Friday, 11 December 2015
News items yet again
Sorry to keep pushing my own works. Need to be a bit shameless maybe,
'Innovation, Enterprise and Change on the Greenwich Peninsula' is still available (but I have just opened the LAST BOX). Copies are for sale at Sabo, Stockwell Street, The Warwick Leadlay Galley, Nelson Road, Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Centre, and the NOW Galley, Greenwich Peninsula Square. or from me marymillsmmmmm@aol.com. Or from Rob who can also handle paypal.http://www.greenwich.co.uk/peninsula-book/
- and also buy some of Rob's wonderful calendars of Greenwich or the Thames http://www.londonphotocalendars.co.uk/royal-greenwich-2016/
Also -next week - I am doing presentations on the peninsula and its history:
16th Wednesday - 6.00-700 Greenwich Centre Library
17th Thursday - 7-8 Blackheath Library
Great launch event at the Greenwich Gallery for Peter Kent's amazing 'The Birth of London's Newest City'. Go and see it - its on until the 23rd. 9-5.30 weekdays, 12-4 weekends. Honestly. This is amazing.
www.peterkentgreenwich.co.uk www.johnpayne.com (the sponsors)
GLIAS NEWSLETTER.
As ever - various events
20th January - The Archaeology and History of the Kings Cross Goods Yard. Rebecca Haslam. 6.30 Swedenborg Hall.
17th February. Father Thames. Still alive and kicking. The changing role of Thames Wharves. David Hilling. 6.30 Swedenborg Hall.
16th March, Gold Refining in London. Michaele Blagg. 6.30 75 Cowcross Street
20th April The Restoration of Historic Buildings. An Engineer's perspective. 6.15 75 Cowcross Street
18th May. AGM. Played in London. The Heritage of a City at Play. Simon Inglis 6.15 75 Cowcross Street
also:
Guided Towpath Walks by the Inland Waterways Association, all over Christmas. www.waterways.org.uk
10th February. Newcomen Society. Susan Mossman on 'Onward ever' Henry Bessemer and his Works. 5.45 Science Museum (bet she doesn't mention his Greenwich Works)
SERIAC - 23rd April. Kingston on Thames.
The GLIAS Newsletter also lists down items from the London Archaeologists Fieldwork Roundup for 2014.. Greenwich items are:
Enderby House. evaluation to locate c17-18 gunpowder magazine built 1694. Found C17 brick foundation and robbed wall of magazine
King Henry's Dock SE18. evaluation of site of Graving Dock found three phases of features: timber posts and a horizontal beam from an early phase: a wall from the second phase: and a mooring bollard and two brick structures 'most likely a dock crane' from the post 1850's phase.
Greenwich Market - building survey: designed by Joseph Kay. 1833. Hipped roof of market is steel based structure of 1905-8
Pelton Road and Commerell Street SE10. industrial buildings.
Convoys Wharf. found brick and concrete wall foundations and possibly crane bases from the Nineteenth Century; a stone structrure which could be part of Stern Dock Entrance and a possible continuation of a slipway wall. Also dug test pits inside and outside the Olympia Building and a cast iron structure of 1844 originally erected as cover for Slipways.
There is also an article praising Rich Sylvester's Greenwich Peninsula map and urges that it be made more available http://fegp.typepad.com/friends/2010/07/east-greenwich-history-map.html
Arco Trent - another article in the GLIAS Newsletter discusses Richard Wilson's ''Slice of Reality' which has been round the back of the Dome since 2000. It says that this was originally the Arco Trent built in 1971. 'Originally a dredger, in later life she served as a floating booster station, modified to assist other vessels in the discharge of aggregate at more remote locations, even in open water'. She is currently used as a studi
Finally - there is a note in the newsletter from Gillian Friar who has a collection of books and research materials about John Evelyn and would be happy to donate them to someone interested. AG@Parfrey.co.uk
INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS
This is the Association for Industrial Archaeology's Winter 2015 edition.
They advertise their new web site industrial-archaeology.org.
The edition also includes an article on Enderby Wharf - this is by - er - me - and there is also a small advert for my new book - so, thanks AIA.
BLACKHEATH SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
18th December - talks on Mechanical Calculators, My Wife's Iron Fork, The Last Vulcan Bomber Flight.
15th January - Managing the Crossness Nature Reserve.
both at Mycenae House n7.45
THE LENOX PROJECT
Their winter fair is 12th December (that's tomorrow) at Lewisham Arthouse, 140 Lewisham Way. 11-6. lots of new t-shirts, and other stud with a 'fabulous design'. You can also buy direct from them. They also have a new brochure which is available on their web site. www.buildthelenox.org.
MARIE CELESTE DE CASTERAS. Ann Dingsdale writes: " I am researching the 1,499 women who signed the 1866 womens' suffrage petition in 1866. We plan to celebrate the local women who signed with a walk in May to mark the 150th anniversary (40 years before the Suffragettes!)
