IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Vanderville Gardens, LONDON, N2 8HU

Tarling Road as seen in July 2013, looking toward Oak Lane and the Grange Estate beyond. On the right is a housing development which was built in 1998-1999 on the site of the former Simms/Lucas CAV factory whose machinery could be heard clunking away as I walked past there en route to Squire's Lane swimming pool (since demolished) every week via the Font Hills estate, as a child during the 1980s. On the left is the site of the Old Barn, a community centre and open space which had a BMX/dirt-bike track consisting of a series of hills and ditches. Every year they used to have a fireworks display here on Bonfire Night.

Viewed from Tarling Road, Simms Gardens recalls the name of the founder of Simms Motor Units, subsequently part of Lucas CAV. This is part of the housing estate built following the closure of the factory on this site. This area was the car park. Previously, it had been allotments. The road, which routes through to Long Lane, is divided in the middle to prevent through traffic and is called Lucas Gardens at the other end.

The Oak Lane Clinic - built, I believe, in the 1940's. It was refurbished in 2010.

Crathorne House is one of 3 remaining red-brick flat roof type blocks in original condition on the estate, apart from recent double glazing. All the others gained an extra level of flats with lead roofing, the first blocks were modified in 1989-1990 followed by Foskett House and Vane House in 1993. The perforated brickwork on the 4th floor is for the airing room which was used for drying tenants' laundry. These flat-roof blocks were completed after the war between 1946-1951; Crathorne House was one of the last blocks to be completed in 1951. The first blocks were built in 1938 (Craven House was the first) and are of brown brick/pitched roof construction.

View of the housing estate built on the site of Simms factory. The block of flats on the left are on a part of Brendan Grove, whilst the houses behind the fenced play area are on Taunton Drive. Swings and slide have been removed from the play area. The landscaped grass in the foreground was the site of Oak Lodge - once a manor house and in its last years, a school for special needs children.

Alms Houses for the elderly. Additional houses have been added over the years.

Three Valleys Water are renewing the water mains throughout East Finchley. During the course of this work some roads are closed temporarily as is the case here on Tarling Road. On the right is the new blue plastic water pipe. Much of the work is being carried out using trenchless methods, but here a trench has been cut across the road. A lone workman takes a lunch break on the track of the excavator. The mothers and buggies are en-route to the Newstead Children and Family centre - the low brick building on the right. The houses beyond are on Sylvester Road.

Central Avenue as seen from my balcony at 12, Vane House, Grange Estate in East Finchley on a very hot day on 5 August 1998.