IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
East End Road, LONDON, N3 3QJ

Now containing the offices for Stephens House, where the ink manufacturer is from.

The home of Stephens family of the Stephens Ink Company. More at this http://www.avenuehouse.org.uk/avenue.php

This OS cut mark can be found on the north side of the road. It has been cancelled with a cross running above the cut.

These are the lodge and stables to Image There is also a coach house in this cluster of buildings, which were constructed around 1880, shortly after Henry Charles (Inky) Stephens bought the main house. The stables and coach house are Grade II Listed Buildings.

Detail of a door into part of the Stables. Presumably the HCS monogram stood for Henry Charles Stephens, son of the inventor of Stephens Ink.

Avenue House and its gardens were left to the people of Finchley by Henry Charles Stephens in 1918. Full details at http://www.avenuehouse.org.uk .

A clear view of 'Inky' Stephens bequest to Finchley. The part natural stone and part painted finish creates the impression of 2 buildings. The ridge in front seems to warrant its own contour line on the OS map!

The stable block, adjacent to the main house. The board on the nearest set of doors advertises the 6th Finchley Scouts.

Avenue House was originally built in an Italianate style for the Rev Edward Cooper in 1859 and comprised the main buff rendered section of the house to the left. In 1874 it was bought by Henry Charles (Inky) Stephens, son of the inventor of the famous blue-black ink. Stephens subsequently had the stone extension to the right built, around 1884, and this contained his laboratory. When Stephens died in 1918, he bequeathed Avenue House to the people of Finchley, and it was opened to the public in 1928. In 1989 it was severely damaged by fire, but has since been refurbished. The website of the house is here http://www.avenuehouse.org.uk/index.php It is a Grade II Listed Building and the English Heritage Listed Buildings website describes it thus:- "House, now municipal offices. Circa 1859 Italianate villa, much extended and refurbished by James Stephens the ink manufacturer after 1874 and probably c1884. Stuccoed with slate roof and tall brick chimneystacks with acroteria. Roughly L-shaped. South front of three storey; 6 windows, sashes mainly without glazing bars and with cornices. Bracket eaves cornice. Circa 1884 porch and ground floor rooms built out. East wing of c1884 is of stone of two storeys and comprised "Inky Stephens" laboratory and bedroom on the first floor and reception rooms on the ground floor. First floor has two mullioned and transomed windows in gables including splayed gable to north corner with cartouche and motto "REGNANT QUI SERVANT". Four similar ground floor windows. North front incorporates elements of 1859 building but with later curved window, a four storey tower with hipped roof, a wing with splayed bay and Norman arched doorcase and two storey link block with interlaced Norman traceried window and Norman-arched doorcase with corbel heads to octagonal tower." For a view of the rear of the house please see Image

In Avenue House park, the roots of a Horse Chestnut are exposed by erosion of the soil. There are a number of hillocks within the park and all similarly display exposed tree roots.