FROM THE CLOCK TOWER TO THE VICARAGE. 107 
be covered with houses. In the middle of the 18th century a large 
wood of 4o acres, known as Butler’s Gardens, occupied the 
ground where the Brownhill Road joins Hither Green Lane. This 
portion of Brownhill Road was made in 1883, and building opera- 
tions then began. 
Further along the lane is the cemetery, originally formed to 
meet the needs of Lee, but now belonging to the whole borough, 
and at the southern end lies ‘*Shroffold Farm,” which com- 
memorates the ancient manor of that name. 
Returning to the High Street, to Whitburn Road, we find a 
block of shops erected in 19901 on the site of some villas known 
as Greenaway Place, part of the Bridge House estates. The 
‘¢Castle”’ Inn is parish property, the site having been bequeathed 
in 1630 by Mr. Bevil Moulsworth. 
From this point to the Vicarage the houses are mostly old, 
and probably buildings have occupied the site for some centuries. 
Next to the ‘‘Castle” is a building which may be as old as the 
latter part of the 17th century—it was formerly a private house 
(possibly two houses) but has for many years been converted into 
a shop. The adjoining premises are of 18th century date. A little 
further southwards is a row of shops, one of which has for many 
years been occupied as a butcher's, and is shown with the small 
stream in front in Plate 46. It was then occupied by one Owen. 
This property is part of the St. Dunstan’s estates, and was 
bequeathed by Mirabelle Bennett in 1632. The ‘¢Bull” is an 
ancient Lewisham hostelry, mentioned in the Parish Registers of 
Elizabeth's time. It was entirely rebuilt in 1907. The shops 
between this and the Vicarage replace houses of the time of the 
Georges. There were formerly several fine trees on the banks of 
the stream in front of these houses which have disappeared one 
by one. 
The shops on the other side of the road, at the corner of 
Hither Green Lane, occupy the site of humbler predecessors of the 
early part of the 19th century, which seem to have been built on 
land enclosed from the road side. 
Ladywell Park was laid out about 1860 on ground that was 
formerly a nursery garden. It is part of the Morden College 
estates. 
A word must be added here respecting Henry Grubb, one of 
the eccentric characters of *‘ old Lewisham,” who lived in the house 
on the northern side of the * Black Bull,” and died in 1863 at the 
age of 87. He lived alone, allowing no one to enter his house, 
and by his miserly habits had amassed considerable wealth. For 
seventeen years prior to his death he was in the habit of sleeping 
in a chair with a loaded blunderbuss in his arms, to protect the 
treasure concealed about the house, whilst cobwebs filled the 
rooms, many of which had not been opened for thirty or forty 
years. 
