In front there is what was formerly known as the Blue School, where the
girls were educated free. It is now the Middle Class School. Upon a
portion of the site stood the Watch House, prisoner’s cage, and John
Fowler’s house, who was the Parish Beadle. This was quite sufficient at
that time, and in case of more help being required, a constable was sent
for to London. Then the Police Station at the High Cross was built, and
the whole of the site taken for the Middle Class School.
A great many of the old cottages are now standing on Scotland Green.
They used to have strange names to identify them then, such as “Ward’s
Alley,” “Tubby’s Alley,” “Stack Yard,” etc., by which names they are
still known. The Moselle crosses the road there from High-road and
empties itself into the Carbuncle Ditch.
There used to be an old-fashioned house and large pleasure and kitchen
garden, occupied by Mrs. John Holt. This was taken down and two good
houses built, both occupied by doctors, viz., Dr. Watson and Dr. Jackson,
who were the first tenants.
The adjoining detached house, now called “Rheola,” was occupied by Miss
Mary Stacey for a very great many years. She was a very philanthropic
lady, and one of the Society of Friends. She would often have gentlemen
who were to give addresses at the meeting at her house, and would
entertain them. Once one called whom she did not know, but believing him
to be what he represented himself, she invited him to take tea and spend
the night, but the next morning he was missing, and so was her handsome
silver tea pot which had been used the evening before.
The next house was called the “White House,” and for many years was
occupied by Mrs. Martha Horne, also one of the Society of Friends. A
small white house adjoining, occupied by Mr. Linzell, and the old Red
Lion Inn, which extended over the land which now forms the entrance to
Lansdowne-road, were pulled down and the present Red Lion built and
Lansdowne-road formed in or about the year 1870. I do not see much
difference till we come to the Bell Brewery. On this side stood a pretty
one-storey detached cottage, where Mr. Haddon’s clerk lived. This was
taken down and the bottling stores erected.
There was a large shop next, kept by Mr. Johnson, tallow chandler—a shop
much patronized, as candles were our principal illuminant. It was not
till 1847 that the Gas Company was formed. The window was very
tastefully arranged with different coloured wax candles of all sizes;
very high ones in the middle, graduating to quite small ones. The house
adjoining was at one time a school, afterwards a chemist’s shop, and is
now in the occupation of Mr. Bately.
“Marie House” was the property of, and occupied by Miss Jemima Arabella
Holt. She gave the ground on which St. Paul’s Church was built in 1858.
For some years previous to this services had been held in an iron
building by the Rev. Mr. Harrison. He once had bills printed announcing
he would preach three sermons on consecutive Sunday evenings, the
subjects being “Thieves, Thieves,” “Fire, Fire,” and “Are you Insured.”
On each occasion the building was crowded.