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.