michael at Bowes CE Junior
- Tottenhall Infant
- St Monica's RC Primary
- St Anne's Catholic High School
[edit] Churches
- Saint Monica's Church, Palmers Green (Roman Catholic)
- St John's Church (Anglican)
- Palmers Green Baptist Church
- Palmers Green United Reformed Church
[edit] References
- ^ "Greek in Palmers Green", UKTV
- ^ Mills A. D. Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names (2001) p173 ISBN 0-19-860957-4 Retrieved October 23, 2008
- ^ "Exclusive pix of Potter filiming". BBC News. 2003-04-01. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/pictures/galleries/newsid_2908000/2908289.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
- ^ YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND ME IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES - Lyrics - International Lyrics Playground
- ^ http://www.enough.com/viewvid.cfm?id=wlCn_ZuGmzI&showAllComments=1
[edit] Bibliography
- Once Upon a Time in Palmers Green by Alan Dumayne
- Intimate Memories by Geoff Bowden
[edit] External links
- A History of Edmonton Social Life from British History Online, including some history of Palmers Green social life
- The official site of Hazelwood Infant School
- The official site of Hazelwood Junior School
- The official site of Palmers Green High School
- Schools in or near Palmers Green
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