Plaque | War dead | WW1

There have been two bus/tram garages called Holloway. The one here, just off Holloway Road, was called Holloway (Road) Bus Garage until it closed in 1971. The other garage is still operating in Pemberton Gardens and was called Holloway Tram (Bus) Garage, except 1950-71 when it was called Highgate, in an effort to reduce the confusion.

Warsaw 1948 has two photos of this garage which closed in 1971 and was then demolished. There a comment informs: "... the garage originated with the horse buses at the end of the 19th century and then housed motorbuses. Closed in 1971, the buses were transferred to what had been known as Highgate formerly the LCC tram depot which then took the name Holloway."

These two 1894 maps (north, south) show that the garage here was on a triangular plot now occupied by the houses alongside the eastern section of Kiver Road. It was accessed from Holloway Road between property numbers 628 and 632.

Simon Murphy kindly sent us a copy of the ‘News of T. O. T.’ (Train Omnibus Tram) which reports on an unveiling ceremony of a WW1 plaque at Holloway Road garage. 

The report, in ‘News of T. O. T.’ no.83, November 1920, is actually a reprint of a report of the ceremony from the Islington Daily Gazette of 25 October: “A large number of busmen at the Holloway Road Garage yesterday paid tribute to comrades who gave their lives in the war. This garage, one of the largest in the London General Omnibus Company’s enterprise, contributed no fewer than 418 men to the Forces of whom 40 made the great sacrifice. Their names are inscribed on the marble memorial unveiled yesterday, and comprise the following {40 names – see Subjects Commemorated}. The memorial … was erected in the garage “run”, near the entrance gates. The names are surmounted with the lettering: {see Inscription}."

The ceremony was conducted by the Re. Sydney G. Morris, pastor of Upper Holloway Baptist Church. Those participating included: The TOT band, Rev. Morris’s choir, Boy Scouts. Rev. Morris pointed out that the “tablet, rightly placed in a most conspicuous position, would always attract the attention of the boys of that garage, as they came in and out, also the attention of others who came there. It would say to them at least three things: ‘Remember the comrades’, ‘Remember the cost’, and ‘Remember the cause’”.

“On behalf of the employees of Holloway Garage, Mr F. Beacon then handed to Mr G. J. Shave, Manager of the Maintenance Department of the LGOC, on behalf of the company, the care of the memorial. … At the conclusion of his speech Mr Shave unveiled the memorial, which had been covered with the Union Jack.”

When we were at the other Holloway garage (in Pemberton Gardens), researching this lost plaque, we followed the ‘public enquiries’ signs into that building. Displayed on the staircase were some old photographs and a news item (date and journal unknown but probably 1971, 'News of T. O. T.') which included the following:

“... One of London’s oldest garages has finally closed its doors, bus operations having been transferred to nearby Highgate, now renamed Holloway. Holloway began its association with transport when it was leased as a horse-bus depot from Thomas Kayler in 1870 for the princely sum of £60 a year by the London General Omnibus Company. In 1911 the depot was converted into a motorbus garage and the rent went up to £120 a year .. “