UPDATE No 3

RIVER HOUSE

The Ordnance Survey maps upto 1894 depict a house and outbuildings immediately adjacent to River House, on the site now occupied by the White Hart Public House. the buildings do not appear on the 1913 map.

Map to be inserted

It is apparent that these buildings were known "Turners Farm" The following extracts are of interest:- "Reminiscences of Tottenham"  Mrs J W Couchman "..............the road to the right leading to Clay Hill. At the second bend of the lane, on the left, stood a pretty, low long house, with a creeper covered verandah; this was called Turner's Farm; the yard and outbuildings of this adjoined those belonging to River House. The New River Company owned the next farm [Devonshire Hill Farm] and here the lane ended in a beautiful cornfield, across which there was a foot-path leading to Tile Kiln Lane."  "History of the Ancient Parish of Tottenham"  Fred Fisk (Second Series) "Starting from the site of the stile, in Devonshire Lane, we feel invigorated, for this one of the remaining rural spots of Tottenham; we walk along until the road bends sharply to the right. At this spot stood the house known as Turner's Farm. A murder committed here some years ago brought the farm into notoriety. The last occupier was Mr Chapman. The house remained in a dilapidated condition for years before it was demolished: up to recently there was pond at the next corner. Bending round to the left we are quite in the country; here is River House, and a part of the New River.....................The river used to run across the road, under a wooden bridge into the grounds of River House; the latter part, and the termination, of this river can be seen from the narrow pathway [Ash Path], a little further on, leading to White Hart Lane. Opposite River House is one of the few remaining Tottenham relics - a stile; getting over this, and following the pathway, with the river on our left, we arrive at Tottenhall Lane - still a rural district..................and we return to River House. On each side of the lane, a little farther, is grass; the ground here is very boggy, and there are several ponds. A pretty cottage recently stood on the right, adding to the charm of this spot; notice was served on the owner to make certain sanitary alterations which he was unwilling to pay for: compulsory measures were being adopted, but the owner scored - he pulled the cottage down! Close by bearing to the right, is Devonshire Farm, with a pond in front; in a field, is a Wood Green and Tottenham boundary stone north - east of the pond" The rural nature of the area is well illustrated in the adjoining painting which shows River House as seen from Devonshire Hill Lane.

PIPERS COURT

Fred Fisk also mentions Piper's Court the home of John, brother of Samuel(2):- "....................we come to Piper's Court; this was built by Sir  Edward Cocks, a physician at Guy's Hospital. It is a facsimile of the  old building known as Downhills, which was pulled down when the District Council acquired the Downhills Estate, but it is smaller. The Cocks family were friends with the people living at the Downhills in their time, and a code of signalling was made use of from one house to the other. This house was built so the front of each house should face; this accounts for the angle of the building compared to the roadway."

CENSUS

Extracts from the decennial census between 1841 - 1891 for Clay Hill (Devonshire Hill Lane) have also been obtained from the museum although the earlier records do not always identify the house at which the enumerator has called. However, at the time of the 1891 census Samuel(1) and his family were living at Tentdale, the pair of semi detached houses in front of South and Cole potteries. The Coles' lived next door. Tentdale Potteries - White Hart Lane - 1891 Census - LowerWard Edward G Cole Head M 37 Flower pot Manufacturer Elizabeth Wife M 39 . Kathleen daur . 4 Scholar Bessie E daur . 2 . John Cole father M 83 Potter Mary Cole mother M 78 . . . . . . Samuel South Head M 37 Master Flower Potter Alice Wife M 44 Samuel son . 14 Scholar Alice daur . 12 Scholar Walter son . 9 Scholar Emily M daur . 10 Scholar John J son . 8 Scholar Rose E  daur . 6 Scholar Arthur J son . 5 Scholar Charles son . 1 Scholar

RECENT MATERIAL

In addition to the census returns mentioned above the Archive now has copies of the wills of Samuel(1) and Samuel(2). Graham  photographs potteries' ephemera

CIRCULATION

The Update is currently circulated to:- Gladys Jim Joyce Martin Peter Brenda Graham Roger   KLB 8/96