Having recently been to Alnwick in Northumberland I noticed the connection with Spurs. They even have a White Hart Lane. I'm not sure if we named ours after theirs or vice versa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Percy_(Hotspur) Which leads to our modern Harry Hotspur http://www.billnicholson.co.uk/ Which leads to; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Redknapp and finally our current Harry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Kane A long line of Harry's that has always lead to good things for Spurs. Any other Harrys I have missed out?
Just to put this one into the possible future of the club, you've got 19-year-old Harry Winks, who signed a new contract this summer. Fighting for a place in a congested midfield though, so he might have to wait for his opportunity.
There is a White Hart Lane in Sandyford in Newcastle too, and there is a pub called The Hotspur on Grey Street, one of the main streets running through the Toon.
I always understood that the area of Bruce Castle and Northumberland Park was once the hunting grounds of the Dukes of Northumberland. The hunting lodge is still there in Bruce Castle Park and is now a museum. When the cricket lads who formed our football team for 'something to do in the winter' were choosing a name they opted for HOTSPUR after Harry Hotspur which was either the name or nickname of the current duke. ( I used to know but I've forgotten ) I'm so glad his name was not City or United!
Has that always been a mueseum? I think I used to go in there, when I was a kid. I love Bruce Castle park, because it had a duck pond, where I used to go to feed the ducks (when I was about 9 or 10), and to get away from the grimy back streets.
I always thought the Hotspur came from the nickname of a Duke of Northumberland (the Dukes of Northumberland were the Percy family) in a Shakespeare play (I think Henry IV), and the cricketers chose it because it sounded a bit different when they formed the football team. There are plenty of other Percy references in Newcastle - there is a Percy Street, I think one of the buildings or lecture theatres on the university campus is The Percy Building or something similar, and I'm sure there is a pub or two with the Percy name incorporated somehow.
It has been a museum since 1906. A lovely building with a separate tower. When I lived in Wood Green we used to walk down the Spurs because the buses were always full. We cut through the lovely grounds of Bruce Castle which was always a pleasure. I went to a brilliant exhibition there in the late 70's I think, of Spurs memorabilia. They had some wonderful old stuff. I don't know what its like now as I've not seen it since I left London 26 years ago but it was always a green oasis, a hidden gem with many beautiful trees.
I used to walk around that museum in the late 60s and early 70s. There was a tale that the ghost of a lady could be seen from the ramparts, on certain nights. It was probably nothing more than an urban legend, but it used to fire my imagination, as a 10 year old.
I remember that legend too. Every Halloween night when I was In Wood Green crowds used to gather there in the hope of seeing the ghost! I wonder if they still do...
I also remember being told about the ghost.Me and another kid went to a fair in Bruce Castle Park.The dodgems were playing the Harry Lime theme if I remember.The park was never the same that fair. Reminds me of that Wembley pitch,which was perfect until they allowed a horse jumping event which totally ruined it.But Arsenal had to play on it after in a Football League Final and little Swindon Town beat 'em (Don Rodgers two goals!) Don't forget our walking lamp post at center half....HARRY Clarke! John White's father in law and Bill's assistant...was that Harry Evans?
I used to go to the fair at the old reck, off Lordship Lane (opposite The Peabody Estate). There use to be one every Summer. My family also used to go to the fireworks at Alexandra Palace.
Alnwick's a great place. Went there last October. Saw 'Arry 'Otspur on his 'orse. Alnwick Castle was due to close the night of our visit and the Duke of Northumberland's family were due to return home so all the drinks were laid out in the library. The Peronis weren't chilled though
