St Mary's Tower - The Oldest Building in Hornsey

Hornsey High Street​

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For twenty years the tower stood abandoned and became derelict despite being a Grade II* listed building on Historic England’s register. From 1989, with funding raised through the Friends of Hornsey Church Tower (FoHCT), repairs have been carried out, including extensive exterior stonework repairs in 2005–6 made possible by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and Section 106 money granted by Haringey Council. As part of the 2005-6 works, the vestry on the ground floor of the tower was converted into a chapel of rest where regular services can be held.

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More information on the history of the Tower is available on the Historic England website here.

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The Churchyard

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Churchyards were essential adjuncts of medieval parish churches. Hornsey churchyard was in use as a burial ground for hundreds of years, from the 13th century and probably earlier, up to its closure in the late 19th century. It served the parish of Hornsey, which until the 19th century was a large rural area extending south to Stoke Newington and west to Highgate. By 1840 it was necessary to extend the churchyard, and an area to the south of the central east-west path was added. Until the end of the 19th century church and churchyard remained surrounded by fields, and there were only a few houses along the High Street. The main paths that run through the churchyard are ancient rights of way that connected with routes in existence before the neighbouring streets were built up. The garden on the site of the old church was laid out in 1950 as the Borough of Hornsey’s Second World War Garden of Remembrance and until 2009 the annual Service of Remembrance was held here.

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Friends of Hornsey Church Tower (FoHCT)

 

The FoHCT are our valuable partners in support St Mary's Tower. ​FoHCT came together in 1989 to help give the Tower a secure future, their activities have broadened out to take account of the historic churchyard and the Garden of Remembrance set out on the site of the old church by Hornsey Council in 1950. They organise several events throughout the year, the most popular of which are perhaps the Open Days which allow access to the roof and it’s sweeping views of the parish.

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The friends have gathered an excellent archive of material which can be viewed on their website by clicking here.

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Find out more about the great work that The Friends do here. Volunteers are always needed to help maintain the garden which is enjoyed by everyone in the community, or to decorate the Tower for Christmas. The Friends are always happy to have new members and if you would also like to become actively involved there are many ways of doing so. More remains to be done to the Tower to bring it into fuller use. There is always something needed to be done in the Garden of Remembrance and churchyard. The aim of improving the quality of the churchyard continues. Help is always welcome and no experience is needed. This is all worthwhile because we are helping to bring the oldest building in Hornsey back into use and to make the churchyard and Garden of Remembrance valued open spaces to be enjoyed by all. There is a lot of scope for new members to bring in new ideas and many ways of being involved.

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You can find contact details here to get involved - CONTACT US - Friends of Hornsey Church Tower

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Find out more about Events at St Mary's Tower

Become a Friend of Hornsey Church Tower

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The PCC of Hornsey Parish Church is ever grateful to the Friends of Hornsey Church Tower (FoHCT) for their continued efforts to ensure this highly significant building is maintained and enjoyed. 

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Ivy-Mantled Tower – A history of the church and churchyard of St Mary's Hornsey, Middlesex

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For those wishing to find out more about the tower, Bridget Cherry OBE, FSA, Hon FRIBA, an architectural historian who edited the Pevsner Architectural Guides series, has published a comprehensive history entitled ‘Ivy-Mantled Tower. It tells the compelling story of the succession of buildings from the medieval church with its bell tower (which still stands) to an 1833 church, followed by a late Victorian one which was demolished in 1969.

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The Ivy Mantled Tower can be bought online from the Hornsey Historical Society by going to https://hornseyhistorical.org.uk Local History Books priced £7.50

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There is also 'The Old Parish Church of Hornsey' by Ian Murray, also available from the HHS, priced at £1.50.​

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