Tottenham School of Industry

This school was founded mainly by the efforts of Mrs Priscilla Wakefield (a pioneer of the Savings Bank movement) and was originally known as the School of Industry. It was founded in 1792, in a building in the High Road, near Stoneley South. It was transferred to the new building in Somerset Road in 1863.

In its earlier years as a charity school about 40 girls were taught "reading, writing, knitting, sewing and a little arithmetic". Soon after its removal to Somerset Road 90 girls were taken, of whom thirty were clothed by the charity in the green clothing from which the school derived its name. On leaving school each girl received a guinea; at the end of each three years thereafter she received a further guinea if she had remained in the same employment - which was usually domestic service.

The charity was supported by voluntary subscriptions and aided by annual charity sermons. A small income was also derived from the girls' work. A schoolmistress was appointed by the subscribers and lived in the schoolhouse.