Skip to main content

Banner Alert Image  Haringey, Here to Help: Support with money, benefits, and debt

Home – Haringey London Council logo

Login/Register

Search form

Sign in

  • Services for residents
  • Pay, report, apply
  • Business information
  • Local democracy
  • Services for residents
  • Pay, report, apply
  • Business information
  • Local democracy
  • Home
  • Local Democracy
    • About the Council
      • State of the Borough
        • History of Haringey
          • Coat of Arms
Home » Local Democracy » About the Council » State of the Borough

History of Haringey

Traces of prehistoric human and animal life have been found, especially along the River Lee. Roman remains have also been found locally. There is also evidence that these areas were settled in Anglo-Saxon times.

In ancient times, what we now know as "Haringey" was made up of two large manors, Hornsey and Tottenham. These became parishes with firm boundaries in 1300. In the Middle Ages, Tottenham's population consisted of 59 serfs, four slaves, two freemen and a priest. Wood Green, originally part of Tottenham Parish, became a separate district in 1888.

Many streets in Haringey now bear the names of aristocrats from centuries long gone: the Barons Coleraine, the Comptons, and Waltheof, Lord of Tottenham Manor and son of the Earl of Northumberland. Other local names, such as Wood Green, testify to the area’s past as woodland and countryside, some of which still survives in Haringey's parks.

As commerce developed, railways were built, linking the separate townships. Gradually, a once rural area merged into the city of London.

For more information about the history of Haringey you can always visit our Archives service at Bruce Castle Museum.


What's in a name?

Harringay or Haringey, the names can puzzle,
two places, same sound, one locale in the other.

The first a district either side of Green Lanes.
the second the borough the Council named.

In '65 Haringey's title was picked,
a vote was taken, the boxes ticked

Confusion followed, say it "gey or gay"?
mistakes in spelling, from then to this day

Heringes -hedge in origin, from Saxon rule,
An old form of Hornsey was later recalled.

It could have been different, the record does tell,
we could now be calling the borough Moselle!

Henry Jacobs, 2010

Back to top


 

Page last updated:

May 12, 2022

Tell us what you think about this page

Problem with a service?
If you have a service problem or complaint you need help with then please visit our contact pages.


Help us improve this page
If you want to make comments specifically about this page, then please answer the questions below.

* = response required

Ease of use

Overall, how easy was it to get the help you wanted today?

Service required

What was the main service you were interested in today?

Purpose of visit

What was your main purpose for coming to the website today?

Covid-19

Did you visit the website for information related to COVID-19?
Did you find what you were looking for? (optional)

Device and browser information

It will help us understand any problems if you can tell us a bit about what you are using to browse the website:

Which type of device are you using right now? (optional)
Which browser are you using? (optional)

Your comments

Please use the following space to tell us more about your visit today. 

Please note that if you want to report a problem with a council service or have a general service request, you will need to contact Customer Services directly.

Haringey, Here to Help

See what help and support is available for residents and businesses.

Here to Help written on blue background


Testing and vaccines

  • Testing in Haringey
  • COVID-19 vaccinations

Haringey case numbers

Weekly case numbers and rates
See COVID-19 case numbers in Haringey


Haringey People Extra
e-newsletter

Sign up for regular updates
Stay in the know by signing up to Haringey People Extra now!


 

Advertising

Our advertising policy

Related links

Community Safety and Engagement
Councillors and MPs
Contact the council
History of Broadwater Farm
  • Home
  • Local Democracy
    • About the Council
      • State of the Borough
        • History of Haringey
          • Coat of Arms

A to Z Directory of Haringey Council Services

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z

Ways of keeping in touch with us

Contact us

For non-urgent queries you can use our online contact form.

Have your say

Help us make sure we’re achieving our aims and tell us what you think.

Mobile apps

Useful and convenient council services in the palm of your hand.

Email alerts

Tell us what you're interested in and receive updates direct to your inbox.

Twitter

Get the latest important announcements as they happen.

Facebook

Be part of the Haringey community online as well as off.

Instagram

A space to celebrate the great things in our borough.

YouTube

See and hear about Haringey issues and news on our very own YouTube channel.

  • Accessibility
  • Translation services
  • About this site
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Cookies

This site is © Copyright Haringey Council