In 1685 Nicholas Reynardson, Esq., by his will, dated April 2nd, 1685,
and by a codicil dated February 20th, 1688, bequeathed the sum of £2,000,
with part of which he directed that an almshouse should be built for six
poor aged men and six poor aged women, with a chapel; and that the
residue should be laid out in lands, and for the endowment and repairs of
such almshouses, and for the payment of £4 to each pensioner annually by
quarterly payments, besides a gown of black frieze of 20s. value once in
two years, and £20 a year to the reader for reading prayers once every
forenoon, and for teaching twenty poor children to read and write,
inhabitants of the parish of Tottenham whose parents were not able to pay
for the same. Mr. Reynardson also directed that the said salary of £20
per annum should be allowed out of the lands to be purchased to the
reader of prayers and teacher of such children, and a black gown of 20s.
value every year at Christmas for ever. The residue of the rents to be
distributed amongst the poor, except 30s. allowed for a dinner on the 1st
August every year at a meeting of the Trustees, including the minister
and churchwardens, and the surplus and residue of the estates to be
distributed among the poor.
Where the police Station now stands there originally was a large house
enclosed in a high brick wall, and was built in 1776 by Will Latimer, of
Warwick. It had a flight of stone steps to the front door, and a window
in the hall on each side of the door. The occupier was the Rev. Thomas
Powell, afterwards called “Miser Powell.” He was going to be married,
and on the morning of the day of the wedding was to take place he
received a message from the lady, saying she had altered her mind. From
then until his death he never let a woman enter his house, and never went
out, excepting now and then when he preached at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He
had a large garden with bathroom and swimming bath in the middle of the
lawn, all beautifully tiled; at the back there was a fish pond and
meadow. The last time I saw him he was looking over the high brick wall
with a blanket over his shoulders. He used to give dinner parties to his
gentlemen friends; everything prepared and sent down with waiters from
London.
The Rev. Thomas Powell was a very clever author and artist, and had
commenced drawing figures of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on the
staircase. It was his intention to have them frescoed. I was told he
left all his money and estate to the London Hospital, but that only
£40,000 went to the Hospital, the estate had to go to the heir at law, a
gentleman named “Mieux,” his sister’s son, who afterwards sold it to the
British Land Company.
I think Mr. Powell must have been particularly fond of violets, they grew
in his garden in such profusion.