Did you know that...
The historical centre of Hornsey is relatively small and old. Hornsey High Street is home to what is left of the 13th-century St. Mary’s parish church (the churchyard and parish). This exact place was the administrative centre of the parish back in the days.
The origin of the name of the area goes back to the Saxon period. ‘Hornsey’ had derived from the name of a Saxon chieftain called Haering. The earliest written form of the actual name was recorded around 1195.
Professional footballer Allan Young was born in Hornsey in 1941. Tobacconist and entrepreneur Alfred Dunhill was born here as well. Actor Bob Hoskins is a former famous resident. Jazzie B, one of the founding members of Soul II Soul, is another well-known person from Hornsey N8.
In 1951, the first Lotus Cars factory, founded by Chapman and Dare, was opened in Hornsey behind the Railway Hotel that was owned at the time by Chapman’s father. Railway Hotel is now called Funky Brownz Bar.