On the north side of Page Green there was a white house, with verandah and creepers all over, in the occupation of Mr. Rowcroft; it had a very large hall. At that time many of the good old houses had large halls, almost like rooms. The grounds were very pretty, extending at the back of Grove Place-gardens as far as the Bull Inn. About the centre of the beautiful garden there was a high mound, and grotto, overlooking a lovely lake. Many were the invitations I received to play in that garden when I was a little child, but my mother never allowed me to go; she had an idea I should run up the mound and fall into the lake. I was very pleased when she at last consented. There was a shady walk, planted with trees, all round the meadow; it was about here that years ago there was a hermit’s cell and the Chapel of St. Anne.
Next to this house there were two semi-detached white-fronted houses (one of which was occupied by Miss Coare, one of the Society of Friends), then a stretch of fields on both sides to the end of the lane.
Returning to the High-road; at the corner stood a large, white house, and garden, adjoining the row of houses called Grove-place, which were built at the beginning of last century. Next to the Bull Inn, which is one of the old inns of Tottenham, were the cottages called Bull Row, one of which was a toy shop, kept by Mrs. Travell, and another a cake and sweet shop, kept by Mrs. Oakman; there were so few shops then that these two small places were well patronised.
TOTTENHAM GREEN.
In the second of the two houses on the south side, the Rev. G. B. Twining lived when he first came to Tottenham. The next estate belonged to the Rev. Richard Momford Wood; it consisted of 22 acres of meadow land, rented by Mr. Thomas King; the fields reached to the Hale. It was afterwards rented by Mr. Goddard’s father, who lived at the High Gross, on the opposite side to where they now live. He kept a quantity of geese, and every morning, at 10 o’clock, they left the yard and went to the fields; all alone they crossed the road, walking two by two, like school children. At 4 o’clock they returned in the same manner; and never met with any mishap. One can judge by this the amount of traffic there was in the High-road at that time.
This is now called Springfield Estate. The large house occupied by Mr. Rickman was taken down, and the Tottenham Hospital erected. The three houses adjoining are still there.
In the year 1798 my grandfather, Mr. Thomas Sanders, purchased the next estate. There was a detached house with good garden, and a great many coach-houses and stables, built in the time the stage coaches were on the road, a beautiful meadow, and a large orchard, stocked with choicest fruit trees.
Dr. Robinson, in his History of Tottenham, speaks of “A singular duel” that took place in this field. “That upon Thursday, the 8th November, 1610, there was a meeting of the neighbours to warme Mr. John Syms, his house, the signe of the Swanne, at High Cross, among whom came John Nelhamte and John Whiston, whoe, having some grudge or quarrel between them, diner being done they two did use some private speches within themselves. Taking leave of the company, went to their houses, either of them taking his pick-stafe in their hands, mett in a field behind Mr. Edward Barkham’s house, commonly caull’d or knowne by the name of Baldwin’s. Theare they two fought till John Nelham receyed a wound by John Whiston in his throate, fell down dead, and never spake word after. So the Coroner, upon the Saturdaie next, sate upon him; was buried the same daie, being the 10th of November, 1610.”
After the death of my grandmother we lived in this house, and I well remember one evening in winter a mad bull rushing down the private roadway, crowds of people following it. After what seemed a very long time someone fetched a gun and shot it. It caused a very great commotion for the time, and we felt very thankful when it was all over. Wonderful to relate, no one was hurt.
At the death of my mother the house and land at the rear was sold to Mr. William Hawley, who formed Colsterworth-road and built houses and flats to accommodate about 200 families.