THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
101
A few minutes walk from The Elms, on a branch of the River Lea, are
premises, marked on old maps as the Oil Mills, which were afterwards
occupied by Williams, Foster and Co. as Copper Mills. It was from these
copper rolling mills that, from copper smelted at Landore, in South Wales,
were issued the tokens commonly known as Walthamstow pennies and
halfpennies. They were issued during the years 1811 to 1814, specimens
bearing these dates being extant, Dies of various patterns were used,
the engraver of some of them being the celebrated artist, P. Wyon. These
copper-rolling works were closed about 1857 and the machinery and plant
removed to South Wales.
From The Elms the party retraced its steps to Blackhorse Road, whence
a tramcar (one of several kindly placed at the disposal of the visitors by
the Urban District Council during the morning) conveyed it to Higham
Hill, where Essex Hall and its outbuilding, formerly the academy of the
famous Dr. Eliezer Cogan, were thrown open for inspection by the present
owners and occupiers, the Misses Cooper, who extended a most kindly
and unaffected welcome to the visitors on arrival. Assembling in the
unaltered schoolroom the party listened with appreciation whilst Mr.
Barns read the following interesting account of the premises and their
former distinguished occupants:—
Essex Hall.
Essex Hall I believe to be the oldest remaining house in Walthamstow,
and from its high commanding position at the remote end of the parish,
it is evident that it has always been a house of some importance and was
doubtless one of those old-time self-contained properties dependent for
its food supplies on the produce of its fields and cattle ; where the baking
brewing and buttermaking were done on the premises. Concerning the
house itself I propose to say but little, leaving it to your judgment upon
inspection, as varying views have been expressed concerning it, electing
rather to deal with the wonderfully interesting associations of the place.
Its situation will have commended itself to you, with its extensive views
over the Lea Valley and in another direction over what were the old com-
mon fields of Higham Hill towards Marsh Street and Leyton. Evidences
of several alterations are to be seen in the building and it is probable
that the remaining portion is but a fragment of the larger edifice which
once stood here. Internally I commend to your notice the panelling,
but whether this is original or ancient I am unable to say, as it has been
painted, and the fine piece of carving over the dining-room mantelpiece.
After all, the outstanding features of the place, as I have suggested, are
its associations, and it is best known, and most worthily, from its con-
nection with the famous scholar and schoolmaster, the Rev. Eliezer Cogan
and his more notorious and famous pupil, Benjamin Disraeli, afterwards
Lord Beaconsfield and Prime Minister of England. Cogan came to Wal-
thamstow on the invitation of a Mr. Solly, a wealthy merchant, living in
Chestnut Walk, on the borders of Leyton and Walthamstow, prominently
connected with the Presbyterian, or, as we should now say, the Unitarian
congregation in Walthamstow, whose meeting house stood on the site
of ths present Congregational Church, opposite the Central Library. He
accepted the invitation, and came to the pastorate of this church in 1801