Muswell Hill
Administration
Borough:	Haringey
County:	Greater London
Region:	Greater London
Nation:	England
Other
Ceremonial County:	Greater London
Traditional County:	Middlesex
Postal County:	London

Muswell Hill is a place in the London Borough of Haringey. Its postal district is N10.

Local History

The earliest records of Muswell Hill date from the 12th Century. At this time the Bishop of London, who was the Lord of the Manor of Hornsey, owned the area and granted 65 acres (263,000 m²), located to the east of Colney Hatch Lane, to a newly formed order of Nuns. The Nuns built a chapel on the site and called it ‘Our Ladie of Muswell’.

The name Muswell is believed to stem from a natural spring or well, which was said to have miraculous properties. The story has it that a Scottish King was cured of disease after drinking the water of the spring/well and that this led to the area becoming a place of pilgrimage during medieval times.

(in regards to the Scottish King it should be noted that Muswell Hill Manor in Oxfordshire was said to be owned by The King of Scotland in the 12th Century)

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At the top of a hill, it is not directly served by any tube or train stations, despite being a popular place for central London commuters to live. Until the mid-20th century there was a rail branch line from Highgate which passed through Muswell Hill, terminating at a station at Alexandra Palace, and there was a plan to integrate this into the London Underground Northern Line; tube maps of the time showed the line as under construction. However, this plan was cancelled after the 1939-45 war, and the railway line was abandoned in 1954.

Close to Alexandra Park and Highgate Woods, with something of a village atmosphere, Muswell Hill has developed from the staid suburb it was in the 1950s to become fashionable, with a selection of trendy bars and restaurants. Many parts boast spectacular views over London, and the area hosts a disproportionately large number of actors, journalists and other media folk. Most commuters reach London by bus (there are direct routes both to the City and the West End), or connect with the underground at Highgate or Finsbury Park.

The British pop/rock band The Kinks titled their 1971 album Muswell Hillbillies in reference to the birthplace of Ray and Dave Davies.

Dennis Nilsen, the serial killer carried out his gruesome murders in Muswell Hill.

The 'Gaudi Style' shop front

This shop front was built in July 2004 by Chris Ostwald as a homage to Catalan Architect Antoni Gaudi. The shop, a new art gallery and art materials shop on the northern arm of Muswell Hill Broadway, has had an enforcement notice served by Haringey Council, to force its demolition, as the front was built without planning permission. The shop front is now a hotly debated local issue.

Nearest places:

• Wood Green
• Hornsey
• Highgate
• Finchley
• Crouch End

Places of interest:

• Alexandra Palace
• Alexandra Park
• The Northbank Centre of the Methodist church

Nearest railway station:

• Alexandra Palace railway station (formerly known as "Wood Green, Alexandra Park")

Nearest tube stations: (Roughly equidistant)

• Highgate tube station
• Bounds Green tube station
• East Finchley tube station

External link

• Save the Shop Front (http://www.artetc.co.uk) - Campaign page in favour of the "Gaudi" shop front