This was the property of Rowland Stephenson, Esq., and when he died it
was, in 1808, offered for sale by auction by Messrs. Skinner, Dyke,
Tuckin, and Forest, at Garraway’s Coffee House, Change Alley, London, in
seven lots. The house was described as “The truly desirable residence of
the late Rowland Stephenson, Esq., situated at Mount Pleasant, West
Green, Tottenham, on a delightful eminence, commanding rich and
picturesque prospects and agreeably remove from the public roads, and
forming one of the most complete residences in the county.” The estate
included a productive farm and lands containing three hundred and thirty
acres, lying nearly within a ring fence. At this time the House was
called “Mount Pleasant.” When I first knew it it was known as
“Downhills.” Later on for a short time it was called “Uplands,” but in
its last days was again called Downhills, when it was purchased by the
Tottenham Urban District Council.
Across the fields by the house there was a public footpath, and it was a
pretty walk leading to where Hornsey turnpike gate then stood. Not far
from this was the very quaint old house called “Duckett’s Farm.”
Returning to West Green-road one next came to a very large house, the
residence of Henry Scambler, of Scambler’s Livery Stables, City. Later
on his nephew Thomas Owden lived there. He was Alderman, and in due time
Lord Mayor of London. The house lay some distance back from the road,
and was approached by a long straight carriage drive, with beautiful
meadows on both sides. The estate was 31 acres 3 rods 39 poles in
extent. The garden of the lodge was a sight to behold, especially in the
spring time, when it was gay with flowers of every hue. Then there were
four large houses, and adjoining a stretch of beautiful fields. The two
first belonged to Mr. Robert Forster, where we children spent many a
happy hour in haymaking time. The next belonged to Mr. Wm. Fowler, the
banker. There, after haymaking was over, horses which were ill and
required medical care were taken into graze, and it was a very pretty
sight to see them march in a body to meet the veterinary surgeon when
they saw him coming. It showed how grateful they were for his skill and
kind attention. On the left hand side, where the fields belonged to
Mount Pleasant Estate, there was a footpath across these fields into
Lordship-lane. West Green-road was very lonely. Two young ladies,
friends of mine, were walking alone, when just by these fields two tramps
appeared and commenced taking off their jackets and dresses to steal
them. Fortunately just at this moment a gentleman drove down the lane,
and attracted by the children’s cries he came to their rescue. The
tramps immediately made off, and he kindly drove the frightened girls to
their parents’ house. Mr. Robert Forster lived, with his sisters, in the
old-fashioned house that came next, and they built the almshouses that
stand on part of their land, and called them “Forster’s Almshouses.”
Round the bend of the road there were two large white houses. Mr.
William Janson lived in the first, and in later years the other was
occupied by Mr. Joseph Howard. He was the first member of Parliament for
Tottenham, when in 1885 the ancient Parish of Tottenham and Wood Green
was made into a separate constituency, and continued to be its
Parliamentary representative for 20 years. Then came two good houses;
next to these was a large garden and builder’s yard and house, occupied
by Thomas Ashwell. On these premises was the room used for the infants’
school belonging to Trinity Church. It was also used for missionary
meetings.