Sunday 2 July 2017

The King Of Prussia/ King of Belgium Public House Albury Street.


A Rare photo of the King of Belgium, Formerly The King of Prussia.


The early address is at 4,5 & 6 Union Street. At 5 Creek Road by 1884, and 8 Creek Road by 1891,then 8 Albury Street by 1910. By 1921 (probably by the start of WW1, it is renamed the King of Belguim.

Colins grandfather (Richard Charles Quittenton) bought the lease of the ale house King of Prussia in 1895 for £350 from Thomas Hamilton Fox and his brother Walter St. John Fox, at a ground rent of £40 payable on the "usual quarter days" to Nalder and Collyer, brewers of Croydon. My grandfather did not live there, only the pot-man was resident at that time. In 1902 the ale house was rebuilt as a public house (a foxes head was depicted on each of two facade columns for the Fox brothers). In 1903 my grandfather continued to lease it at £50 quarterly. He also moved into it with his 2nd wife Minnie Elizabeth, nee Walsh and Albert (son by 1st. wife Fanny Ellen, nee Vodden d. 1897). During WWI and as a result of the anti-German riots, the name of the pub was changed to King of Belgium. My uncle Hector was born there (1903-1904), my uncle Leonard was born there (1904-1975) and my mother Ella was born there (1909-2004). In 1924 my grandfather retired and sold the lease of the pub for £600. I believe that the pub did not survive the war as did much of Deptford. On his retirement (to Eastbourne) he bought rental properties 22/24 Clyde St., one of which was rented to Mrs Hill who lived there with her son Reginald and her daughter Marjorie (married Charles Wincup).






In 1905, one of the Stratton brothers was arrested as he exited the pub. He knew that the police were outside waiting for him. My grandmother was alone in the pub behind the bar that night and Stratton offered to help her clean up. My grandmother knew him of old, and refused to let him behind the bar. If she had done, Stratton could have escaped over the back fence and into Pickford's yard.


Colins mother left home when she was 21 from Eastbourne and moved in with Mrs. Hill in Clyde St. The house had only 2 bedrooms with a double bed in each. My mother shared one bed with Marjory and another male lodger (polish artist named Rodolf Krystra (?)) shared the other double bed with Reg. Nobody thought anything about such things THEN! Mrs Hill slept in the kitchen. My mother married my father (born in the Stowage) in April 1939 and moved to a flat in Lewisham owned by Charlie Watson. His family owned two wood yards and a general shop in Deptford and the lease of several houses in Albury St. and still has some of those Grinling Gibbons portico's. I was born in 1940, and was brought up in Lewisham.

Colin E. Bailey.

My thanks to Colin for sharing his families history,  great information especially that photo.   





Tuesday 27 June 2017

A poem by H Cowlands 1880. Help to identify this man

The following letter originates from Deptford.

It dates 1880 and I believe it was sent to my Great Grandfather John Shipston or his wife Elizabeth Ball. It was in my Grandfathers collection of family letters.
I have searched all known methods of finding its author or anything about him/ Her.
I ask to post this to your readers as a last attempt to gather information on what appears to be a most colourful person. I myself live in Australia and have tried for some time now to find H. Cowlands to no avail. I understand this is an unusual request but would be ever so grateful if any hint in this letter could help me find more on the author.

It is a long and unusually written letter/ poem as you’ll see. Thank you so much, in advance for any help given to understand the town, times and the person.
Regards Harold Shipston.
Queensland Australia.
------------------------------------------------

H. Cowlands poem. (transcript)

------------------------

Monday, April 26th
1880
96 years old

Dear Cousin, I am very glad,
To say, that work is not so bad.
As it was weeks ago
Perhaps now the Elections done
A better time is coming on.

Although it may come slow
I never saw in all my life
Such hot discussion, bitter strife
As in this town of late
A thousand flags there might be seen
From Deptford Broadway to the green
Of every size and shape

The Tories have got in, it’s true
Just for this Borough, but there few
Compared with liberals round
So now we hope, for better times
For more success and fewer crimes
And drink crush’d to the ground

I never want, such men to guide
Who thousands, try to lead aside
By advocating drink
It is, our national disgrace
And men, by it in every place
Are brought to ruin’s brink

But I no further, will discuss
Our politics, though all of us
In someway, are concerned
If, God but rule us we are blessed
He views the proud, and the oppressed
The ignorant, and learned.

Now, of myself a little news
I still continue making shoes
At Deptford, in High Street
Mady is my employer’s name
And he has got, a noted fame
For thousands do him greet.

