We now return to the High-road. Sherboro House School stood at the corner of Hanger-lane, one or two fields next to it, and then two large detached houses stood close together in their own grounds, well back from the road. These had fences of cleft oak palings; outside this was a strip of waste land turfed. Then a narrow ditch or water course, more turf enclosed with low white posts, and chains painted green, which gave it a very pretty and novel effect. Then more fields extended to the end of the road called the New-road, so called when it was completed in 1833 opening a thoroughfare from the High-road to Gloucester Gate, Regent’s Park. It was a quiet road and very lonely at night. There were only two houses before one reached the “Manor House,” where Queen Victoria alighted on her return journey from Cambridge in the year 1843. Close by was Hornsey Wood, and Hornsey Wood Tavern, where on Saturday afternoons noblemen came from the West End in four-horse coaches to practice rifle shooting. I remember hearing my mother say the nurse had taken me for a walk in the wood and lost her way, and after wandering about for some time was finally obliged to climb a tree to see what direction to take for the way out. On the left was the famous “Sluice House” and “Eel Pie House.” The wood was cleared, and the land added to that purchased to form Finsbury Park. Where the New River Bridge crosses the road there was on the left hand side a large house called “River House” in occupation of Mrs. Heathcote.
The West End omnibus ran to and fro three times daily. The fare was one shilling and sixpence each way. Mr. Willan, of The Hale Farm, was the proprietor.
This road is now known as the Seven Sisters-road, at the north corner of which there stood a pretty white detached house, with waste land in front, enclosed with posts and chains. It was called “Suffield Lodge,” and occupied by Mr. Bonny.
BLACK-UP OR BLACKHOPE LANE,
now called West Green-road. The grounds of the last-mentioned house extended some distance up the lane; then there were two large semi-detached houses with gardens in front and rear, belonging to, and the first occupied by Mr. John Beadnell. Then again fields and two cottages, and a small inn called “The Fountain”; then a terrace of good sized houses with large gardens, called Gloucester-terrace; then more fields to the end of the road, where stood two large semi-detached houses at the corner of “Spratt’s Row,” now called “Dagmar-road.”
WEST GREEN.
There was a pond in the middle of the green, railed all round, with an opening for cattle to be able to get to the water. A little distance further on was an estate called Lords Grove. Facing the pond there was an old-fashioned white house called “Gothic Cottage,” with garden and fields extending some distance down Blackup-lane; then all fields till one reached a large white house with verandah covered with beautiful creepers standing in its own grounds, with meadow beyond. The last tenant and owner was Richard Anstey Simmonds. He had the walls of his dining and drawing-room hand-painted, having artists from London to do it. Unfortunately the firm in which he placed all his money failed, and as it was before the time of limited liability, he was absolutely ruined. A subscription was started, to which the public generously responded, as every one was very sorry for him.
THE GROVE.
This was a very pretty sheltered place. There was a row of fine lime trees, and one especially beautiful chestnut tree in the middle. It was well turfed and enclosed with white posts and rails.