Our history
About us > Our history
1870s - 1950s
HISTORY OF THE LOCAL AREA
The Great Eastern Railway opened the line from Stoke Newington to Lower Edmonton, with a station opening in the same year, 1872, at White Hart Lane station. With the development to transport locally, Tottenham's low-lying fields and market gardens were then rapidly transformed into cheap housing. The area became popular for the lower middle and working classes, who were able to commute cheaply to inner London – however, the area around Selby Road remained undeveloped at this point.
1960s
SCHOOL SITE OPENS
Selby Road, Devonshire Hill. Construction work to new buildings at Selby Road, Devonshire Hill, next to the playing fields, were started in 1961. Tottenham County School moved into the new buildings on Selby Road in 1963, however in 1967, the Tottenham county school closed, and site premises were taken over by Tottenham school.
1970s
IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL
A sixth form centre and a sports hall had been added to Tottenham school, now with over 1,000 pupils registered in attendance at this point.
1980s
END OF THE LINE FOR TOTTENHAM SCHOOL
In 1983 the Tottenham school amalgamated with Wood Green School & moved from Selby Road, & renamed again to form the present-day Woodside High School, in White Hart Lane. The existing site became vacant.
Following the Broadwater Farm riots of 1985, a group of local residents and actvisits lobbied Haringey council and Bernie Grant , to give the local community in North Tottenham a space to organise and develop action networks
NEW LEASE OF LIFE AT SELBY
In 1987, Bernie Grant was elected MP for Tottenham and gave his first speech in the school hall on site where the votes were being counted.
The ‘Selby Centre’ started out as a community centre run by Haringey Council until 1990, when the convincing case was made by locals to let the community run the centre.
1990s
IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL
The Selby Trust was set up by local people who recognised the need for a multi-purpose centre led by the community and third sector organisations. It was supported by the late Bernie Grant MP, who had a vision for a place in the community that people could afford and call their own.
During the same year, it based its location at the Selby Centre in Tottenham, which the Trust has managed as a multi-purpose community and social enterprise centre, with a 25 year lease from the London Borough of Haringey.
The Selby Trust was given company limited guarantee in May 1993, followed by the registration of charity status in May 1994.
2000s
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRUST
At the start, 20 licensees were operating out of the centre, providing a range of services and support to the local community.
Throughout the decade, this was a number that continued to increase as the presence of the Selby Trust and the support for the community continued to grow.
2010s
TRUST DELIVER MANY COMMUNITY LED IMPROVEMENTS
In 2013, the Global Garden, which made use of space to the front and rear of the Selby Centre, opened following a succesful crowdfunding campaign by Global Garden manager Dexter Kelly. The garden provides the space for locals to get stuck into a large gardening site, with many types of vegetables grown, in an attempt to teach locals how to cook. The garden also supports local bio-diversity.
In 2015, local artist Skepta opened the Levis Recording Studio at the Selby Centre, to engage with our local young communities through music.
Towards the end of the decade, in March 2019 Haringey Council and the Selby Trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding that set out the aspirations for the Selby Urban Village development.
2020s
NEW ERA AT THE CENTRE
At the start of the decade, the Selby Food Hub was set up at the Selby Centre, in response to the Covid-19 crisis and the needs of our local community. The Food Hub supported and continues to support many local families and residents throughout the difficult time. At the same time, the Selby Centre was forced to temporarily closed during lockdown imposed measures. The Centre re-opened with Covid-19 secure measures in place.
Redevelopment work was also completed to the Sports Hall during the Summer of 2020 that improves disabled access and facilities, changing room facilities and improvements across the building. In the summer of 2021, the Selby Centre was a venue as part of the Euro 2020 tour.
