GREEN PLAQUES
In 2004, John Hajdu MBE, then Chair of the Muswell Hill and Fortis Green Association, came up with the idea of honouring Muswell Hill personalities that had been overlooked by existing recognition schemes by placing plaques on their former homes.
The idea started when Professor Alan Mackay, a member of the Association, asked about installing a plaque for William Barlow, a crystallographer, mineralogist, and Fellow of the Royal Society. Barlow (1845-1934) had lived at the corner of Muswell Hill Broadway and Hillfield Park. John Hajdu saw this as an opportunity to launch a campaign across the borough to remember other notable people who had gained national or international recognition. He knew the project would need the council’s involvement, so he spoke to the new Design and Conservation Officer at Haringey Council, Sue Cook, who was very supportive.
Other meetings followed with Keith Fawkes, who was Chair of the Hornsey Historical Society, Deborah Hedgecock, Curator of Bruce Castle Museum, and later Jacob O’Callaghan and Ken Gay from the historical society. Work began to identify suitable candidates, and over the following months, several shortlists followed one another until an agreement was reached on about 40 names to be commemorated by Green Plaques funded by the council.
The first plaque, for William Barlow, was installed in October 2007. A plate next to it acknowledged John Hajdu’s contribution.
The Green Plaque scheme ended prematurely in 2010 due to financial constraints. In all, 13 plaques were erected to celebrate notable Muswell Hill and Haringey residents. Click on the images below to read their stories.
