Learn more about the history of your hometown

It is easy for many of us to go through our lives without knowing a thing about the history of our hometown (or at least the Park itself).  I think it is a crying shame to be ignorant about the place that matters most to us, so I decided to do a little bit of research (going little further than wikipedia.org) and provide an invaluable service to those of you who would like to know the barest facts about Finsbury Park.

Before the Park was created, the area we live in now was called Hornsey Wood.  As the wood was cut back, people began to use the place as a getaway from the hustle and bustle of London, and would frequent the tea rooms, which developed into a tavern.  A lake was built, and people would come to unwind and watch **** fighting, among other things.

The Park’s creation was just one example of a spate of greenification (not a real word, but it’ll do) of London in the nineteenth century.  The city had become a cauldron of urban development, with little space for the poor to unwind.  The plans for the Park were drawn up in 1850, those plans were ratified by an Act of Parliament in 1857, and the Park was formally opened on Saturday 7th August 1869.  Any explanation for the length of time taken would be greatly appreciated, though I suppose building a park isn’t easy.

Since its opening, Finsbury Park has continued to be a place for people to come and enjoy its beauty and serenity, but it has also had moments of more excitement and controversy.  The Park was used for pacifist meetings during World War I, and heavy armour was gathered here prior to the D-Day landings of World War II.  It has also hosted a number of diverse music events, from the Sex Pistols’ comeback in 1996, to KISS in 1997 and Oasis in 2002.

If you know any other interesting facts about Finsbury Park’s history don’t hesitate to comment on this and spread your knowledge, as it is undoubtedly more revealing than what I could find on wikipedia.