Tottenham to Highgate along the lost River Moselle (4K)

Watch part 1 of the lost River Moselle walk here • Walking North London's...
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In this video we pick up the trail of North London's lost River Moselle at Bruce Castle Tottenham and follow its course through Lordship Recreation Ground, through the Noel Park Estate to Wood Green. From here we cross the New River into Hornsey and Priory Park then across Crouch End Open Spaces to Queen's Wood Highgate where the Moselle rises.
Links mentioned in the video
Harringay blog post thelostbyway.c...
Walk to the source of the New River in Hertfordshire • My Longest River Lea W...
Music
Amber - VYEN (KZbin Audio Library)
ES_A Gentle Invitation - Dawn, Dawn, Dawn
ES_A Quiet Storm - Lama House
ES_Calm - Amber Glow
courtesy of Epidemic Sound
Maps:
Open Street Map “© OpenStreetMap contributors” using data available under the Open Database Licence
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Shot in 4K on a Olympus OM-D EM-1 mark 2 with audio recorded with a Rode Wireless GO
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[@oldgreyrocket5523]

The sweet factory in Mayes Road Wood Green was "Barratts" - the smell from which is a vivid memory from my Wood Green '60s childhood

[@paulgolding6931]

My grandfather worked for the Caxton Chocolate Company in Wood Green for many years before his retirement. I believe he was an engineer who maintained the machines that produced the chocolates. Hence the Caxton Road name. I always remember the box of various chocolate goodies that he received every year at Christmas as a thank you from the company - even in his retirement. Thanks for your truly wonderful videos. They are an absolute delight. I particularly like the sheer joy and enthusiasm that you bring to the screen. Long may you continue!

[@jackysmith1763]

So enjoyed this 2nd walk.Had an aunt live in Moselle Ave. Gosh Wood Green has certainly changed since 1960s !!!Wonderful John, thank you 😊

[@robertbarling5601]

thank ou so much John your time and effort is always appreciated. Bob

[@lesliegprice6652]

Just to say John I lived in Coburg Road for the first six years of my life right beside the railway used to fall asleep to the sounds of coal trucks being shunted ,so thanks so much , had an aunty that lived in Knole Park estate,and I remember Wood Green when the Coop was on the site of the shopping centre and the bus garage was a trolley bus garage and the huge council offices complex didn't exist , I think there was a library on that site , there was also a railway that went across the road to Palace Gates station from Seven Sisters and there was a sweet factory and a Gas Works we used to sledge down the Alexandra Palace hill on metal trays in the winter , there was also a Horse racing track very popular , I used to go to Lordship Lane recreation to ride my bike as a kid ,many thanks John , made my day ❤️🌈☮️☯️☸️🇺🇦

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

And where that alley is used to be where the now long gone railway bridge crossed Wood Green High Road.

[@jeremybuck1818]

In Hornsey Park Rd, N8, near where you walked John, is a (fairly new) pocket park which lies on top of the Moselle culvert. It includes an extensive water feature referencing the Moselle, and a new artwork called ‘Course & Flow’ by artist Rachael Champion. It's a 3D representation in stone of the course of the river. If you're tall enough, you can just about look over the wooden fence nearby and there is a glimpse of the Moselle as it emerges from its culvert under the railway and the New River. Well worth a visit if you're in the area..

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

It's the best part of my Sunday to end the day with another fab video from you John. Didn't disappoint!

[@walkingthemiles4613]

Great walk and good of you to give the chap a shout out 🤩

[@AliBees]

I love these lost river walks set against the backdrop of the busy streets, where history and modern day meet. And never worry about mentioning your book, This Other London. I cherish my signed copy! Another top walk, John. Thank you

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Ali

[@richardgeorge8612]

what a beautiful walk john

[@Fourleafclover9]

The music in the videos gives me chance to reflect on london Thankyou🥰 so much nonsense on youtube this is the best channel ever

[@mheuman]

Thanks for splitting the Moselle walk into 2 parts. So enjoyable. You're good company.

[@ianmaddams9577]

Only just got round to watching this walk. And what a treat it was I wonder how many buried and lost rivers we walk over and don’t even realise what’s beneath us? All the best John 👍🏻

[@markriley4665]

Lovely second part to the Moselle walk. Well worth the wait. Thanks John.

[@kbjames100]

Thanks again John. These walks are the high light of my week.

[@thadchanpiraisoodi3478]

Was waiting all day for this 🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳 Loving the content John 😊

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks!!

[@TheIainMay]

Likewise🎉🎉

[@NicholasNA]

Brilliant. Thank you for coming back to finish the whole route of the Moselle.

