Abyssinia: Hornsey’s Lost Village, by Hornsey Historical Society member Hugh Flouch, deep-dives into the first fifty years of Abyssinia, a small but vibrant community established in Hornsey Vale in the late 1860s, which is now partially covered by Hornsey School for Girls.
Through meticulous research, the book explores Abyssinia’s close-knit community, its industries, and its complicated relationship with neighbouring areas, uncovering truths about Victorian society.
Colourful characters one wouldn’t expect in a book about Hornsey are uncovered, such as Prince Monolulu, a horse-racing tipster who claimed to be a chief of the Falasha tribe of Abyssinia.
Pauline Andrews, whose family lived in Abyssinia from 1916 until its demolition in 1968, stepped forward to bring vivid personal insight to Flouch’s research.
For Flouch, the recognition affirms a passion that has sustained two decades of historical research.
He said: “What motivates me to write is that I’ve a passion for the subject. I start digging around about something and I get absolutely hooked. It’s an adventure.
“Researching history is almost like a game, it’s like a computer game. You uncover one bit and that takes you to another bit. That’s the thrill of the research that led me to write about history and led me to write this book.”
Richly illustrated with more than 100 photographs, maps and press cuttings from national, local and private collections, it has been widely praised for both readability and scholarly value.
Its pages draw on a rich range of sources, including the collections at Bruce Castle, the Hornsey Historical Society’s archives and the London Metropolitan Archives (now the London Archives).
The book was crowned Best Local History Book of 2024 by the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) at the 59th Local History Conference at the Museum of London Docklands in November.
The judges echoed Mr Flouch’s sense of discovery, praising the book as “very well researched and very well illustrated” and that it “illuminates the world far beyond Hornsey”.
Another added that the work is “full of discovery and surprises, which a good book should be.”
It wasn’t the society’s only win of the night. Its Bulletin 65 by Niall Ellingsen, edited by Sandra Clark, claimed the prize for Best Local History Journal of 2024. The awards were presented by LAMAS local history committee chair John Price.
Reflecting on the win, Mr Flouch said: “It’s very shocking and exciting. These simple tales of Hornsey become tales of something completely other than you expect.”
Malcolm Holmes MBE, chair of the Camden History Society, echoed the judges’ praise. He said: “I could not recommend any better way of improving the results of this thorough research.
“I have seen few other examples of this type of publication which contributes so thoroughly to the understanding of a community, while still being interesting and encouraging people to read.
“The good number of illustrations and maps help to show and understand the developments and changes. I enjoyed reading the entire book.”
Alongside a career in consulting, Hugh Flouch has spent more than two decades researching and documenting the history of Hornsey, Harringay and Wood Green, contributing regularly to the HHS Bulletin.
Known for his eye for the unusual and overlooked, Flouch has built a reputation for uncovering the stories that slip through the cracks of official records.
His work shines a light on the lesser-known characters, places and events that have shaped the area, bringing neglected corners of Hornsey’s past back into public view.
