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Art and Culture History

Town Hall of many disguises

First its Sheldrake Hospital

Over the summer it was the Sheldrake Hospital…and now its Cowley Police Station…

Southgate Town Hall in Green Lanes Palmers Green is becoming firmly established as a film location of choice.

Now its Cowley Police Station

The current Cowley Police Station incarnation is part of the filming for Inspector Morse prequel Endeavour (a programme title which forever ends the pub quiz favourite “What was Inspector Morse’s first name”). Starring Shaun Evans, Endeavour is set in 1965, and  follows the early career of the temperamental classical music and real ale loving Morse, originally created by Colin Dexter. A pilot episode was shown on TV in January.

About Sheldrake Hospital, I can regretfully tell you no more. Does anyone know?

Unfortunately yesterday the town hall was in the press for another reason, when confidential social services papers were found on full show in the building. According to the Evening Standard, these included papers from the Climbie child abuse investigation and details of adoption applications. David Burrowes MP has made a formal complaint to the Information Commissioner. For more information see http://www.standard.co.uk/news/secret-council-files-containing-private-personal-data-found-on-morse-set-8195506.html

One reply on “Town Hall of many disguises”

I came across this site by just ‘surfing’ and was very surprised to read that the old Southgate Town Hall is now being used by film makers. I was actually born in the Town Hall on 26th September 1927, and lived there with my parents and four brothers and two sisters until 1951. Dad was in the Southgate Fire Brigade (2nd Officer George Walton) so was my brother Jack. Dad was also the Mace Bearer for the Mayor of Southgate.
We had a wonderful life in the Town Hall, being the envy of all our friends because of the space we had to ‘play in’…..yes, even the Mayors Parlour !
I am very glad it has been cleaned and updated and is being made use of, instead of just falling apart with age and neglect. I hope I have the opportunity to see it in all it’s glory one day.

Betty Wright (nee Walton)
Amersham, Buckinghamshire

wright@macben.fsnet.co.uk

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