These mills stood one on either side of the road leading to Walthamstow,
by Tottenham Lock. They were formerly paper mills, and there seems to
have been a good deal of bad fortune attached to them; they were burnt
down 23rd February, 1778; rebuilt in a very substantial manner, and sold
September 25th, 1779, when they were started as corn and oil mills. In
January, 1816, they were so much damaged by a flood that they were not
completely at work for nearly the whole of the following year.
I often accompanied my father on horseback. The road to the Forest was a
favourite one with him, and, although I, too, enjoyed it, having to pass
these mills rather took the edge off my pleasure, the noise was so
deafening. I never could lose the fear that the horses would be
frightened; I always felt thankful when we were safely past. There was
another very large fire about the year 1860, and the mills have not been
rebuilt.
The turnpike house and toll bar was near that spot. The charge was 6d.
for a carriage, 1d. for a single horse, 3d. for a chaise, 4d. for a taxed
cart, 1s. for a waggon with 4 horses, with 5 horses 1s. 6d., and for more
than 5 horses 2s., and ½d. for each foot passenger not a resident in
Tottenham. A few hundred yards further on by the Ferry Boat Inn there
was another turnpike, and the same charges were made there.