Tottenham village was relatively near to London and communication with the City may have been an important consideration for settling here. Rural and quiet, Tottenham village was also far enough away from London to be peaceful and a pleasant place to live. It also had a reputation for being a healthy place.

The village consisted of one long street, about two miles long, with houses irregularly arranged, interspersed with beautiful gardens and with many fields and meadows. There were numerous large mansions and houses, some of which the wealthier Friends bought and lived in with their families.