MUSWELL-HILL, a hamlet in Hornsey parish, and a chapelry partly also in Clerkenwell parish, Middlesex. The hamlet lies between the Great Northern and the Midland railways, 1 mile WNW of Hornsey r. station, and 5 ½ NNW of St. Pauls, London; includes straggling lines of houses, with numerous villas; and has a post-office under Hornsey, London N. The chapelry was constituted in 1843; was taken mainly from Hornsey parish; and includes only a detached portion of Clerkenwell. Pop. in 1861, 919. Houses, 161. Pop. of the Hornsey portion, 877. Houses, 154. The surface is undulating and hilly; and the higher parts, particularly at the Grove, command very fine views. The Grove was visited by Dr. Johnson; and the grounds were laid out by his companion, Topham Beauclerk. A cottage, at the foot of the same hill, was the residence and the death-place of Newland, the Bank of England cashier; and also the residence of the poet Moore, at the time when he wrote his ”Lalla Rookh.” The recently formed Alexandra Park is here; and was expected to rival Sydenham, but has received some check. A mineral spring likewise is here, and was formerly in much repute. A cell to Clerkenwell priory stood near the mineral spring. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of London. Value, £296. Patron, the Bishop of London. The church was built in 1842. There is a school for girls and infants.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
