In 1685 Nicholas Reynardson, Esq., by his will, dated April 2nd, 1685, and by a codicil dated February 20th, 1688, bequeathed the sum of £2,000, with part of which he directed that an almshouse should be built for six poor aged men and six poor aged women, with a chapel; and that the residue should be laid out in lands, and for the endowment and repairs of such almshouses, and for the payment of £4 to each pensioner annually by quarterly payments, besides a gown of black frieze of 20s. value once in two years, and £20 a year to the reader for reading prayers once every forenoon, and for teaching twenty poor children to read and write, inhabitants of the parish of Tottenham whose parents were not able to pay for the same. Mr. Reynardson also directed that the said salary of £20 per annum should be allowed out of the lands to be purchased to the reader of prayers and teacher of such children, and a black gown of 20s. value every year at Christmas for ever. The residue of the rents to be distributed amongst the poor, except 30s. allowed for a dinner on the 1st August every year at a meeting of the Trustees, including the minister and churchwardens, and the surplus and residue of the estates to be distributed among the poor.

Where the police Station now stands there originally was a large house enclosed in a high brick wall, and was built in 1776 by Will Latimer, of Warwick. It had a flight of stone steps to the front door, and a window in the hall on each side of the door. The occupier was the Rev. Thomas Powell, afterwards called “Miser Powell.” He was going to be married, and on the morning of the day of the wedding was to take place he received a message from the lady, saying she had altered her mind. From then until his death he never let a woman enter his house, and never went out, excepting now and then when he preached at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He had a large garden with bathroom and swimming bath in the middle of the lawn, all beautifully tiled; at the back there was a fish pond and meadow. The last time I saw him he was looking over the high brick wall with a blanket over his shoulders. He used to give dinner parties to his gentlemen friends; everything prepared and sent down with waiters from London.

The Rev. Thomas Powell was a very clever author and artist, and had commenced drawing figures of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John on the staircase. It was his intention to have them frescoed. I was told he left all his money and estate to the London Hospital, but that only £40,000 went to the Hospital, the estate had to go to the heir at law, a gentleman named “Mieux,” his sister’s son, who afterwards sold it to the British Land Company.

I think Mr. Powell must have been particularly fond of violets, they grew in his garden in such profusion.