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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on May 29, 2017 at 5:42

This could possibly be the grounds of the Passmore Edwards (later Wood Green) Cottage Hospital once located on what is now Rhys Avenue just past Bounds Green Tube? The convoluted paths seem like a match but most of the drawings and photos available are of the front of the building whereas your image is (right?) side on. There’s more background info on the hospital’s history here: 

http://www.bowesandbounds.org/photo/bowes-park-cottage-hospital?commentId=6278630%3AComment%3A41609&xg_source=activity

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Permalink Reply by Zoe Roberts on May 29, 2017 at 9:03

I see what you mean about the paths, but the buildings aren't quite working for me. From the context, it is most likely to either be around Wood Green High Road, or in the White Hart Lane area (which I may have a quick drive to later, to check out a possibility).

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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on June 1, 2017 at 12:49

Crescent Gardens and King George VI Memorial Garden

A better candidate and a location that fits the context in the film (at the junction of White Hart Lane & the High Road) - Crescent Gardens and The King George VI Memorial Garden

"Crescent Gardens were laid out on former rural open space, and by 1894 there were curving paths in the north part, and by 1910 the whole was laid out with serpentine paths, trees, shrubberies and formal bedding. The WWI war memorial on High Road was in place pre-1935. The south end of the gardens was renamed King George VI Memorial Garden and opened on 25 April 1953, laid out with shrub beds behind stone retaining walls, seating and a small circular rose bed in the centre."

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Permalink Reply by Zoe Roberts on June 1, 2017 at 19:45

I'm fairly certain that it isn't Crescent Gardens/King George VI area, as the housing doesn't match. The other day I followed up a suggestion elsewhere that it might be some land off White Hart Lane behind Highfield Close (unfortunately in a gap on Google maps). Well, they didn't exactly say that, but the description led me there. It has been substantially redeveloped, if so. The large building to the left has gone, and the paths have been redesigned, but the houses in the middle look right, and I've put it in the description as a provisional designation. I should have taken a photo, but it began to really pelt down with rain & I just scarpered.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on June 3, 2017 at 6:02

London Gardens Online

Ok, inching ever closer, this is an excerpt from the 1914 OS Map which shows Riversdale Gardens laid out adjacent to a large school building later replaced by Highfield Close. London Gardens Online states that: "Riversdale Gardens was laid out as public gardens between 1894 and c.1912, possibly at the same time as the nearby Crescent Gardens to the south-west. The original layout included curving paths with dwarf fencing around areas of turf inset with trees and shrub beds….. The name Riversdale refers to the New River, which used to run through here.”

The Gardens do not appear in the earlier 1894 map.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on June 3, 2017 at 6:12

The contemporary aerial view shows the site of former landscaped gardens mercifully undeveloped.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe Roberts on June 3, 2017 at 12:20

Oh yes. This is good stuff. It all fits, and I now have a proper name for it. Thank you (for both pics & info). That could easily be a church & hall at the side (I wonder what they were called?). That curve at the base could be the rounded space in the centre of the southern section. it makes perfect sense that everyone thinks "Crescent Gardens", because there are design similarities. Also, the New River connection is something the filmakers were very interested in. I am now properly convinced this was the spot.

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