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22
"There is a small detached portion of the Parish, situate at
Mnswell, or Muswell Hill, about five miles and a half from
London, and on the north-western confines of Hornsey. This
little tract (about 65 acres) was given to the Nunnery of Clerkenwell
by Beauvais, Bishop of London, about the year 1112; and
having become famous through a legendary tale of a 'great cure
performed upon a King of Scots, who was, by some divine intelligence,
advised to take the water of a well in England, called
Muswell, a Chapel was erected on the spot, 'sometime bearing
the name of our Lady of Muswell.' Here was placed an image of
'Our Lady, whereunto was a continual resort in the way of
pilgrimage.' This Chapel (which of course was an appendage
to the Nunnery) had sunk, along with many other fabrics originating
in religious romance, before the reign of Elizabeth; and
when Norden wrote, an Alderman Boe had' a proper house
occupying the site.'
"The Wells, from which this tract and the hill comprising it
take name, are two in number, and continue in good preservation,
being bricked round to the depth from which they seemingly
spring (about five feet and a half), and enclosed besides from the
field wherein they are situated by wooden railings. Though a
few yards only asunder, their waters differ in quality; that of the
one being hard, sweet, and beautifully pellucid, while the other
more nearly resembles rain water, and is used only for the purposes
to which the latter is commonly applied. Neither are at
present supposed to possess any medicinal properties. An infant
brook issues from their united and ceaseless overflowing; which
descending the hill and winding through the adjacent meadows
at length finds its way to the comparatively distant Lea Biver."
"This tract is regularly visited, and its limits marked at the
perambulation of the Parish, which takes place septennially;
it is at present entirely under pasturage. The only habitations
upon it are two by the road side, traditionally said to occupy the
site of the dairy farm, which in the monastic time sent its produce
to the nuns of Clerkenwell. Part of an adjoining house being
also within the parochial line (as is signified by the usual initial
affixed to its front), the perambulators are obliged to pass through
this latter dwelling in order to assert their long established
boundary."
This part of the Parish has within the last few
years been laid out for building purposes. New
roads have been formed, and there are now 100
houses and pieces of land in assessment.