His shop is full, where’ere I go
His stock is large his prices low
Not many can him beat
There’s Wellington’s likewise high lows
There’s cashmere boots and patent toes
And boots for tender feet

There’s Watertights, and bluchers too
Lace ups and balmorals on view
Slippers, and socks, as well
Look in, no matter where it be
It is astonishing, to see
The hundreds he does sell

For want of something else to do
The other day, I went to view
Blackheath, and Greenwich Park
Here on a hill with great delight
Beauties of nature, came in sight
And warmed my very heart

“Oh,” how sublime, is this thought I 
Whilst gazing at the earth, and sky
And looking, all around
How bright, and cheerful, is the spring
The birds, how happy, on the wing
There notes how sweet they sound

The river Thames, I saw below
With ships a passing, to and fro
Amidst, the Sparkling wave
How many lives, throughout the year
Thought I, do sink and perish here
And find a watery grave

Now, how are all of you at potton
Don’t think, that I, have quite forgotten
My friends, residing there
Also a few, at Gamlingay
Some, sixteen-thousand miles away
Of whom, I little hear

To Lizzy Chapman, give my love
May the have comfort, from above
From whence our blessings flow
And may her Mother daily find
That God is merciful and kind
In darkest shades of woe

To Mrs Seal, remember me
And tell her, Lucy longs to see
Her little girl and boy
And, as the future days, draw nigh
Cheerful, I hope she’ll live and die
Then enter into Joy
And then her Brother George comes next
He is a man, not often vexed
Though always very dark
Easy, and quiet, is his life
I wish his children, and his wife
Success with all my heart

And then remember our dear Mother
I really think, there’s not another
More useful, that can be
Oh, may her last days be her best
Then enter everlasting rest
And sing of victory

Another word, before I’ve done
Tell Minnie, she’s to sure and come
In the bright month of May
With us we wish for her to dwell
As many things we have to tell
So she must not delay

Now Your Dear Mother, Father too
I trust that God will bring them through
And bless their latter days
Then say Oh, “Death where is thy sting
And mount o high, to dwell and sing
A song of endless praise

And now Dear Cousin, I must close
These simple rhymes, but don’t suppose
Dear Ebins not in mind
If tis God’s will I hope that he
May be restored and happy be
And many blessings find

Good Bye dear friend. God bless you all
The weak, the strong, the great, the small
I wish you peace and love
And when your days, on earth are gone
May heaven be your eternal home
To dwell with saints above

H Cowlands
Deptford
Kent

Tuesday 18 April 2017

Help please

Hello,

I wonder if anyone has any information about both sides of my Deptford family.

My grandad John Carney (now 86) lived in 73 Fawcett Road, Deptford, from 1928 onwards. His parents, Bridget (born O'Connor) and John Carney, lived there from even before that. My grandad also had siblings Brendan and Sheila Carney. Unfortunately, my grandad was put into care quite early on as his mother died so we don't have a lot of information about his Deptford days. Any memories of the family or Fawcett road would be greatly appreciated! 

Another side of my Deptford family history is that my New Cross Nan, Pauline Carney's (born Freeman) family used to run a (Jewish?) grocery store (or maybe a sweet shop) along Deptford Broadway, on the corner of the park and next to or near Molins Cigarette factory. My nan can't remember the name of the shop but thinks it was a family name - so probably Freeman's/Freemans or Friedman's? Rosenburg was also a family name: Eva Rosenburg and John Freeman were my great-grandparents. 

Both my grandparents are old now and enjoy talking about their family history so any information or any stories would be so lovely!

Thank you.

Saturday 8 April 2017

Hi - I was wondering if you might be able to help me,

My great-great-grandmother Julia Button formerly Murphy née Calnan/Hayes married her second husband, Edwin Charles Button in 1933 whilst living at 4 Grenville House, New King Street, Deptford. Family legend has it that she left her husband for another man (her first husband, Timothy Murphy died in 1924). She also worked as a money-lender, a profession which other Catholics would have found distasteful. As a result she fell out with most of her ten children from this marriage.

Julia died in 1949, nine years after her husband Edwin Charles Button. I would very much like to hear from anyone who may have known her. Unfortunately as a result of their fall-out, I have no photos of either of them to share, although it is possible that some may exist.

Her birth has also been the cause of some confusion - on both her marriage licenses she lists herself as the daughter of John Calnan, however on the birth certificates for half of her children she lists her surname as Hayes. She married in 1887 at the age of c. 16. There is no record for a Julia Calnan in the 1881 census but there is some record of a Julia Hayes - how she connects to the Calnan family is yet another mystery.

Thank you,

Daniel Maldonado

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Help for Gill


Just wondering if anyone has any photographs of Dorking Road or the corner shop there before demolition?
My family were the Daltons and I am struggling to find any photos of this road.
Attached photo of my mum Marjorie Dalton (now 96!) and her brother Stan (sadly passed).

Gill Middleton

Sunday 8 January 2017

26 Deptford Broadway





Peter sent this photo in saying....

 I think this might be next door to the sweet shop in Church Street/The Broadway 

 oh BTW thats my great uncle and his half brother in the doorway.

The shop belonged to Charles Allen  b 1800  d  1870