[@barrycarrigan5584]

Stunning walk , parts 1&2 thank you so much for inclueding the Elmhurst at the start, this part of London has brought the memeries flooding back.

[@ralphwinter6421]

Thanks John, great mystical river walk - Cheers mate...

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Ralph

[@rachelcaullay172]

I remember years ago in the 70s a friend of the family lived in Morley Ave The houses are beautiful. I thought I imagined these houses. Thank you for a lovely walk.

[@IanDDalton]

Radagast, would be my bet, great video as usual John, love watching these, been a life saver over lockdown, please keep them coming :)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

absolutely spot on!

[@margaretgaskin4928]

@@JohnRogersWalks That was instantly my guess too. Lovely walk, thank you, taking me to places just off the edge of my old stamping ground. Worth a wander on its own, the old LCC Tower Gardens Estate - if you thought Noel Park was pretty, the streets within the Roundway and its own little park has a magic all of its own on a summer evening. An amazing contrast with Broadwater Farm. All the same people, but housed in a very different way. Kids still play out in the streets there. If you can't walk it, worth a Google walk at least.

[@johnmurray8428]

Thank you, many memories!

[@barneykennett9282]

Lovely...👍.

[@terryblack2219]

Really nice walk, I lived in Crouch end in the late 70s although my girlfriend I lived with always referred to us as living in Muswell hill ! Nevertheless I loved going around Hornsey and it always felt special as you said although I cannot put words to it just like it’s own unique place, Thank you for refreshing some happy thoughts from the days of flared trousers and tins of hofmeister larger

[@mdarts8861]

That helped me escape for an half hour great stuff. The poetry of crumpled curled peg board that’s Zen.

[@chrisblay]

I had an Uncle from Tottenham, who was always talking about Bruce Grove and Lordship Lane for some reason. Would be interested to know the history of that Bruce Castle though. Interesting looking building.

[@kkimmings4920]

Fantastic watch always look forward to Sunday evenings new adventure !

[@PeterUrpeth]

Really enjoyed this, great film John, I used to live on Church Lane, Hornsey in mid 80s when attending Middlesex Poly, loved that area too

[@StarWarsJay]

Hey John. I was just thinking about popping out, then your alert came up. I think I’ll watch this first.

[@philliphurley5341]

Your video brought back many happy memories I mean't to say.

[@geourgiou]

this is very near towards me. Fantastic walking video, keep up the amazing work john.

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Great walk - love seeing the Spring there - still very wintery here in Wisconsin.

[@amandabrown3946]

Great walk john,thank-you for capturing the feeling,of that area,love it had friends there in the 80s,but I was always glad to get back to west London,I always found it a bit sombre,the pubs were the same.

[@stockholmpearlsandviews4772]

I have just ordered your book John, very much looking forward to it. I have also ordered Iain Sinclair’s Living With Buildings.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks!!

[@saltyseadogamigo]

Thoroughly enjoyed your walk John, you always make it feel that us the viewer are right there with you, now on to the new river walk, I live very near to where it starts from the Lea, just to let you know that work is on going for the conversation of the European eel population at the pump house where the new river starts, fantastic for the decreasing numbers of European eels, but not if you want to get an uninterrupted view of said beginning/ ending of such an fantastic walk, work was supposed to be finished months ago but damm Covid got in the way of that, anyway keep up the great work and remember people walking isn’t just for lockdowns, it’s for life!

[@sonicfactory-co-uk]

RIP to Sean Hughes! Great shout out.

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

Good to see the second part. I'm quite fond of Hornsey as well. Where you were stood just before going into Priory Park, I believe was the site of a Victorian pleasure garden, and just behind you were some ditches which are part of a system to deal with flooding from the Moselle during heavy rain. Also, I might be wrong, but I seem to remember reading that the fountain in the park used to sit outside of St Paul's until the late 1890s.

[@StarWarsJay]

Does anyone remember a pub called The Flowerpot up that way? It had a massive flowerpot sculpture on the outside wall. I remember it from the 70s as a little kid.

[@oldgreyrocket5523]

The Flowerpot was on St Ann's Road, at the Stamford Hill end close to St Ignatius RC church. So quite a way from this walk - but a terrific venue back in the day

[@StarWarsJay]

@@oldgreyrocket5523 cheers mate. I’m remembering stuff from being three or four years old, so apologies for being out a bit.

[@Veaceslav747]

Curiously, there is La Moselle river in France too ! :) It takes its source from les Voges Mountains.

