Tottenham Heritage Walks

02/11/2026

November 2 marks the anniversary of the world's first regular public high-definition television broadcast, which was launched by the BBC from the studios at Alexandra Palace on November 2, 1936.

At exactly 3:00 PM on that day, announcer Leslie Mitchell made history by declaring, "This is direct television from the studios at Alexandra Palace," introducing a brand-new medium to the world.

Today, November 2, 2026, marks the exact 90th anniversary of this momentous event in broadcasting history.

When the service launched on November 2, 1936, the BBC was actually running a live six-month trial between two competing television technologies:

• The Baird System: An electro-mechanical system utilizing 240 lines of resolution, developed by television pioneer John Logie Baird.

• The Marconi-EMI System: A fully electronic system utilizing 405 lines of resolution.

The two companies flipped a coin to decide who would broadcast first on opening day. John Logie Baird's company won the toss, meaning his 240-line system officially inaugurated the service that afternoon, followed closely by the Marconi-EMI system. By early 1937, the Marconi-EMI electronic system was officially chosen as the superior standard.

To commemorate this historic 90-year milestone, Alexandra Palace is hosting a special autumn heritage season titled "BBC TV 90 at Ally Pally".

• Tonight (November 2, 2026), a formal ceremony will take place in the East Court to unveil a World Origin Site plaque, permanently cementing the palace's legacy as the true birthplace of public television.

• The palace's iconic Victorian transmitter mast is being illuminated throughout the season to celebrate the pioneers, engineers, and performers who shaped modern small-screen culture

30/10/2026

A quick bus man's holiday to Waltham Cross. Some wonderful reminders of days gone by.

29/10/2026

Tis after dark at Bruce Castle, a place of stories from the past, which, in this Halloween week, manifest those from long ago to walk along long corridors and loiter under trap doors.

28/10/2026

In 2010 a plaque in honour of a Victorian novelist was erected near her former Tottenham home.

Charlotte Riddell, aka Mrs J.H. Riddell, was born in 1832 in Ireland. Following her father's death, she emigrated to London with her mother in 1855.

She married civil engineer Joseph Riddell in 1857 and went on to write more than 50 novels and hundreds of ghosts stories to become one of the most popular and influential writers of the Victorian period.

Despite her popularity at the time she is relatively unknown now.

It is believed Charlotte lived at St John's Lodge, in St Ann's Road — known then as Hanger Lane — with her husband Joseph, between 1868 and 1873, but moved when the quiet suburb began to be built up and lose its rural charm.

St John's Lodge has long been demolished, so the commemorative plaque was erected near the entrance to St Ann's Hospital to coincide with International Women's Day.

26/10/2026

There's still a few tickets available for these unique After Dark Tours at Bruce Castle. Be there if you dare!

🚨Still time to book!🚨

👻 After Dark @ The Castle 👻

‘Bruce Castle is haunted, as everybody knows…If Bruce Castle is not haunted, then who stalks about in the turret class room when mortals are a-bed? And who…leaves nought behind him but a heavy feeling of presence in the darkness?’
The Brucian, 15 August, 1856

🗓Wed 28, Thurs 29 & Fri 30 October
🕘Tours at 6.30pm and 8.30pm
📍Bruce Castle Museum & Archive, N17 8NU
🎫Tickets £17.50 (including a drink)
🔗www.brucecastle.org/whats-on/special-events
Strictly for those aged 18 and over

🕯Visit the Candlelit Castle and be transported back to the Victorian age of ghost stories by costumed guides. They will share the sinister secrets and eerie experiences hidden inside the walls of one of London’s most haunted buildings.

🍷All tickets will include your choice of twilight tipple: either a glass of w**e or a warming hot chocolate.

🎃Each tour will run for an hour, with time afterwards to enjoy your refreshment. Costumes are very welcome, but not mandatory!

🚨These tours are strictly for adults 18 and over only.

🧐How to book:
To book your tickets please email us at [email protected] and provide us with the following information:
✏️Your name (and the names of other guests)
🔢The number of tickets you would like to buy
🗓The date (either 28 Oct, 29 Oct, or 30 Oct) and time (either 6.30pm or 8.30pm) of the tour you would like to attend
🔗We will then send you a payment link. Please ensure you that you pay for your ticket(s) within 48 hours of receiving the payment link

Haringey Council Friends of Bruce Castle

26/10/2026

Major Alfred Cecil Herring was born on this day in 1888 in Tottenham.

He attended Tottenham County School and was the captain of the school football and cricket teams.

In 1891 he was listed as living at 53 The Avenue N17, and at 5 Mount Pleasant Rd in 1901.

On 15/02/1919 he was presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V for gallantry saving his battallion by counter attacking and regaining position during battle in France during WW1 on 23/03/1918.

On 23/02/2018 a commemorative stone was laid to remember him and his actions.

In 2016 a pub in Palmers Green was named after him.

