I remember hearing my father say one of the homage (a very old gentleman, Mr. Philip Hunt), was late for the dinner. He explained he had nearly reached his destination when he thought his poor horse looked tired, so he took him home and afterwards walked there.
There was a considerable amount of waste land at that time, and the turf was sold at 5s. per hundred, 2s. 6d. for the order, and 2s. 6d. for cutting—10s. per hundred. This has been discontinued for a great many years.
STAMFORD HILL.
I purpose commencing here, where the Old Turnpike House and Gate stood, by the pond called “Craven’s Pond” or “Leg of Mutton Pond,” because of its shape, on which there used to be several beautiful swans. It was a great source of delight to the young people, when frozen over, by affording an opportunity for skating and sliding to many.
A large house stood on the estate called “Craven Lodge,” where the owner, Mr. Arthur Craven, resided. It was afterwards occupied by Mr. Samuel Morley. Perhaps it may be interesting to mention that Garibaldi came to Tottenham, at his invitation, and delivered an address on the “Grievances of Italy.”
There were two small houses on the top of the hill, one of which was used as a Post Office; then came the old-fashioned Turnpike Inn, which has been pulled down and another built on the site. The two small old shops are still in existence, but the large house belonging to, and in occupation of, Mr. Edward Sievieking, is no longer there, the land being now all built over.
BAILEY’S LANE.
There were a few old cottages beyond Mr. Sievieking’s garden, and on the opposite side of the road Sumpter’s livery stables; then fields on both sides down to the River Lea, where there were coke ovens always brightly burning. There were several large houses lying back from the High-road, Stamford Hill, with front gardens on the waste land; of these only two remain.
There was a mansion standing next, where Mr. Fowler Newsam resided for many years. There was a very pretty walk round the shrubbery and garden, the estate containing altogether about eight acres of land; the grounds were enclosed in cleft oak park palings, with lodge at entrance. There was a mounting stone on the gravel path outside, and it is not many years ago that it was taken away.
Mr. and Mrs. Newsam were most kind and generous, and their great delight in life was in doing good and giving pleasure to others. I always remember their enjoyable hay-making parties; one can now hardly understand the quiet spot it was then. Their death was a very great loss to the parish.