Incorporating Duckett’s Green and a number of streets to its south, this residential North London neighbourhood is becoming increasingly sought-after amongst young families and students alike. The wide, semi-suburban streets are lined with typical Victorian and Edwardian terraces, most of which are split up into flats to accommodate the growing population. To the west of the area is Green Lanes, a bustling shopping street occupied by a number of independent Greek and Turkish restaurants and supermarkets, as well as convenient chain supermarkets and plenty of night spots. Downhill’s Park, Duckett’s Common, and Chestnuts Park give the area a significant green touch, and provide the local population with free sports and leisure areas. The neighbourhood is very well connected to the rest of London, with Turnpike Lane to the north running Piccadilly Line services throughout town, and Harringay Green Lanes to the south operating on the Overground network.

The name Duckett’s Green derives from Dovecotes Manor, one of rural Tottenham’s ancient manor houses. Despite settlements being recorded from at least 1293, the area was almost entirely rural agricultural land up until the 19th century, with Green Lanes remaining a popular drovers’ road until homes began to pop up alongside it. The Piccadilly Line extension led to the opening of Turnpike Lane station in 1932, bringing a swathe of rapid urbanisation to accommodate its new commuting population. Over the next few decades the area fell into a decline, forcing many of the grand Edwardian homes to be subdivided. While this forced families into smaller living spaces, it also allowed for an influx of Turks and Greeks to the area who could now afford accommodation, which began the formation of the strong Mediterranean community that makes the neighbourhood so brilliant today.

The vibrancy of Green Lanes has attracted many a creative minds over the years. Notably the actress Barbara Windsor (b. 1937) lived in a flat at 42A Grand Parade, just off the Green Lanes itself, during the 1960s. Windsor is most famous today for playing Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders, but also starred in St. Trinian’s (1954), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and the Carry On films from 1964-1977.

Turnpike Lane station has proven to be an unexpected influence on a number of popular songs, such as Mark Knopfler’s ‘Junkie Doll’, and ‘Los Angeles Waltz’ by Razorlight.

In 1977 the area’s multi-cultural community came together alongside local political groups to fend off the National Front during a rally on Duckett’s Common. A mob of 1200 fascists were met with eggs, rotten fruit, and the occasional brick, from a 3000 strong contingent of activists from the neighbourhood and further afield.

Duckett’s Green and the surrounding areas have quite a high crime rate relative to more central areas and more suburban parts of town. However, when asked, residents suggest that they never feel unsafe, particularly when staying on main roads, and the strong community spirit means crime tends to be concentrated in certain areas rather than spreading into the wider community.

One of the biggest transformations to London’s transport system is coming soon in the form of Crossrail 2. Turnpike Lane will be one of the few stations situated in the ‘tunnelled core’ which will run through the heart of the city, acting as a key interchange. Yet despite £1.8 billion being invested in the project in 2020 it is unclear when the project will materialise as plans have been underconsideration in different forms since the 1970s. In the south of this neighbourhood the St Anne’s Road development is under construction next door to the local hospital. The ambitious scheme will consist of 971 new homes built across multiple phases, of which, an impressive 60% will be affordable.