In 1829 his fame and fortune had both outgrown what Wilkie called his ‘beautiful cottage at North End,’ and he was intending to build himself a house upon the Heath; but there were difficulties in the way of the purchase of the ground, which caused him eventually to give up the idea of building, and content himself with renting a larger house near the Heath. In the end he returned to London, where the latter years of his life were spent. It was at North End, according to the author of the ‘Northern Heights,’ that his three talented sons were born, and here Wilkie—his great friend—and many other artists, and men of note visited him.
Shortly before 1813, Mr. Abraham Robarts, senior partner in the banking house of Robarts, Curtis and Co., resided at North End, in the house previously occupied by —— Dingley, Esq., about 1777, a gentleman memorable for the part he took in the introduction of sawing-mills into this country, which the mob resented and destroyed.
When Park wrote his History, the same house (but he does not describe its situation) was in the possession of John Vivian, Esq., solicitor to the Excise. In all probability it was the square brick house at the end of the avenue, which the inhabitants of North End regard as the house which Dr. Akenside resided in—the house with the newly-laid-out garden running up on one side under the umbrageous shade of the trees that once sheltered a lovely glade, locally known as the Lovers’ Bank or Lover’s Walk, and which, through oversight or forgetfulness on the part of those entrusted with the preservation of the Heath, was left out in the purchase of it, and was granted to the present owner. In this house at one period resided Sir Fowell Buxton, the friend and fellow-labourer with Clarkson and Wilberforce, in their noble efforts for the emancipation of the negro, which led to the abolition of slaves in our colonies, and began that crusade which we are still waging on their behalf. At that period his sister-in-law, Mrs. Charles Buxton, was living at Wildwood, in Mrs. Earle’s house, the white house facing the avenue. It is right that the homes of eminent men and women should be remembered, and amongst such homes at North End, Wildwood Cottage is one of the most interesting. Here for some time lived Dinah Mulock, the late Mrs. Craik, author of ‘John Halifax,’ and other standard works of fiction; and here subsequently resided, from 1864 to 1871, Eliza Meteyard, the painstaking author of the ‘Life of Wedgwood the Potter,’ a work containing much valuable information on the subject of this beautiful manufacture, the interest in which her labour undoubtedly contributed to revive and enlarge. Here she expended years of studious research in the prosecution of her task, in recognition of which Mr. Gladstone—himself a lover and collector of the charming ware—granted her a Government pension of £100 per annum, which, however, she only lived to enjoy one year. She may be said to have lost her life for the sake of her strong interest in the study of this beautiful fabric. Having accepted a pressing invitation from members of the Liverpool Society of Arts to be present at a conversazione and exhibition of Wedgwood ware, she travelled back to town in very inclement weather, and took a chill, which brought on (being neglected) pulmonary complications, ending in her death, which took place in 1879, she dying in the arms of her old friend, the writer of these few lines. Popularly she was better known as the ‘Silver Pen’ of Douglas Jerrold’s and other magazines, in which she strongly advocated the higher education of the people.
For some time Coventry Patmore, the author of ‘The Angel in the House,’ and other charming poems, resided at North End, and here he lost his loving and beloved wife (1862).
We pass the gray, unprepossessing-looking cottage to the east of the large house on the right of Golder’s Hill, known as the Manor House, and said to occupy the site of the ancient North Hall Manor, included with that of Hampstead, and granted by Edward VI. to his favourite, Sir Thomas Wroth, Knight. Shortly before Belsize Gardens were closed, an attempt was made to popularize a medicinal well at North End, and render it fashionable as a Spa and pleasure-place; and though it is said by contemporaries that Belsize Gardens exceeded in immorality and dissipation any place of the kind in modern times, an advertisement in the Daily Post of the opening of the New North End Hall Wells, after promising a profusion of amusement, etc., coolly adds that ‘great care will be taken to keep up the same decorum in everything as at Belsize.’
In 1811 the Lords Granville were living at North End, and Sir Francis Willes for some time occupied North End House. In 1806 Lady Wilson, proprietress of the manor, brought an action against him for cutting turf on the Heath, ‘then covered with grass, and fit for cattle,’ which action put an end to this practice, which every copyholder believed he had a right to, and which was pronounced to be inconsistent with the rights of common pasture.
Golder’s Hill, the seat of Sir Spencer Wells, occupies a large piece of ground, skirted on the side nearest the Heath by the new ride.[177]
To the left of the North End Road are several good houses with enclosed grounds and gardens. The road follows the bend of what was probably a morass in ancient times, but is fertile meadow-land now; and we are told that within memory rushes grew, quaint rural things! at the very point where the North End Road cuts the Finchley Road, and the way was fringed by some magnificent old trees, which have been cut down, with the advantage of throwing open an extensive view of Hendon Fields.[178]
Hence the North End Road runs on to its terminus at the hand-post on Golder’s Green.
The Lady’s Magazine, in 1816, announced the death at North End, Hampstead, at an advanced age, of Elizabeth Dowager Marchioness of Waterford, in January, 1816 (no other date); whether resident or a visitor was not stated.