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— 5 —
course are within the Borough boundaries. The Crouch End
Playing Fields, extending to more than 70 acres, and adjoining
Queen's Wood, arc likely to be retained as playing Holds for all
time. Indeed, it may be said that fully 16 per cent, of the area
of the Borough consists of recreation ground open to the public,
to a very large extent without restriction. Reference to the
accompanying map will show the situation of the various public
open spaces, and the following table sets out their areas and
indicates the authorities responsible for their maintenance:
Area in acres. By whom maintained.
Finsbury Park
KenWood
Highgate Wood
Alexandra Park (part of)...
Cherry Tree Wood (part of)
Queen's Wood
Middle Lane Pleasure Ground
Priory Park
High Street Pleasure Ground
Sundry small areas
120
6
69
88
10
51
8
8
1
1
312
L.C.C.
Ditto.
City Corporation.
Alexandra Park Trustees.
Finchley U.D.C.
Hornsey Town Council.
The Town Council's contribution in respect of the purchase
of all these spaces amounted to less than £200 an acre, and
maintenance costs are incurred in respect of less than one quarter
of their total area.
In 1816 Hornsey was described as "a pleasant village,
situated in a low valley live miles from London, through which
the New River flows. This place is a favourite resort of the good
citizens of London. In its vicinity is a small coppice known by
the name of Homsey Wood. 'The Hornsey Wood House' is a
famous house of entertainment." Both the Wood and "Wood
House" have disappeared, and Finsbury Park now occupies
their site. Until comparatively recent years, much of the
Borough consisted of pastoral land and wood-land, and it is a
niatter of congratulation that the 120 acres of Highgate and
Queen's Woods, regarded as part of the old Forest of Middlesex,