The Cedars Tottenham Green

I was passed down some old postcards, from my mother, who told me that the house in a couple of them was where my grandfather lived. I was amazed at these old postcards so I decided to see if I could find out if the old house was still around. On the back of one of the postcards was a address, this was obviously sent to my great grandfather regarding futher postcards of the house by the photographer.
Mr A Frost
Cedars
Tottenham Green N15.
My brother Reg became interested in the house too, so between us we decided to see if we could find more on the family and the house.
I began searching the internet and found old map of Tottenham, which showed the green and marked on the map was Cedars. (see map below)



I continued to search on information regarding Cedars, but nothing seemed to appear. Then I came across a website on Summerhill Road, the owner of the site sent me some photographs of the area and helped me with some searches. Eventually I wrote to the Bruce Castle Museum back in 2004, they were very helpful and told me that they also held some photographs of Cedars. I was given the following information from the Museum's archives department.
Taken from the Kelly's Directory of Tottenham 1899-1900, 1905-1906, 1911-1912, 1912-1913.

In the 1899-1900 edition the head of household was
Misses Swarbrick

In 1881 Census for the Cedars The Green Tottenham - the following details were found.

Frederick SWARBRICK Head U Male 22 Derby, Derby, England Solicitors Articled Clerk
Mary H. SWARBRICK Daur U Female 34 Manchester, Lancashire, England
Florence SWARBRICK Daur U Female 27 Derby, Derby, England
Elinor M. SWARBRICK Daur U Female 25 Derby, Derby, England
Ellen MAIDMAN Serv U Female 32 Simonstone, Hampshire, England Cook Domestic Servant
Ellen BLOOMFIELD Serv U Female 20 Wymondham, Norfolk, England Housemaid Domestic Servant

In 1905-1906
Pupil Teachers Centre Tottenham Council Schools
Richard Ashworth B.A. Principal

In 1912-1913 Cedars Listed as
Tottenham Committee School for the Deaf
Miss B Nevile Principal
Walt Mallinson Clerk




Cedars Front View August 11th 1906 (family Postcard)




Cedars Back view (family postcard)


Tottenham College first occupied the Cedars, the college was a large establishment, and took many foreign pupils and printed brochures in French, it later moved to a 12 Acre site at the corner of Selby Road, White Hart Lane, it had closed by 1923.

The Blanche Nevile school began at the Cedars, a school for deaf children, I have another postcard of a group of children which I have added here, I am unsure if it was taken when the Cedars was a school for deaf or for when it was Tottenham College.



Group Photo of School Pupils and Staff (family postcard)
Back row 3rd from left Arthur Frost my Great Grandfather

In 1901 Arthur and his wife Emma were living at Cedars Tottenham Green, Arthur was caretaker. By 1923 they had moved to Page Green School in Broad Lane Tottenham. The last known address I have for Arthur and Emma is Page Green Broad Lane in 1928, on the deeds to their grave.

I eventually found the reason why Harold my grandfather kept these old photograph postcards, they obviously contained memories of his childhood. When I recieved a copy of his birth certificate, it all made sence. Harold was actually born at Cedars on 25th December 1903.
Education was very important to my Gt Grandparents Arthur and Emma, their son Harold had a very good education, I still have his old school dictionary dated 1910, the book was given to him at a presentation.

The ground where Cedars once stood, is, today, I believe a listed building, The College of North East London. Also along the road stands Tottenham Town Hall.

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