WESTFIELD HOUSE.

 

Standing on an elevated portion of the town, in Church Streets was built by the late Mr. George Oscroft, bag hosier, in 1853. Mr. Oscroft formerly lived on the premises now occupied by Messrs. Crompton and Evans' Bank in Low Street, whence he removed to Westfield. where he remained up to his death in 1861. The mansion has since been occupied by the late Revs. B B. Slater and C. H. Prance, the late Mrs. W. Sampson, Mr. John Boot. Mr. G. G. Bonser, Mr. J. G. Allsop, and now by Mr. J. Bagnold-Smith.

In the reign of Richard I., Robin Hood, at the head of a band of freebooters, frequented the Sutton neighbourhood, and performed many wonderful exploits.

 

 

 

 

 

THE WOOD STREET GHOST!

 

This little, narrow thoroughfare, having communication with High Pavement and Parliament Street, was for many, many years known as "Blind Lane." in consequence of a blind resident there called "Blind Tom.'' Here is a true story: "Once upon a time 'Mr. Jones' was in the habit of returning home after his leisurely spent evenings in not always (so it was presumed) altogether a self-possessed state of mind, so an acquaintance of his—'Mr. Smith'—made a resolve to have some rare fun at his expense. Taking up his position in the lane one night about the time the belated one usually passed through, and having clad himself in a white robe so that not a particle of his human self was visible, he moved slowly along. Then 'Mr. Jones' arrived on the scene, and overtaking the white-robed form walked by its side apparently unconscious of its presence. Feeling somewhat disappointed at his non-success, 'the ghost' proceeded to make his presence more keenly felt by jostling against the 'stop-out-late' individual, who, thereupon, to the sudden astonishment of 'Mr. Ghost," remarked, 'Oh. if thou'rt a jostling ghost, here's at the'!' and, suiting the action to the word, he promptly levelled an effective blow with his favourite walking-stick on the cranium of ' Mr. Ghost,' who hastily fled away! That was the first and last time he appeared in the role of ' A Ghost'!"

MILL STREET. It is presumed that this street received its name from the fact of a wooden windmill having formerly been located in the vicinity. It belonged to a Mr. J. Lindley, a well-known miller and baker, carrying on business in the antiquated premises now to be seen in High Pavement. On the occasion of the attempt to transfer the mill to another site it suddenly overturned, doing irreparable damage. The existing mill at the bottom of Prospect Place was then erected, subsequently passing into the hands of a Mr. Heath, on to the late Mr. G. B. White, then to Mr. J. G. Allsop, High Street, and in now owned in its disused state by Dr. Nesbitt, J.P.