[3] In the mid 18th century, possibly in 1754, the insurance broker Stephen Godin bought a Southgate woodland known as Gullands Grove from Walter Henshaw and Henry Hadley.

[5] Stephen Godin lived there from at least 1754 until his death in 1787 when the estate was purchased by the businessman and politician Sir William Curtis, 1st Baronet (1752–1829).

[3] Described by the authors of The History of Parliament as "a portly and bottlenosed bon vivant",[7] Curtis was said to be very proud of his wine cellar and his kitchens which featured a gallery so that guests could see their dinner being prepared.

Among the contents of his cellar were port (Boland's Post, 1808), claret, East India Madeira, sherry (Wild's), Malaga, Hock from Bremen (1726), and beer.

In addition to the furniture and agricultural equipment, livestock, and produce, offered for sale were two Shetland Ponies, a fire engine, and two "humane man traps".