Cromwell House, Highgate. By Philip Norman. (J. Murray. is. net.)—The
fine old Jacobean house on Highgate Hill, opposite Waterlow Park, which is now used as a convalescent home for the Hospital for Sick Children in Groat Ormond Street, is described and photographed in this scholarly little pamphlet, which Mr. Norman has written in order to benefit the funds of the hospital. The house had nothing to do with Cromwell. It was built for the Sprignell family in the early part of the seventeenth century, when James I. used to hunt the stag at Highgate with the Earl of Arundel. The Sprignolls were associated with the Ireton family, Andrew Marvell had a cottage on the other side of the road close to Lauder- dale's house, and Thomas Harrison lived at Highgate. But there is no evidence to show that Cromwell ever entered the house, though Highgate as a place of residence was favoured by his wealthy City friends. The house was much injured by a fire fifty years ago, but both within and without it still retains much of its dignity, and puts to shame the commonplace suburban villas of the present day.
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