Events

Take a walk with tour guide Avril Nanton and explore the history of this well-known road in Stroud Green. With Avril you will discover more about pioneering trailblazer John La Rose and the George Padmore Institute, the New Beacon Bookshop, Black supplementary schools, protests by Haringey anti-apartheid group as well as local Black-led businesses. Avril will share stories about those who lived, worked or brought communities together in this street, making important contributions to the area and to Black British history in general.

Free, all welcome. Refreshments included.

Tracing the family tree or writing a family memoir has become increasingly popular, and for many of us there is a fascination in finding out more about who we are and where we come from. There is a wealth of variety for us Londoners, with forebears from across the British Isles and the World helping to shape our unique identities.

Join us at Bruce Castle for morning tea and the opportunity to look at our collections and share stories.

October’s theme is ‘gadgets’ – so we’ll be looking at some favourites like Hoover, carpet sweepers, and the locally made Gestetner copiers and Spong mincers.

During the session you will be able to chat over morning tea in a welcoming environment, handle some of our museum and archive collections and share your own stories.

You will also have exclusive access to the museum’s downstairs galleries.

Join Code1 Community at Bruce Castle and hear some of the stories of Windrush and the journeys taken to the UK. Imagine the journeys, create your own postcard, and write your own postcard to someone you love.

Suitable for children aged 7+

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Drop-in. No booking required. Activity repeated on Sunday 22 October. 

Join Code1 Community at Bruce Castle and hear some of the stories of Windrush and the journeys taken to the UK. Imagine the journeys, create your own postcard, and write your own postcard to someone you love.

Activities suitable for children aged 7+.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Drop-in. No booking required.

Come along and hear from tour guide Avril Nanton on this free walking tour in and around the area of Bruce Castle taking in over 400 years of Tottenham’s Black history. Starting off at Bruce Castle itself, this historical tour will take in original objects and art on display in the Museum, and then guide you around Bruce Castle Park, and nearby Lancasterian Primary School, All Hallows’ Church & Graveyard, before ending at Tottenham Cemetery.

As All Hallows Eve approaches dress up in costume and head down to Bruce Castle, one of London’s most haunted buildings...

In this family friendly event, the mysterious manor house of Bruce Castle is once again taken over by the spirits. Meet the spooky servants making potions in the old kitchen, hunt for Baron Bruce’s Bone Lab and discover what lurks inside the Round Tower... and don’t forget to watch out for the ghost of Lady Constantia as the clock strikes.

This is a free event open to all, but most suited to families with children aged 6-12 years.

BHM 2023 is when we are Celebrating Our Sisters! Join us at Bruce Castle to celebrate our local sister in Haringey – Judith Jacob, British actor known for her roles on television in dramas and soaps, Angels and Eastenders, but also for the hit sitcom No Problem!

This year it is 40 years since No Problem! was first aired in 1983 on Channel 4, created by the Black Theatre Co-operative. Come and hear Judith's very own stories and how she has contributed to making British onscreen history, in conversation with Lady Esi.

Doors open at 7pm.

As All Hallows Eve approaches dress up in costume and head down to Bruce Castle, one of London’s most haunted buildings...

In this family friendly event, the mysterious manor house of Bruce Castle is once again taken over by the spirits.

Meet the spooky servants making potions in the old kitchen, hunt for Baron Bruce’s Bone Lab and discover what lurks inside the Round Tower... and don’t forget to watch out for the ghost of Lady Constantia as the clock strikes.

This is a free event open to all, but most suited to families with children aged 6-12 years.

From ghostly apparitions and esoteric orders, to witchcraft, healing and lucky charms, Tottenham has a centuries old history linked to the supernatural.

Fascinating glimpses into these more mysterious stories and superstitions can be found throughout the museum’s galleries, often in places you might not expect.

In the build up to All Hallows’ Eve, come along and hear young curator Annabel Gee as she takes you on a tour through the spookier side of Bruce Castle…

Join us for the premiere film showing of 'The Excursion ' , a documentary that explores inspiring stories of Haringey people who came to Britain from the Caribbean as part of the Windrush Generation. Follow their journeys, challenges and achievements as they settled in England.

All welcome. Free entry, refreshments included. No booking required.

This special event is brought to you by 4U2 News and Bruce Castle Museum & Archive. 

This workshop with Las Witchas Collective will explore the memories and knowledge our grandmothers have left in us to create a collective story-telling chair. As migrants, personal memories, especially the relationships with our ancestors, are what keep our roots and connections to our homeland alive. They are an important part of our identity as a community.

The story of the ghost of Bruce Castle is shrouded in both history and mystery. What we know for certain is that Lord Henry Hare and his wife Constantia lived at Bruce Castle in the late 17th century. What happened next is a fusion of historical fact and legend.

It is said that on November 3rd every year it’s possible to see her ghost haunting the Castle. Come on this fact finding walk to find out the truth behind the legend!

Meet: Main entrance to Bruce Castle Museum & Archive, under the clocktower, 11am. 

Please wear suitable footwear for walking.

This workshop with Las Witchas Collective will explore the memories and knowledge our grandmothers have left in us to create a collective story-telling chair. As migrants, personal memories, especially the relationships with our ancestors, are what keep our roots and connections to our homeland alive. They are an important part of our identity as a community.

Browse stalls from local makers and artists, featuring curios, ceramics and collectables, retro furniture, clothes, brocante and vintage.

Entrance: £2 (accompanied kids free)

Vintage Café open all day.

Interested in selling? Basic stall £35.

For more details, call 020 8489 4250 or email: museum.services@haringey.gov.uk

Join Curator Deborah Hedgecock and discover more about a new and most welcome acquisition, a beautiful oil painting, to the collections at Bruce Castle Museum & Archive.

Take in the painting's exquisite details as the artist captures the last rays of the setting sun over Manor Farm, North Road in Highgate in 1895. And can you help us find out more about the artist - H. Cole?

Join us at Bruce Castle for an afternoon of activities celebrating Luke Howard's work and exploring what his achievements mean today.

Next year is the 10th anniversary of the City of London Urban Climate walk and Tottenham Clouds will be developing an Urban Climate Walk for Tottenham, the first of a community network of urban climate walks.

This involves:

This festive season, come along to Bruce Castle, see our twinkling trees and be inspired to create a winter wreath out of card, ribbon and natural materials.

This activity is free, and is suitable for children aged 5-10 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

For any queries, please email museum.services@haringey.gov.uk

Join us at Bruce Castle for an afternoon of activities celebrating all things trees.

The day will include tree talks by:

• Russell Miller, Arboricultural Consultant 
• Gio Iozzi and Jo Syz, founders of Haringey Tree Protectors

There will also be group discussions on trees and biodiversity for the Tottenham Urban Climate Walk. Plus, a special tree themed quiz! And do bring your favourite tree poems to share.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Come along to Bruce Castle for a special Christmas themed reminiscence cafe and share your stories of yuletides old and new.

Do you have memories of Christmas shopping along the High Road? Perhaps you recall Burgess' iconic festive window displays? What traditions have defined the holiday season for you?

Let's get together and reminisce over a cup of tea and a mince pie. 

For any queries, please email museum.services@haringey.gov.uk