Letters January 2006

Letters January 2006

From:  Keith Mills

I have no real information relating to "Merryweather's" of Greenwich, London. I know that following their move from Greenwich, they established themselves at the Rassau Ind. Estate in Ebbw Vale, South Wales, then one Easter weekend they moved all their appliances to a store in Plymouth, all this took place between 1982 and 1986.  Furthermore, two gentlemen by the names of Greening and Tovil (I believe) set up the G & T Turntable ladder business in Gravesend, Kent.  These two gentlemen were former employees at the Merryweather Factory in Greenwich, further to this I have no other information on their Records/Files on Fire appliances.  A descendant recently approached the  Fire Service College. I believe the descendant was that of "Moses Merryweather," 

From:  Richard Buchanan

This is in reply to a request in the November 2005 GIHS Newsletter: SS Faraday (1) is briefly written up in Cableships and Submarine Cables by K R Haigh, published in 1978 by STC Submarine Systems Division (now Alcatel Submarine Systems). The following is an extract:

Brief details- Built for Siemens Bros, Woolwich, in 1874 by C Mitchell & Co Ltd, Newcastle.

Length: 360.38 ft Breadth: 52.25 ft  Depth-.36.9ft Gross Tonnage: 5052 Compound Engine. 

William Siemens was instrumental in having: Twin Screws and bow & stern Rudders for manoeuvrability; Twin Funnels abreast, leaving a clear central cable run from bow to stern, and innovative cable handling gear. There were three Cable Tanks. Laid 50 000 nautical miles of cable before being decommissioned in 1924, when replaced by SS Faraday  (2); though survived as a hulk before being broken up in 1950.  

From Yvonne Witton

I saw your website and am hoping you can give me some brief information on the Industrial Buildings Company who owned the Rectory Buildings in Deptford in 1890's

From: Jennifer Nevill

Do you have any information about CA Robinson & Co which was based at Anchor Wharf until the 1970's?

From: Sharon Waite

I wonder if you could direct me to somebody that may be able to help. My husband lived at 147 Blackheath Hill until he was about 6 (which would have been approx. 1967). We have managed to find an old photo of the building which was spectacular - I am trying to find out the history of the building, what was it used for originally, who built it etc. Unfortunately it has now been demolished and some ghastly 1970's style flats have been erected, but it would be great to know the history of what he remembers.

From: John Davy                                                                                                            

We recently had a neighbour pass away and during the house clearance came across 2 framed certificates awarded to a George Smoker for services in assisting to save lives from a fire at Chestfields Blackheath Hill Greenwich 13th July 1880. I wondered if your local society would have any information or would know where I could go to find more.