25/10/2026

🎂Happy Birthday to us!🎁

in 1906, the museum at Bruce Castle first opened its doors to the public. 120 years later, we remain committed to telling of stories of innovation, migration, radicalism and resilience in Haringey.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the years - we only exist because of our wonderful communities!

for some special events over the next year to mark our birthday, including an exhibition dedicated to exploring the past, present and future of Bruce Castle Museum & Archive! More details soon...

As part of our celebrations, we would love to hear from you, so please do send us your favourite memories of Bruce Castle Museum & Archive. Comment on this post, or pop us an email with the subject line ‘Bruce Castle 120’ at:
[email protected]

Haringey Council Friends of Bruce Castle

24/10/2026

Today marks the annual Founder's Day of Tottenham Grammar School, which commemorates the death of its major benefactor, Sarah, Duchess of Somerset, who died on October 25, 1692.

Old Boys and representatives—including the Tottenham Grammar School Foundation—traditionally gather at her tomb Westminster Abbey for a special service.

The observance includes reading the Latin inscription on her tomb, a service led by a canon, and laying a wreath in gratitude for her endowment that provided free education to children in Tottenham.

This inscription translates as follows:

Here lies the late most illustrious Duchess of Somerset, ever celebrated for her charity and beneficence, who erected a grammar school for boys at Tottenham in the county of Middlesex, enlarged the income of the Green Coat Hospital at Westminster, largely endowed Brasenose College in Oxford, and St John's in Cambridge, for the education and nourishing of youth in piety and good literature; she was likewise an encourager of trades and handicrafts, and had a tender regard to old age, by erecting an alms house at Froxfield in Wiltshire for thirty widows: she was very charitable to the poor of St Margaret's Westminster, where she instituted a lecture, and gave many stately ornaments to the Church. She died the 25th of October 1692.

Her tomb is in the Chapel of St Michael although she is actually buried in the adjoining chapel of St Andrew.

The tomb depicts an effigy of the Duchess in contemporary dress and robes, between two kneeling Charity schoolboys. The original canopy, pilasters and coat of arms were removed in 1876 when the monument was reduced in size. The damaged reredos of the chapel's altar was revealed at this time.

The sculptor was possibly Grinling Gibbons.

Sarah, Duchess of Somerset, left a legacy to extend the existing school house of Tottenham's "parish school" and provide free education to poor children from Tottenham, as it was the family seat of her third husband Henry Hare, 2nd Baron Coleraine.

As the daughter of Sir Edward Alston (President of the Royal College of Physicians) and the widow of John Seymour, 4th Duke of Somerset, she held high aristocratic standing and substantial independent wealth.

23/10/2026

William 'Bill' Edward Nicholson OBE passed away on 23 October 2004.

Most people remember him as an English player, coach, manager and scout who had a 36-year association with Tottenham Hotspur.

He is considered one of the most important figures in the club's history, winning eight major trophies in his 16-year managerial spell, and most notably guiding the team to their double winning season of 1960-61.

It is not surprising therefore, that Tottenham Heritage Walks have a walk dedicated to Bill and that famous double winning team, which also explores the close connections the team had to the Tottenham community compared to players/managers today, and also demonstrating how Yorkshireman Bill adopted Tottenham as his home.

RIP Bill Nicholson.
26th January1919- 23rd October 2024

22/10/2026

🚨Still time to book!🚨

👻 After Dark @ The Castle 👻

‘Bruce Castle is haunted, as everybody knows…If Bruce Castle is not haunted, then who stalks about in the turret class room when mortals are a-bed? And who…leaves nought behind him but a heavy feeling of presence in the darkness?’
The Brucian, 15 August, 1856

🗓Wed 28, Thurs 29 & Fri 30 October
🕘Tours at 6.30pm and 8.30pm
📍Bruce Castle Museum & Archive, N17 8NU
🎫Tickets £17.50 (including a drink)
🔗www.brucecastle.org/whats-on/special-events
Strictly for those aged 18 and over

🕯Visit the Candlelit Castle and be transported back to the Victorian age of ghost stories by costumed guides. They will share the sinister secrets and eerie experiences hidden inside the walls of one of London’s most haunted buildings.

🍷All tickets will include your choice of twilight tipple: either a glass of w**e or a warming hot chocolate.

🎃Each tour will run for an hour, with time afterwards to enjoy your refreshment. Costumes are very welcome, but not mandatory!

🚨These tours are strictly for adults 18 and over only.

🧐How to book:
To book your tickets please email us at [email protected] and provide us with the following information:
✏️Your name (and the names of other guests)
🔢The number of tickets you would like to buy
🗓The date (either 28 Oct, 29 Oct, or 30 Oct) and time (either 6.30pm or 8.30pm) of the tour you would like to attend
🔗We will then send you a payment link. Please ensure you that you pay for your ticket(s) within 48 hours of receiving the payment link

Haringey Council Friends of Bruce Castle