North Finchley- Grand Arcade

[ladylouise62]

I have added a 'texture' to this to add to the 'faded grandeur' feeling.
Maybe it was fancy when it was built, or maybe just big... but I think that time has taken away the appropriateness of its name.

20/08/09 - added photos of the inside taken on a later visit. I didn't have the time to really shoot properly - there's only so much stopping for photographs a boyfriend is going to take

[ladylouise62]

I've been looking up the area and it may have got ts name from the fact that here had been a cinema called the Grand Hall cinema in the vicinity (closed in 36 and later demolished for road widening),... haven't quite worked out the exact location... but it's a possibility.

[rolf]

Yes must be from the cinema, as there can't possibly be any other reason.

[Billyboy]

In the thread about the Grand Hall Cinema. There was an indication of no knowledge of its location. If it had existed now then the photo of the bus stop would have been taken by standing immediately in front of the Grand Hall. I know because I used to play in the remains just after the war.

[ladylouise62]

So, you're a north London lad then, Billy? I was up there because that's where my boyfriend lives... well, in North London. not actually here, this is just one of his haunts - lots of charity shops to raid

Of course, the question m,ust be - as far as you could tell back then would it have been grand?

[ladylouise62]

Hang on, my other half's name is Bill... you aren't him in disguise, are you?

[Billyboy]

I think I'm a bit long in the tooth to be your beau, ha ha!

Back to the investigation in hand. What I remember of the place was that, despite the state I remember of it, It must have been quite opulent and It had the position for the pianist because it was built in the period of silent movies. It was demolished to expand the department store, Next door and not to widen the road. I lived in Grove Road which is at the bottom of Castle Road. My Grandfather owned a house there which my family inherited. I lived there from 1948 until 1968, when I got married and moved away. That little part of my life is very dear to me