[@duncanwanders4209]

Yes, Jeremy ! So many Wood This and Wood That's....thanks for correcting my error.

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Very enjoyable.Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Cheers Carl

[@jorisgillet4266]

Great walk (and I;m not just saying that because you say positive things about my neighbourhood, Hornsey). Apparently you can hear the Moselle underground from one of the man hole covers on Rectory Gardens, opposite Priory Park.

[@jorisgillet4266]

(And there is a bench, dedicated to Sean Hughes, a little bit further, in Highgate Wood. Somewhere on the north end if I remember correctly)

[@athoshadjiantoni6403]

Wood Green, Hornsey, Muswell Hill, Highgate and Crouch End are your favourite places to walk and so do I.

[@davidburnetts5439]

Hi John, I believe The Barrett Sweet Company had their factory in Mayes Road. Wood Green. Really enjoy your vlogs.

[@rickwills4281]

John delivers again!!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Rick

[@xqqqme]

I have no idea about your favorite wizard because I've never had any time for Tolkien. But I always have time for your videos.

[@MrJohnQCitizen]

There's a Cecil Park in Crouch End and used to be an MP Cecil Parkinson

[@Suho1004]

Watching this days later, so my comment comes late, but it's got to be Radagast, right? Thanks for the walk, John!

[@scottwallace901]

This video reminded me I used to work for Wood Green Animal Shelter in Godmanchester. Lovely walk John. Really sad about the war that is going on in the Ukraine at the monent. My heart goes out to all Ukraine people everywhere.

[@Nick-mq9on]

Good stuff.

[@sailing_raptor]

Thank you.

[@terryroberts8143]

Hi John great that wood green gets some recognition and the moselle river. Doubt we would be able to jump the bank of the moee now day's it was just a deep smelly ditch back in the 70s they've widened it now in the rec. I remember around 1968/ 1969 prefabricated toilets/bathrooms being hoisted over the rooftops in moselle avenue as many of the houses had outside loos. Chocolate factory in wood green was Caxtons there was Barratts sweet factory also remember people working in Caxton in the eighties. Parallel to moselle avenue is Morley avenue it has a single tree in the middle of the Rd we called it the hangman's tree it was an unusual feature assuming it's still there. If you get a chance there was a place called spouters Corner it's on the junction of redvers r.d and wood green high Rd it was our equivalent of Hyde Parks speaker's corner. Apparently there was a pig farm between lordship Lane and mosselle avenue in Vincent Rd I'm told the Elephant from the wood green Empire music hall was kept there too this was pre war era.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for sharing that Terry

[@lesliegprice6652]

My mum worked in the sweet factory but I think it was Barrett's when I was there in the fifties , not completely sure !

[@samir-hasanagic8981]

I really enjoy your videos John. Very informative, calming and inspiring. I bought both editions of London’s Lost Rivers as a result of watching your walks. Great work.

[@donrebel1340]

between mount pleasant road and broadwater road is where i grew up from the age of 6 ... thanks for finishing this walk i didn't know about Barratts being in wood green but knew about Maynard's at the top of seven sisters road and amhurst park road there is also a river running alone there what is that one?

[@jeremybuck1818]

The New River..

[@marcuswilson2067]

The chocolate factory was Caxton Chocolate Factory, I went to school at the back of the factory in the late 70's Alexandra Infant School. We would often get the whiff of chocolate in the playground. Later on I joined the military and to my surprise the chocalate in the ration packs were from Caxton Chocolate Factory. I used to live just off Moselle Av never knew there was a river there.

[@kalisti2323]

New sub, first vid you upload after I sub, a walk past my house (few roads away) XD Lovely vids, and imo valuable thanks so much for taking the time to make these!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Fantastic! Thanks for subscribing

[@johnfoster7996]

Personally I prefer the longer videos, the 'Effra' was wonderful. I look forward to a full-length 'Moselle".

[@nicholasbloomer407]

ABOUT THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Previously home to the largest sugar confectionery manufacturer in the world, Barratt & Co

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks for that Nicholas

[@jeremybuck1818]

It was actually the factory of Caxton Chocolate Co. Barratts were next door but not connected. I don't think Barratts made chocolate items...

[@diogenesagogo]

Grew up in London (till 7) on Sidney Road, Wood Green. You went a bit south of there today I think; do you have a walk which includes that area? And thanks for another wonderful video John.

