Thomas Melville (Southgate)

Thomas Melville was born in Edinburgh to Thomas Melville and his wife, Agnes Allan.^[1] He moved to London, where he married Mary Elizabeth Turner (died 20 October 1925) in 1881.^[3] They lived in Tottenham before moving to Southgate prior to 1891. He worked as a tobacco merchant.^[2][4][5]

Melville was instrumental in establishing the Presbyterian Church in Fox Lane, Palmers Green, which opened in 1914,^[6] and attracted a large number of emigrant Scots to the area.^[7] The church was demolished in the 1980s. He was a member of Southgate Urban District Council and chairman of the council during the First World War.^[8] He resided at Old Park House, built for the Dowcra family in 1833 and part of the Old Park Estate.