They always looked well after their pounds, shillings, and pence, and very often amassed large fortunes; it is rare to hear of a really poor Quaker. In this respect they are very good to one another and talk little about it.
I must not forget to mention the men’s attire; it was then as quaint as the women’s. They were always dressed in brown or drab cutaway coats, without any collar to them; low hats with a brim nearly as wide as the depth of the hat; and very often knee breeches. Many allowed their hair to grow very long.
Then the service in their meeting house, as their place of worship was called, is rather strange. They all sit perfectly quiet, until the spirit moves them, and then, be it man or woman, stand up and expound.
Next to the Friends’ Meeting House there used to be an apothecary’s shop, kept by a Mr. Silver. It was a one-storey building. The shop had two rounded windows close together, the door being at the side. In each window stood a row of coloured bottles, but for many years no business was transacted here. By the terms of Mr. Silver’s will the shop was to be left for a certain number of years as it was on the day of his death. During this time Mr. Thomas Shillitoe, one of the Society of Friends, opened a chemist’s shop next door. He had what I considered a very objectionable habit. When pouring out medicine he always licked the last drop from the bottle.
SCOTLAND GREEN.
In front there is what was formerly known as the Blue School, where the girls were educated free. It is now the Middle Class School. Upon a portion of the site stood the Watch House, prisoner’s cage, and John Fowler’s house, who was the Parish Beadle. This was quite sufficient at that time, and in case of more help being required, a constable was sent for to London. Then the Police Station at the High Cross was built, and the whole of the site taken for the Middle Class School.
A great many of the old cottages are now standing on Scotland Green. They used to have strange names to identify them then, such as “Ward’s Alley,” “Tubby’s Alley,” “Stack Yard,” etc., by which names they are still known. The Moselle crosses the road there from High-road and empties itself into the Carbuncle Ditch.
There used to be an old-fashioned house and large pleasure and kitchen garden, occupied by Mrs. John Holt. This was taken down and two good houses built, both occupied by doctors, viz., Dr. Watson and Dr. Jackson, who were the first tenants.
The adjoining detached house, now called “Rheola,” was occupied by Miss Mary Stacey for a very great many years. She was a very philanthropic lady, and one of the Society of Friends. She would often have gentlemen who were to give addresses at the meeting at her house, and would entertain them. Once one called whom she did not know, but believing him to be what he represented himself, she invited him to take tea and spend the night, but the next morning he was missing, and so was her handsome silver tea pot which had been used the evening before.
The next house was called the “White House,” and for many years was occupied by Mrs. Martha Horne, also one of the Society of Friends. A small white house adjoining, occupied by Mr. Linzell, and the old Red Lion Inn, which extended over the land which now forms the entrance to Lansdowne-road, were pulled down and the present Red Lion built and Lansdowne-road formed in or about the year 1870. I do not see much difference till we come to the Bell Brewery. On this side stood a pretty one-storey detached cottage, where Mr. Haddon’s clerk lived. This was taken down and the bottling stores erected.