The building which still stands at the corner of the road was originally the Girls’ Green School, or School of Industry, and was used for this purpose until 1862, when the present buildings were erected in Somerset-road. The girls always looked very nice in their uniform, which consisted of a green dress, white tippet, apron and cap, and a coarse straw bonnet trimmed with green. The school was supported by voluntary contributions. Stoneley South, at the entrance, has not altered much in appearance since I first remember it, but in those days after passing the house and premises which stands between Balthazar-street and Stoneleys-road, which was then occupied by William Humphreys, carpenter and builder, there was nothing but fields, with a public footpath across leading into Down-lane. This was the only way of reaching The Hale, unless one went by way of High Cross-lane.
PLOUGH INN.
The old Plough Inn was a long, low building, very quaint and picturesque with gabled roof, lying back from the road, with large open space in front, and cottages down one side.
The Court Leet for Tottenham was held here for a great number of years. John Brooks, the landlord, was also one of the Homage. The old inn, which was built in 1537, was taken down in 1891 and another building erected by the side of the roadway, which was then opened, and leads to the Marshes.
BROOK STREET.
The Plymouth Brethren Chapel was built at Mr. Robert Howard’s expense. It has a burial ground on the opposite side of the street. I never remember seeing more than one tomb stone; it was to the memory of Jane Johnson, and that has lately been taken away.
There was an old sweet stuff shop in front by the High-road, the floor of which was below the level of the road. Adjoining here is the block of houses and shops which are now about being taken down to widen the road for the electric tramway cars. On the site where Knight’s, the pawnbrokers, was built, at the corner of Waverley-road, stood the old George and Vulture Inn. It had a very large room at the back, and the Royal family used to come down to attend balls there.
WAVERLEY ROAD.
At the back, down the turning, there was a good sized house and large garden, with lake and bridge, in occupation of Mr. Thos. Finney.
The Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was the first built in Tottenham. The lease had just expired in 1882, when it was burned down. It stood back a little distance from the road, with burial ground in front, reaching to the footpath in High-road.