[@colinamonk]

Love watching all your videos especially around Epping forest you mention walking the new river but what about the old river Lea not sure how much of it you can walk though.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

How Colin - there’s a playlist of my River Lea videos on here - I’ve walked it from Leamouth to Hertford

[@colinamonk]

@@JohnRogersWalks thanks I have watched all of them but at certain parts the Lea separates from the Lea navigation like the parts along Waltham abbey to fishers green

[@andrewwood9635]

St benet Fink is a large church by J.S. Alder dating from 1911-12, funded from the demolition of the city church of the same name.

[@MGeofire]

Radagast the Brown, without a doubt...

[@rinosphere]

Radagast the Brown ?

[@colinricgmailcom]

Possibly Caxton Chocolate? My ex girlfriend's mother worked there.

[@georgepowell72]

I'm sorry to have to do this, but why did you mention the murder of PC Blakelock, but you didn't mention the death (and possible manslaughter by police) of Cynthia Jarrett?

[@razvanburada1648]

❤️❤️❤️

[@kenlane6591]

Thanks John for this video. Apart from Moselle Avenue and Gladstone Avenue (the Prime Minister at the time) the roads in the Noel Park Estate were named after people associated with the company that built the estate. The visible part of the river in Lordship Recreation Ground is actually a rerouted section with original course by the duck pond and can still be seen. The whole area between Mayes Road and Western Avenue was the Barrett's Sweet Factory. The main office in Mayes Road used to have packets in the windows of all the different brands they used to make there. In the 60s there was a childrens paddling pool in Queens Wood about where the frog pond is now.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks for that info Kenneth

[@jeremybuck1818]

Salisbury and Darwin Roads are also named after prominent Victorians

[@philliphurley5341]

My dad's mum and dad lived in 132 Gladstone Avenue and I had a great aunt and uncle who lived in 18 Farrant Avenue also in Noel.Park.

[@rheostar]

Very interesting walk. Back in the late 60's, I went to St David's School (now St Mary's) in Rectory Gardens. Outside of the school hall, there was a long corridor where we had to queue up for lunch. At one place in the corridor, the floor tiles were always coming loose. We were told it was caused by the Moselle River running directly under the school.

[@nwlondontimemachine9484]

The factory was Barratts sweet factory, John. Makers of numerous sweets, the Sherbert Fountain being one of the most famous.

[@mctasty6094]

I must say with delight that I loved all those said sweeties

[@JohnRogersWalks]

brilliant many thanks

[@leewop69]

The blend of the sweet factory aroma and some smells from the water treatment works were always a "joy"when I used to walk to Wood Green from Hornsey.

[@duncanwanders4209]

Hi, John. Great to see that we are in sync with our enthusiasm for Wood Lane and that area general. I am familiar with this part of London from when I walked the entire London Underground 2018/19. Enjoyed it so much that I visited it again, a few months ago, just to soak up the atmosphere !

[@jeremybuck1818]

You mean Wood Green not Lane?

[@robbojax2025]

As I often say in the comments, the joy of a river walk is seeing places that I would not ordinarily walk through. Thanks once again.

[@liamdavis2556]

John - one thing to note which you sadly missed on the walk. On the junction of Moselle Avenue N22 and Vincent Road N22 is an old bridge of where the Moselle crossed when it was above ground. It was a shame you didn’t get that in the video. Other than that - brilliant

[@blutey]

Are you sure? Just looked on Google Street View and could see no sign of it?

[@martiniles1809]

I've never seen a bridge, lived nearby for years.

[@liamdavis2556]

Yeah it’s there. Just walk up Vincent Road a little near the junction of Moselle and you will see it. Only a small bridge

[@blutey]

@@liamdavis2556 Strange. Just looked again. No sign of it. The strange case of the disappearing bridge...

[@seanjamescameron]

There is a Lordship Lane in Dulwich as well. A lovey walk out and great to see the sun again! 🌞 I used to get stopped a lot and asked if I was Sean Hughes.

[@michaelwynne-d7k]

I used to live on Broadwater Road in the 70s and went to Somerset School on Lordship Lane.The school backed onto Broadwater Farm estate on one side and the recreation ground [the Big Rec we called it]on another side. Every day during lunch time and after school we would do the jumps,jumping from one side of the Moselle to the other,or the Moee as we called it then,hoping to see someone fall in.Good days and watching this brought it all back to me,keep up the good work.

[@pauldickinson1434]

My Wife thinks it's a bit odd me watching a bloke filming himself going on a walk. However having watched this one with me , not only did she enjoy it , she said " What a lovely man " so there you go John another convert to your fabulous channel...

