Starting to find out about your house in Hornsey
(Hornsey covers the west side of the London Borough of Haringey.)
When was your house built, and by whom?
If you don’t have a copy you can request information about Title Deeds in Hornsey from the Land Registry Wales Office, Ty Cwm Tawe, Phoenix Way, Llansamlet, Swansea, SA7 9FQ. Tel: 0844 892 1111. Email: customersupport@landregistry.gsi.gov.uk Web: http://www1.landregistry.gov.uk
If you live in a conservation area you will find information in the Special Planning Guidance (SPG) 2 available at: SPG 2 , issued by the Planning Service, 3rd floor, River Park House, 225 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HQ. Tel: 020 8489 5222 or 5129.
You may be able to find plans and details of the architect and builder by inspecting the building and drainage control records held by Haringey Building Control, 639 High Road, London N17 8BD. Applications should be made in writing. Tel. 020 8489 5504; email-building.control@haringey.gov.uk.
Who has lived in your house?
The national census taken every ten years from 1841 to 1891 provides a record of who was at each address on the night of the record. The Hornsey Historical Society can search the 1881 census and index on CD Rom for you. Local census returns may be inspected at Bruce Castle, Lordship Lane, N17 8NU. Tel: 020 8808 8772. Email: museum.services@haringey.gov.uk for an appointment (Wed-Fri). The complete records can be inspected on any weekday at the Family Record Centre, 1 Myddleton Street, EC1R 1UW. Tel: 020 7392 5300. Email: certificate.services@ons.gov.uk Web: http://www.pro.gov.uk/about/frc/
The Post Office (Northern Suburban) Directories will usually tell you who was the principal occupant at the address each year. You can inspect these directories at the London Metropolitan Archive, 40 Northampton Road, EC1R 0HB. Tel: 020 7332 3820. Email: LMA@ms.corpoflondon.gov.uk. A full set of Post Office directories is also held at The Guildhall Library, Aldermanbury, London, EC2P 2EJ. Tel: 020 7332 1862 / 3. Email: Manuscripts.Guildhall@ms.corpoflondon.gov.uk
Local Street Directories can be found in the Local Studies Room, Hornsey Library, Haringey Park, N8 9JA. Tel: 020 8489 1427 (closed on Fridays). The Hornsey Historical Society and Bruce Castle also hold a few Hornsey directories.
How did the area develop?
Ordnance Survey Maps of Hornsey for 1864, 1894 and 1920 can be purchased from the Hornsey Historical Society, as can Godfrey’s Old Ordnance Survey Maps that have descriptive detail of Hornsey on the back. Reference copies of maps can be seen in the Old Schoolhouse, the Local Studies Room, Hornsey Library or Bruce Castle.
The Hornsey Historical Society Bulletin Index, cost £1, will tell you if there is a specific article relating to your area of interest in a past annual bulletin. You can purchase this index at the Old Schoolhouse and read the back copies of the bulletin.
The Victoria History of the County of Middlesex Vol. VI covers Hornsey with Highgate and describes the area from earliest times to about 1970. You can look at this in the Old Schoolhouse, Hornsey Library or Bruce Castle.
The Buildings of England 4: London North by Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner describes the architecture of Hornsey in Haringey. You can look at this in the Old Schoolhouse or Hornsey Library.
There are a number of publications for sale by the Hornsey Historical Society about the development of the area. Other books will be found in the Local Studies Room, Hornsey Library.