The Avenue in Finsbury Park, circa 1905

Comment by alistairj on October 19, 2008 at 17:35

Looking at this picture again, it is curious what those two young boys are doing in the gutter on the right hand side (digging a trench?) but it obviously sufficiently unusual that the older boys on the left are interested in what is going on. Neither group is disturbed about Mr Photographer setting up this tripod to capture the scene though.

The view now (the right-hand third roughly corresponds to the 1905 scene) may look similar to 1905 in 20 years or so when the newly replaced trees have matured. The carriageway no longer goes off to the Finsbury Gate but now forms a rather attractive loop for cyclists/runners/inline skaters etc.

Comment by StephenBln on October 19, 2008 at 17:51

I thought they might be collecting 'manure'. There seem to be piles on both sides of the avenue. That said, not a horse in sight! Perhaps 'Horse and Carriages' were 'verboten'?

Comment by alistairj on November 12, 2008 at 23:15

The collecting manure theory sounds plausible to me, Steve (and a lot better than my trench idea). An unusual scene to be captured on a postcard though...

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