Tram Queue Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park 1930

Comment by Richard Woods on April 30, 2016 at 0:02

What no trams? The tube station is yards from them. Seems odd?

Comment by Hugh on April 30, 2016 at 1:39

The first part of the extension to the Piccadilly Line beyond Finsbury Park wasn't opened till two years after this photo was taken, Richard. It is one helluva queue though.

Comment by Richard Woods on April 30, 2016 at 16:51

True but must admit I assumed they were commuting into London.

Comment by Hugh on April 30, 2016 at 17:22

Given the side of the road they're on I'd assumed the other direction

Comment by StephenBln on April 30, 2016 at 17:40

The cinema building showing happy days was originally a North Metropolitan Tram Depot. It's still possible here to make out the entrance.

Comment by Richard Woods on April 30, 2016 at 17:47

I have been looking at strikes - it is 1930 after all. Nothing yet. But so many heading north? And they do look like commuters.

Comment by Hugh on April 30, 2016 at 17:53

Stephen, this picture shows that building in 1905 as a tram depot. (Click it for big size)

Comment by JoeW on September 8, 2017 at 19:08

Interesting to see Face Massage offered in the barbers, I'd always assumed this was a more recent introduction in the UK.

Comment by Hugh on September 8, 2017 at 20:39

Well spotted, Joe.

Comment by Roy aka Smiffy on June 5, 2021 at 15:59

The picture brought back childhood memories and prompted me to look in my 1948 PO London Directory.

The ‘Shaving Haircutting Face Massage’ premises are in 1948 listed as 267 Seven Sisters Road. Cohen S. & Co. Ltd Cigar Importers.

I remember the shop in the late 40’s and early 50’s well as the interior was so grand and ‘old fashioned’. The shop was quite long inside. The front of the shop was a tobacconist and sold loose pipe and cigarette tobaccos, together with all manner of briar pipes, cigarettes and cigars. I still have a memory of a powerful aroma. The shop was very grand with polished brass and mahogany fittings and glass show-cases. A gas flame constantly burned from a decorative device on the counter for customers to ‘light up’. My dad, a pipe smoker liked to browse and buy loose tobacco there.

The rear of the shop, the barbers, was entered by an arch of mahogany and frosted glass. Here were enormous mirrors, large black leather barber’s chairs, bottles of oils and lotions with spectacular labels in unknown languages, clippers, scissors, cut-throat razors and leather strops – an interior more exotic and splendid that a little kid from Woodberry Grove ever experienced. Here I often had my hair cut. The barber would put a plank across the arms of the chair to raise me up to the required height.

But what I found interesting was ear-hairs being swiftly singed with a wax taper and hot towels being taken from brightly polished steam heaters and wrapped around freshly shaved faces. All now common in barber-shops – even in my local Bognor Regis Turkish barbers!

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