Tota’s hamlet evolved into what we know today as Tottenham. Tottenham is a district in north London. It resides within the London Borough of Haringey. Tottenham is not related to Tottenham Court Road. However both share a similar-sounding root.
Tottenham’s history stretches back over a thousand years. It grew along the old Roman road. This road is now partly the A10.
When the Domesday Book was compiled in 1086 around 70 families lived here. They worked mostly as labourers for the lord of the manor. A humorous poem from around 1400 tells of a mock battle. Peasants vied for the reeve’s daughter.
The River Lea marked the eastern boundary of Tottenham. It separated Middlesex and Essex. Today it divides the London Boroughs of Haringey and Waltham Forest. The River Moselle also crosses the borough. It often caused flooding until it was covered in the 19th century.
From the Tudor period Tottenham became a leisure spot. Wealthy Londoners sought recreation here. Henry VIII visited Bruce Castle. He also hunted in Tottenham Wood. Izaak Walton mentioned rural Tottenham in his book. It was called The Compleat Angler and published in 1653. Tottenham was also noted for its Quaker population. It was also known for its schools. Rowland Hill was at Bruce Castle. Tottenham remained semi-rural until the 1870s.
The Great Eastern Railway introduced workman’s trains in the late 1870s. These ran on the Enfield and Walthamstow branch lines. Tottenham’s fields became cheap housing. Lower middle and working-class people commuted to inner London. This policy helped develop the area into a London suburb.
In 1894 Tottenham became an urban district. In 1934 it gained municipal borough status. In 1965 it became part of the London Borough of Haringey. This happened along with Hornsey and Wood Green.
An incident occurred in 1909 called the Tottenham Outrage. Two armed robbers held up a wages clerk. They fled across the Lea and hijacked a tramcar. Police pursued them. The robbers killed two people and wounded fourteen others. They shot themselves rather than be captured. The incident became a silent film.
During the Second World War Tottenham suffered bombing. The first air raid on London hit Elmar Road in Tottenham. V-1 and V-2 rockets also struck. Wartime shortages led to Tottenham Pudding. This was a mix of household waste food for pigs and poultry. Queen Mary named it during a visit.
The Broadwater Farm riot occurred in 1985. It followed the death of Cynthia Jarrett. Jarrett died during a police search. Tensions between black youths and police were high. A riot began on Tottenham High Road. One police officer was murdered. Many others were injured.
The 2011 Tottenham riots followed the shooting of Mark Duggan by police. Attacks occurred on police cars a bus and local shops. The riot spread with looting and fires. The Prince of Wales and his wife visited the victims.
Tottenham is known for its multicultural population. It has a large Afro-Caribbean community. In recent years more people have come from Africa Asia South America and Eastern Europe.
All Hallows Church is the oldest surviving building in Haringey. It dates back to Norman times. Bruce Castle was Tottenham’s manor house. It dates from the sixteenth century. Sir Rowland Hill introduced the Uniform Penny Post while living there.
Tottenham cake is a local invention. It is a sponge cake with pink icing. It was originally sold for one old penny. The pink colour came from mulberries.
Tottenham is home to Tottenham Hotspur. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opened in 2019.