The House is entwined in its own Love story - The estate was eventually purchased by William Crawshay in 1811 and it became known as ‘Crawshay’s Farm’. Crawshay was from a wealthy family of welsh ironmasters, but chose to live far from the family’s furnaces in Wales, probably buying the house and estate in Stoke Newington as a route into ‘polite’ society.
William is known to have refused permission for his daughter Eliza to marry Augustus Clissold, the curate from old St Mary’s Church, next to the park. He also refused contact between them and they were obliged to correspond secretly through messengers. Upon William’s death in 1834, Eliza inherited the estate and married Augustus, who gave his name to the house. They had no children, and when Augustus died in 1882, the house and estate passed back to the Crawshays in Wales, but they rarely visited and soon decided to sell the land for development.

This stunning eighteenth century Grade II* listed mansion has been completely refurbished as part of an £8.9 million project funded by Hackney Council and the Heritage Lottery and Big Lottery Funds. The House set in the lovely green space of Clissold Park now boasts five beautifully restored function rooms for hire, many with original period features. These elegant spaces provide the perfect setting for celebrations, wedding and civil ceremony receptions, community events and meetings.