Elm House Middle Lane, Hornsey/Crouch End c1915

Elm House was one of the large mid-Victorian villas that used to stand on Middle Lane between Hornsey & Crouch End.

According to Ken Gay's 'Hornsey Village - A Walk', in the late 19th century, Elm House belonged to a diamond merchant by the name of Leopold Keller. After he died, in 19o5, the house was taken over by Crouch End High School for girls and run by a woman called Charlotte Cowdroy who advertised her education services by stressing that girls should not be educated like boys.

You can see other images of the school here.

In 1936, the school moved to Wynnstay on Hornsey Lane, where it remained until 1973.