Hope Cottages,Muswell Hill

 

Hope Cottages(no longer exist) and St James´s Lane,Muswell Hill are amongst the most important houses/streets in the Oliver family history.Our great grandfather John Oliver(1824 -1893)died there.Our grandfather Harry Oliver(1871 - 1943) was born in Hope Cottages in 1871.It is quite strange how 4 Olivers were born in Muswell Hill but 3 of them died.Kate Oliver born in 1869 died just after 4 months,Alice born in 1874 died sadly after just 16 hours but was baptised at St James´s Church and John Bendall Oliver born in 1884 died in WW1 in France.Our great grandfather John also worked for St James´s Church in St James´s Lane between 1875 - 1890.I have the census from 1871/81 and 91 show the Oliver family living at 2 or 3 Hope Cottages.The 1901 census shows J B Oliver living at 4 St James Lane.John Oliver died 1893 at 2 Hope Cottages.

 

The design of the road is the same today is it was back then but back then it was a country lane.The viaduct still exist today although no trains run on it.

 

I have taken the walk from roughly where Hope Cottages were in St James´s Lane,under the viaduct and up the hill to the church where John worked(rebuilt but on the same site as the old church)and I can recommend both the walk and the visit to the church