There was a large shop next, kept by Mr. Johnson, tallow chandler—a shop much patronized, as candles were our principal illuminant. It was not till 1847 that the Gas Company was formed. The window was very tastefully arranged with different coloured wax candles of all sizes; very high ones in the middle, graduating to quite small ones. The house adjoining was at one time a school, afterwards a chemist’s shop, and is now in the occupation of Mr. Bately.
“Marie House” was the property of, and occupied by Miss Jemima Arabella Holt. She gave the ground on which St. Paul’s Church was built in 1858. For some years previous to this services had been held in an iron building by the Rev. Mr. Harrison. He once had bills printed announcing he would preach three sermons on consecutive Sunday evenings, the subjects being “Thieves, Thieves,” “Fire, Fire,” and “Are you Insured.” On each occasion the building was crowded.
PARK LANE, FORMERLY MARSH LANE.
Near the High-road was an old house called “The Beggars’ Lodging-house.” It was a great boon to tramps, as they found accommodation here for a very small sum. A large fire was always burning brightly in the winter evenings.
The National School for Boys was built in 1841, and the Drill Hall in 1864. Here the Vestries were held for some years. There were two nurseries on the left hand side of the lane, and then on both sides fields till one came to Willoughby-lane. Here stood Willoughby House; there was not much architectural beauty about it; it was a one-storied, straight-looking, white building, with three windows on either side of the door, and seven on the floor above. There was not much land attached to it, only a little over nine acres in all. Mr. Henry Lewis Smale was the owner and the last occupier. In the eighteenth century it belonged to Daniel Booth, Esq., the Governor of the Bank of England.
“The Crow’s Nest,” a quaint old house, was on the opposite side of the way, and next came Willoughby Farm, the property of the Rector of St. Luke’s, Old-street, E.C. There was an old farmhouse and upwards of fifty-one acres of land.
COOMBES CROFT HOUSE,
which in the eighteenth century was called “Coney Bee’s Croft,” was formerly the Workhouse, and quite large enough for all requirements. The deeds relating to the Parish lands were kept here, in a tin box, within an iron repository.
EDMONTON WORKHOUSE,
which was built in 1841–2, is one of the largest in England, and none too large for present requirements. Coombes Croft was then used for several different purposes. At one time it was a Home for Little Boys, and afterwards offices for the Local Board of Health. This body was not organised until 1850, when the meetings were held at the Free Grammar School.