Exploring the Fascinating Mysteries & Stories of Crouch End, North London (4K)

Join me on a London walking tour through the fascinating mysteries and fantastic stories of Crouch End in London's northern heights. From the spooky Parkland Walk where the King of Horror Stephen King had a mystical experience which became a short story, to a brilliant story involving Bob Dylan. There's also the theory that two powerful ley lines cross beneath the Victorian clocktower, originally the site of a wooden cross that gives the area its name. Crouch End was also where some of the key scenes of Shaun of the Dead were filmed and Will Self set a short story here, The North London Book of the Dead. We visit the legendary Kings Head pub, the Harringay Arms, the Queens, Tottenham Lane, Hornsey Town Hall, Hornsey Library, Church Studios, Crouch End Hippodrome and much more.
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[capcompass]

Hornsey Library was built (began) in 1962. Before that, it was a quiet public gardens where we used to stop on our way to The Broadway, shopping.

[delcatto]

Spanish Moon records store used to be down the road from the old church recording studios on the opposite side of the road. Annie Lennox worked there and we met her, Dave Stewart and other band members from The Tourists there. Fantastic record shop. I grew up in Hornsey 1961 - 1985 so it’s great to see Crouch End again. Hornsey Library was my second home from home, wonderful memories of the place and it really kickstarted my education and love of knowledge.

[markriley]

Lived off Crouch Hill when I first came to London in 1982. Always had a soft spot tor this area of the capital. So pleasant to take this walk with you John.

[AlphaBee]

I was born and grew up in and around this area for 25 years, and I consider myself really fortunate that my Mum decided to move to and stay here when she arrived in London. So many fond memories of Crouch Hill, Hornsey Rise, the Parkland walk. I was a massive train nerd, so being able to walk the length of this abandoned railway between Finsbury Park and Highgate was fantastic enough, but the history behind it still fascinates me to this day.

What you said at 7:55 - 8:18 especially resonates with me. Sure, you have the impressive skyline of the City, the heritage of Westminster, the buzz of the West End, but for myself (and I'm sure a lot of people) London IS places like Crouch End, Highgate, Hampstead, Hornsey. Such a melting pot of communities, culture and creativity, not to mention the beautiful green spaces and the breathtaking views from the hills.

[richardcurant]

Thanks for another good one John. I was born in Tottenham and one of my earliest memories was in my dads car in about 1954 being driven past the Clock Tower and asking him "is that the clock that they rock around?". Love the spooky stories. More please.

[THINKincessantly]

👋🏻An East Texas Howdy to you John Rogers, from the banks of the Muddy Sabine! Just wanted to say I turnt on me phone & your walk to the Romano-British burial mounds popped up, never saw the channel before that. Soon as I speak it’s obvious I’m Texan🤠Good manners ( hold doors, yes/no ma’am/sir, concern for those in need) is part of our Texas character, I myself feel it came with the English Gentleman spirit I was born with. My tribe came over in 1871, granny was from Soham, old East Anglia, Pawpaw was up around Manchester, never can tell if thats old Mercia or Northumbria...Anyhow I love seeing the old Island’s countryside, the hollow ways, foot paths are my faves, but Im also drawn to the small narrow rivers that meander through the land...Anyhow, just felt like 👋🏻 and wishing you and all my British brothers and sisters long and good health! One last thing, theres a coastal fishing village here in the Carolinas that still have the old accent from back home, its still here on YT....Alright brother, Have a good’un👋🏻

[markhowson]

Enjoyed that, John. Your mention of Dennis Nillson reminded me of a school trip back in 1983(!) which was my first proper visit to London. My main memory is of walking the streets of Soho with a guitar-loving friend in a fruitless attempt to find Denmark Street and its musical delights. It was a miserable, snowy February day and the newspaper billboards were reporting the discovery of his work (and also the kidnapping of Shergar, which I'm sure was the same day) - it wasn't just the cold sending a shiver down my spine that day! 😄

[grahammansfield]

Having moved to Oslo 21 years ago, these walks fill my heart.

