Transcribed from the 1909(?) Crusha & Son edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

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REMINISCENCES
OF
TOTTENHAM.

— BY —

Mrs. J. W. Couchman.

Price, 2/6.

PREFACE.

Having lived in this parish all my life I have been repeatedly asked by my friends to write a short account of my early recollections of Tottenham.

I feel a little diffident at doing so, and this being my first attempt at committing my recollections to paper I trust my readers will pardon any mistakes and omissions, and that it will be as interesting to some of them to read as it has been to me to write.

My father was born at Palmers Green in 1798; my mother was born in this parish in the year 1800. They were married at All Hallows Church in 1825, and continued to reside in Tottenham; my father died in the year 1866, and my mother at the ripe old age of 94, in the year 1894.

I can now see in my mind’s eye the dear old village as it was in my childhood, surrounded by meadows, cornfields, and pretty country lanes and a great number of stately elm and other trees. It hardly seems possible that the population was then so small that all the inhabitants were known to one another, and the appearance of strangers was at once a matter of speculation as to who they were.

HARRIET COUCHMAN,

WIDOW OF
John William Couchman,
Civil Engineer,
16, Pembury Road,
Tottenham,
1909.

Tottenham,

75 years ago, was a very pretty quiet village, most of the houses were good and old-fashioned; there were several mansions, but very few shops. It was a favourite resort for Royalty, and has always been considered a very healthy neighbourhood. Some of the inhabitants lived to a very advanced age.

The highway was measured in 1611; it was two miles and a quarter long. Mile stones were then erected.

The parish was divided into different Manors, called Pembrokes, Bruces, Daubeneys, Mockings, and Dovecotes or Ducketts.

Tottenham Manor was sold at auction, 10th April, 1805. Sir William Curtis, Baronet, purchased it for £11,000. There were then 38 copyhold tenants. A Court Leet was held every year at the Old Plough Inn, High-road, and anyone wishing to be admitted attended there for that purpose. This was discontinued about the year 1860, as there was not sufficient homage to summon. All business since then has been transacted at the office of the Steward of the Manor.

I remember hearing my father say one of the homage (a very old gentleman, Mr. Philip Hunt), was late for the dinner. He explained he had nearly reached his destination when he thought his poor horse looked tired, so he took him home and afterwards walked there.

There was a considerable amount of waste land at that time, and the turf was sold at 5s. per hundred, 2s. 6d. for the order, and 2s. 6d. for cutting—10s. per hundred. This has been discontinued for a great many years.