EPW056662 ENGLAND (1938). Ashley Road and environs, Upper Holloway, 1938

This photo seems to have been widely shared on the webs. I think it's taken from Kenneth Brown's 1996 book, "The British Toy Business A History Since 1700". Sadly, I don't think it has any more to do with the Britains Lambton Road premises other than being in the same road.

The building shown was the first house on the left as you enter Lambton Road from Hornsey Road. The house with the pitched roof is still standing (though the flat-roofed one next to it has been replaced by housing) - https://goo.gl/maps/psBmC8HtS9cjdj4E8. The house was just round the corner from Horney Road. On the gate is an advert for William Appleton's grocery store at number 518. (Three up from the corner in the terrace shown in the photo in the background).

The cart belonged to V Collins. During most of the first decade of the 20th century 512 Hornsey Road had been a greengrocer's. ButI can't confirm that this was V Collins trade. I think it's mentioned in the Brown book if anyone has a copy. What does he say?

Hi I am living now at 15 Shaftebry Road. Great to see this photo, do you have any more pictures of the road. Do you have any information on who lived here over the years. It's is now split into 4 flats like many old houses in the area. The Shaftesbury Tavern is still in business and changed little in terms of interior.

Hi I am living now at 15 Shaftebry Road. Great to see this photo, do you have any more pictures of the road. Do you have any information on who lived here over the years. It's is now split into 4 flats like many old houses in the area. The Shaftesbury Tavern is still in business and changed little in terms of interior.

clee66....thank you for your interest. I have a few pictures from my life at #15. Film and developing was expensive then and we had to take few pictures. Where would you like me to send the few I have?

William Britain, founder of Britains Toys, lived in a house called Nugent House, somewhere in Lambton Road. I guess it was near the factory shown in Spears Road. Anybody know where it was?

Thanks again for marking this as my great great grand uncle was William Britain, the founder of Britains Toys.

Well that explains a big childhood mystery...I could hear a stamping machine sometimes running until 11PM from the direction of Lambton Road. ( I lived on Shaftesbury Rd.)They were making toy soldiers!

I'm not sure about this station. There is no station shown here on my 1968 A-Z guide. Crouch Hill Station is south of here so it is not that one. This railway line looks like the one that runs between Highgate and Finsbury Park - and there is no station shown here as noted above. However, this does look like a station!

There actually was a railway station there, in what was later turned into Parkland Walk. It may have been a proposed extension of the Underground before the war.

For further detail about the station and the railway, see http://underground-history.co.uk/northernh.php