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Tolly History

Tollington existed for more than  85 years. It's not surprising that the OT archives hold an enormous amount of information. There are stories of Muswell Hill before the arrival of the the cars which now line every kerb and there are tragic accounts of ex-pupils killed in France within eighteen months of leaving school.   

These pages will include articles drawn from the many old magazines and brochures, including one (the 1916 edition of the Old Tollingtonian), which was taken to New Zealand by an old boy, at the start of a successful career, and was donated to the OTs  80 years later,  by his grand-daughter. 1915 Mag

A Short Tolly History - Part 1

Written anonymously for the Swimming Pool fund-raising drive, this article traces the first appearance of Tollington and follows through until about 1928

The Other End of a Doodlebug

In 1944 Rex Sills's family had a lucky escape when a V1 Flying Bomb landed over the road, damaging shops and cottages on either side. Midhurst Avenue Gardens were altered substantially and the block of flats was built in 1952 on the bombsite opposite (named "the Copse" by an official with a sense of humour - the flats were first occupied by policemen and their families.)  Rex, now living in Normandy, where many Doodlebugs were launched, has visited a launch site close to his home.

Tollington Park to Muswell Hill

In 1915, having jointly run the Tollington schools with Campbell Brown, E A Butler was invited to look back on his 33-year appointment, revealing some surprising facts about teaching in the 19th century.

Please also see the extracts from the 1915 school magazine

1915