[natashamartin]

How amazing! This is exactly what i used to do living across the train tracks...in Whightman road (!) - roam in Crouch end. Loved it!

[thewordofgog]

Blimey that brought back some memories. From memory The Mountview Theatre was on the corner of Crouch Hill and Cecile Park where we lived. Judy Dench had a theatre school at the back of it. I remember seeing Annie Lennox a couple of times on the bus from Archway, this was during the Tourists phase pre Eurythmics. Tom Robinson I believe lived there at that time and I seem to remember Adam Ant was a past student of the Art School. The Kings Head was our local and I remember going to a few gigs at the Queens. Your description of a mix of bed-sits, hippies and pensioners about summed it up. I seem to remember a lot of music being practiced down our street. Great walk as ever John, cheers

[malcolmrichardson]

Very interesting stroll. Thanks for sharing it! Looking forward to more around Alexandra Palace.

[bertspeggly]

I grew up in Muswell Hill in the fifties and then moved to Highgate in the sixties. I had lots of friends in Crouch End and on the Harringay Ladder. So I knew all this stuff very well. I watched the last passenger train leave Alexandra Palace station in 1954, and saw the tube trains being moved over the old railway in 1968.

Hornsey Rise was very rough in those days, you didn't go there unless you had to. And then it abruptly changed to the very posh Hornsey Lane.

I can't share your enthusiasm for the Hornsey Library, the Town Hall and the late Victorian parades are much more to my liking. But chacun à son gout, as they say.

Nice video, thanks!

[amandabrown]

What a great walk john, as ex londoner never really explored this part of London, just goes to show what a great city this is, always exploring who better to show the great JR, thanks john.

[Phill]

great video, grew up in crouch end hornset rise, lived there again 10 yeras ago great memories.

[StarWarsJay]

Quick comment before I watch the video…has anyone read the short story “Crouch End” by Stephen King? He really captures the strange feeling London can have in the height of summer. I bet you’ve spoken about it in the video John haha. Good to have you back anyway mate.

[janecapon]

I think that walking through the streets of London with this guy would be fantastic. So many interesting stories. Thank you.

[marthaevans]

I love to visit my daughter and grandsons in Muswell Hill. I enjoy exploring! Thanks! I want to come over from Pennsylvania again to see the interior of the Ally Pally. We went to the pub in Hornsey where the Kinks hung out!

[Breakintoblossom]

I grew up in crouch end and being in a process of reflecting/reviewing and attempting to understand myself and aspects of my life at the moment, a rabbit hole of researching a number of themes brought me to your video and there are some bizarre connections it helped me to make with some of my own experiences there which were actually quite comforting and reassuring to learn, perhaps connecting some dots and also just adding to my fondness and respect for the area. I also go back there once or twice a year and in spite of some dark experiences/memories I have from there from years ago, I love the area and walking it’s streets and actually always feel good when I’m there.. I’m glad you decided against going to cranley gardens..

[joebenge]

Great video, John. I loved the story about Bob Dylan and Dave. Crouch End was also the home of jazz guitarist Bert Niblett and his Club Django, from the 1950s up to the year 2000. He was a massive fan of Gypsy Jazz and Django Reinhardt, and the club was a meeting place for the London jazz scene. My Dad went to play guitar there a few times in the late '60s.

At the end of the street that Hornsey Library is in, there's a manhole cover where you can see and hear the Stonebridge Brook. It starts here in Crouch End and flows down to the River Lea, somewhere near the Markfield Brook. There are a few places in Hornsey where you can spot it running beneath the streets.

[williamrobinson]

Crouch End is a lovely place. I have some nice memories of taking afternoon 'leg stretching have a cuppa' breaks from some pretty full on guitar arranging sessions, in The World Cafe.. Most inspiring to think that Dave Stewart's church studio was just opposite. Indeed the area is steeped in music vibes, also undeniably spooky ones, both perhaps because of the famous lay lines.. I remember a FORMIDABLE pint of Fullers ESB just down the road from the cafe. Too soporific for doing much after, but delicious if at leisure. Nice one John! 🌟👍