[@devonrod]

I was born in Hornsey in 1949, went everywhere around the area as a child / teenager, never saw the Moselle above ground anywhere, the New river in those days was crystal clear with streaming weed and full of fish, and the whole place had a feel of a village.

[@turnfordguitars]

Oh! Do you have a book out, called this other london? I had no idea, you've never mentioned it!🤣🤣🤣 Great walk!

[@williamrobinson7435]

Hugely enjoyable. I too love this part of London. Look forward to the next one! 👍

[@humble4533]

Thanks John for another wonderful video. Always interesting and beautifully filmed. Thank you for allowing me to walk with you vicariously. Look forward to your next video. Have a great week

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Humble

[@jackhanson1713]

You've walked right past my house - walked in Priory Park this afternoon

[@stephenpinder9567]

Stephen King's "Crouch End" is a favorite of mine. You really brought it to life...or death....as it were....for me. Thanks John.

[@thadchanpiraisoodi3478]

Yeasssssssssssssss

[@bakerloobadboy]

Finally I can face the coming week. A JR video, the best part of any week

[@JohnC2009Edin]

Great series of videos.. encourages me to look with new eyes at my own city (Edinburgh) !

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Fascinating to see how following a hidden river takes you through such interesting and varied landscapes. Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@TheIainMay]

Another excellent Lost Rivers of London walk, an absolute Sunday delight, many thanks for another great walk, take care

[@martinh4982]

I reckon John's favourite wizard is Radagast the Brown... great walk as always, John. I'm going to start walking around where I live. Probably won't make any videos, but you never know!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Spot on Martin

[@paulbache3940]

John, I'm betting Radagast as being your favourite

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Spot on Paul

[@mctasty6094]

11.47 wilkos do there best business in wood green. One hundred sixty grand a week

[@JohnRogersWalks]

great factoid - thanks

[@mctasty6094]

Its deffo a zoid lol

[@JDTait]

The Chocolate Factory was the home of Barratt & Co, although when I new it was full of space to hire for music/art etc. Shared a studio for one of my Black Metal bands their between 04' - '07. Also at the time Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts was at the main chocolate factory until it moved, we got some great cheap student vocalists from there.

[@jeremybuck1818]

The Chocolate Factory was home of Caxton Chocolate Co. Barratts factory adjoined it but was separate,,,

[@JDTait]

@@jeremybuck1818 ah, hence the choc factory 1, 2 & 3.

[@jimwalsh1958space]

ho chi min the conquerer of the mighty american militry in vietnam lived 117 ferme park road when he was a student at LSE. he was a pastry chef at a hotel what now the site of new zealand embassy.

[@patholley4475]

Hi John - great video. I was born in Crouch End so still visit a lot the areas you show in Hornsey particularly Middle Lane, Priory Park and Crouch End Playing Fields. I have seen the course of a stream through Queens Wood which runs down to a brick dam at the end of the alley way that leads to Wood Vale. If you cross over Wood Vale and go into the Playing Fields and take a hard right you can see the stream that skirts the back of the Wood Vale houses. It then tends to curve round to take an easterly direction before going into a culvert. I remember in the late 60's kids swinging across the stream on a dangling rope from a tree near this culvert when the stream was open. Nearly summer so I will go up to Highgate Woods via Queens Wood to watch the cricket on the green and have a nice lunch in the cafe. Now to watch Part 1!!

[@KC-gy5xw]

Blimey, I was born in Chandos Road, and Broadwater Farm and Lordship Park was part of my playground.

[@Melanphoria72]

Great walk. Liked the Sean Hughes reference. Sat next to him at a Crystal Palace match once. Nice guy. Very much missed.

[@JTTW1455]

Hornsey does have a lot of character. It’s a homey area and the light was fantastic this day.

[@kein370]

The new river comes out of chadwell springs on the ware Hertford border by the A10 flyover . Many years ago you and your friends came here looking at prehistoric burial sites and you record a piece to camera by the railing overlooking it .

[@Listermintsluesh]

Lovely interesting walk John. I walked that way over the past lockdowns. Hornsey is an interesting place for sure... lovely old houses. The new river stretch you passed, I like too and the large housing blocks built in that area have really expanded, more being built I believe... It's fascinating to think of those past riverways, I wish I could go back in time to see what they were really like.

[@thfccfht]

both videos John....its been a great delight.....looking forward to the Effra video, I lived on Effra road Wimbledon for a short time..represented my old school there at Cricket..

[@georginacox7292]

A building to escape demolition in Woolwich. Historic I think. This morning's news. 6 in Essex at risk. Historic England Essex. Sad. Everyone is sad at that kind of news.