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.