HORNSEY NATIONAL HALL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CLUB
Address : 31 High Street
Post code : N8 7QB
Location : TQ 30515 89347
The Hornsey National Hall was built (to be used by the Hornsey Conservative Association and the Habitation of the Primrose League) in 1888 to a design by architect John Farrer. Currently (December 2020) occupied by the Turkish Religious Foundation of the United Kingdom.
Post code : N8 7QB
Location : TQ 30515 89347
The Hornsey National Hall was built (to be used by the Hornsey Conservative Association and the Habitation of the Primrose League) in 1888 to a design by architect John Farrer. Currently (December 2020) occupied by the Turkish Religious Foundation of the United Kingdom.
Description of the building
Red brick with Bath stone dressings
The stone-laying ceremony
"On Saturday evening the memorial stone was laid of a new public hall at Hornsey, which will owe its existence to the public spirit of the Conservatives of that rapidly growing district. The site for the new building is close to Hornsey parish church, and it is to be called the Hornsey National Hall. It is being erected by a limited liability company, the share capital of which is to be represented by 5000 shares of each. At present 4000 shares have been offered for subscription, of which about 3000 have been already taken up. The hall, which will front on to the High-street, will provide accommodation for the Hornsey District Conservative Association, a constitutional club, the Hornsey Habitation of the Primrose League, the Hornsey detachment of the 3rd Middlesex R.V., concerts, balls, &c. The architect is Mr. John Farrer, of Finsbury-pavement, and the contractors are Messrs. T. Docwra & Son, of Balls-pond-road. The building will be of red brick, in the Renaissance style of architecture, and there will be, in addition to other accommodation, a large hall capable of seating 500 people. It is estimated that the cost of erection will not exceed £8000. Saturday's ceremony was performed by Mrs. Gilbert Robins, wife of the chairman of the company, in the presence of a large number of ladies and gentlemen resident in the locality. Mr. Gilbert Robins occupied the chair, supported by Mr. H. C. Stephens, M.P. for Hornsey, Mr. Courtney Page, Mr. W. Wood, Mr. Reid, Mr. Charles Turner, the Rev. J. Jeakes, rector of Hornsey, Mr. R. Hunter Davies, &c. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the rector, after which Mr. Gilbert Robins explained the need for, and objects of, the hall, which he said would be an immense boon to the Conservatives of Hornsey and to the locality in general. They would have there what had long been wanted, a Conservative club for the middle classes of Hornsey-(Cheers)-and a place where Conservatives could make their views known, and destroy the falsehoods of their adversaries. (Cheers.) Mr. H. C. Stephens, M.P., who met with a very hearty reception, then addressed the meeting. He agreed with the chairman as to the necessity for a hall of that kind in Hornsey, and predicted that this undoubtedly would prove a great success. (Cheers.) Referring to the recent conference of the members of the Conservative party with their leader, Lord Salisbury, he said that, in spite of all that had been said to the contrary, it was a meeting of great harmony and of great advantage to the party. (Hear, hear.) It was no doubt a good thing that a political party should present a firm front, but still, if there were differences of opinion on such a subject as the Local Government Bill, it was better that those differences should be dealt with frankly and in an outspoken manner, and be healed, as they bad been healed. (Hear, hear.) The debate on Monday would show what had become of those differences. (Hear, hear.) Mrs. Robins then laid the memorial stone, using a handsome silver trowel, the gift to her of the contractors, Messrs. Docwra & Son. Mr. W. Wood moved a vote of thanks to Mrs. Robins, which was carried by acclamation and acknowledged by the chairman. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to Mr. Stephens, M.P., which was carried with hearty cheering. " - Hampstead & Highgate Express, 30 June 1888, p. 7.
The Hornsey National Hall was officially opened on Saturday 17 November 1888 by Conservative M.P Lord George Hamilton (1845-1927)
The names on the stones
Mr and Mrs Gilbert Robins. Gilbert Robins was a solicitor who came to Hornsey in about 1860 and lived at Rathcoole, Tottenham Lane.
A staunch Conservative, Robins played an important part in Hornsey politics: he was elected to the Hornsey Local Board in 1875, and became a churchwarden in 1874, resigning in 1891. He hoped to stand for election at Clerk to the Hornsey Vestry in 1889, but as a churchwarden was judged to be ineligible. The names of Gilbert Robins and his colleague Henry Reid appears on the cast iron Hornsey parish markers laid in 1887. Following his period in Hornsey local government, Robins served as a councillor on Middlesex County Council between 1898-1902. Robins may well have been a pillar of society, although in 1869 he was charged with libel over an article he had written in Man About Town about Sir Joseph Hawley. He was found guilty and fined £25.00.
A staunch Conservative, Robins played an important part in Hornsey politics: he was elected to the Hornsey Local Board in 1875, and became a churchwarden in 1874, resigning in 1891. He hoped to stand for election at Clerk to the Hornsey Vestry in 1889, but as a churchwarden was judged to be ineligible. The names of Gilbert Robins and his colleague Henry Reid appears on the cast iron Hornsey parish markers laid in 1887. Following his period in Hornsey local government, Robins served as a councillor on Middlesex County Council between 1898-1902. Robins may well have been a pillar of society, although in 1869 he was charged with libel over an article he had written in Man About Town about Sir Joseph Hawley. He was found guilty and fined £25.00.
John Farrer, architect. "John Farrer (1843-1930), a self-made Victorian entrepreneur who lived in Crouch End for forty years of his life, was responsible for designing over eighteen hundred houses and shops for seventy three roads in our area and he laid out fifteen estates for local landowners and builders." - https://hornseyhistorical.org.uk/ever-heard-local-architect-john-farrer/.
Docwra & Sons, contractor. The firm was founded by Thomas Docwra (1814-1882). It was based in Balls Pond Road, Dalston
Bibliography
Owen, Janet John Farrer : The Man Who Changed Hornsey. London : Hornsey Historical Society, 2009.