Opposite to this was a farm known as St. John’s Farm. A little further
on there was a pretty house and large grounds, where Mr. John Robbins
lived, the son-in-law of Mr. Newsam, who built St. Ann’s Church, Schools,
etc. The Metropolitan Fever Hospital now stands on this site. A little
further on, on the opposite side of the road, there was another farm,
with cottage, having a verandah covered with white clematis which
blossomed freely every year.
We now return to the High-road. Sherboro House School stood at the
corner of Hanger-lane, one or two fields next to it, and then two large
detached houses stood close together in their own grounds, well back from
the road. These had fences of cleft oak palings; outside this was a
strip of waste land turfed. Then a narrow ditch or water course, more
turf enclosed with low white posts, and chains painted green, which gave
it a very pretty and novel effect. Then more fields extended to the end
of the road called the New-road, so called when it was completed in 1833
opening a thoroughfare from the High-road to Gloucester Gate, Regent’s
Park. It was a quiet road and very lonely at night. There were only two
houses before one reached the “Manor House,” where Queen Victoria
alighted on her return journey from Cambridge in the year 1843. Close by
was Hornsey Wood, and Hornsey Wood Tavern, where on Saturday afternoons
noblemen came from the West End in four-horse coaches to practice rifle
shooting. I remember hearing my mother say the nurse had taken me for a
walk in the wood and lost her way, and after wandering about for some
time was finally obliged to climb a tree to see what direction to take
for the way out. On the left was the famous “Sluice House” and “Eel Pie
House.” The wood was cleared, and the land added to that purchased to
form Finsbury Park. Where the New River Bridge crosses the road there
was on the left hand side a large house called “River House” in
occupation of Mrs. Heathcote.
The West End omnibus ran to and fro three times daily. The fare was one
shilling and sixpence each way. Mr. Willan, of The Hale Farm, was the
proprietor.
This road is now known as the Seven Sisters-road, at the north corner of
which there stood a pretty white detached house, with waste land in
front, enclosed with posts and chains. It was called “Suffield Lodge,”
and occupied by Mr. Bonny.