I have been interested to find that one woman who signed in Greenwich took out some interesting engineering patents in the early 1860's, and if GIHS know anything more about her. She was Marie Celeste de Castres SInibaldi, a naturalised Frenchwoman,born 1808, and married to a Corsican professor of Italian, Luigi Sinibaldi. Iin the 1860's she was living at 1 South Villas, South
Street. Her son was an engineer,Napoleon Sinibaldi and hHer brother in law Pierre Sinibaldi was a
Military Engineer.
These are the details of the patents: 1862 October 31 No 2945. Improvements in the manufacture of armour plates for ships fortifications and forts, and in the manufacture of plates to be used in the construction and building of ships and for other purposes, and for attaching copper or other like protective metal to the outside of metal plates for making copper bottoms or bottoms with a similar protection to Iron ships. The method of constructing armour plates for building ships of war is to use laminated plates combining iron and steel and also plates of iron without steel perfectly wrought and to unite them by soldering with copper brass or other metal in the manner described. To procure great strength laminated plates of steel and iron are used in combination. Plates for building ships for the merchant service are manufactured in like manner but with thinner plates. By the same means I produce all other formation of iron for machinery, beams and other purposes.By the process described, an external coat of copper or other protective metal can be given to each plate of iron which when the plates are used in the construction of ships will produce the effect of copper bottoms
August 22, 1862. 2205. To Marie Celeste Sinibaldi of 1, South villas South-street, Greenwich, in the county of Kent, for the invention of "improvements in the manufacture of chains, and in the
apparatus employed therein."
LABOUR HERITAGE
Notes of meetings - but all they do is West London - and I know they would blame us for not offering them a south east London Labour Heritage Day. However......
20th February West London History Day. Ruskin Hall, Acton,. W3
21st May AGM. Unite the Union Offices, Holborn, WC2
www.labour-heritage.com
EAST END WATERWAYS GROUP- only just over the other side of the river - they have sent us details of their letters on planning proposals for the Hackney Wick area - 'the science park of the 1840s'. Happy to pass details on.
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
MERRYWEATHERS - America
MERRYWEATHER & SONS, STEAM: FIRE ENGINE MAKERS
MERRYWEATHER & SONS PATENT SINGLE-CYLINDER STEAM FIRE ENGINE "AMERICA" WITH FRESH WATER TANK.
This class of Engine is one of Messrs. Merryweather and
Sons’ SINGLE CYLINDER STEAM FIRE ENTGINES specially designed and built for the
Santiago, Valparaiso, Iquique, Lima, Callao, Coquimbo, Guadeloupe, and other
fire departments of South America.
The general construction of the Engine is upon the well
known principle peculiar to the makers, and is mounted with a Merryweather and
Field Improved Boiler, capable of raising steam from cold water in eight
minutes from the time of lighting-the fire.
In addition to the usual fittings supplied with the ordinary
Engines, this class of Engine is fitted with a copper water tank, fixed underneath
the framework of the Engine. This tank will contain enough fresh water for two
hours' supply to t he boiler, it being essential to feed the boiler with fresh
water when the Engine is used for pumping salt water for fire-extinguishing-
purposes. This tank is fitted with a glass water gauge and a funnel for filling
with brass cover, with other suitable fittings. The feed pump and injector, with
both of which the Engine is furnished, derive their source of supply from this tank.
The wheels of the Engine are made with extra broad tyres to
protect the wood rims, which are of tank or hickory; the hubs or locks of the
wheels are of iron, polished, and fitted with gun-metal caps. Immediately over
the steam cylinders is a tool box for the Engineers’~ tools, oil can, cotton
waste, nozzles, etc. Two pressure gauges are fitted on front of the tool box,
one indicating the steam pressure in the boiler, and the other the water
pressure in the pump.
These Engines are arranged to carry only the coachman in the
Front with two ”look-out" men (one at each side of the coachman). Behind they are constructed for carrying the
stoker and engineer for which purpose there is an iron foot-plate and hand rail,
so that the boiler may be fired en route to its destination.
The boiler is fitted with spring-balance safety valve, and
extra locked patent spring safety valve. In the Front part of the Engine is another
tool box to carry the larger tools, which is surmounted by a polished bell. The
Engine is fitted with a pair of polished brass lamps with the number of the company
engraved on the glass. two extra lamp sockets are provided on the box, so that the
lamps may moved to throw a light on the engine when in work at a fire; and in
front, immediately under the driving seat , are a couple of other buckets for
the general use of the engineer. Although the Engine is shown in the illustration
with a pole and sway bars for attaching a pair of horses, it is sometimes supplied
with an iron hand pole and drag rope for use when drawn by men.
The Engine is made in three sizes, the smallest one having a
straight frame instead of the curved ones shown in the illustration.
Throughout, the Engine, in addition to its first-class
finish in the working parts is handsomely appointed.
The frames are of polished angle iron or steel, or
handsomely painted, -
The boiler is mounted with a highly-burnished brass lagging
and chimney casing.
There are extra steam and water gauges to the boiler, so
that the engineer and stoker can see their respective gauges without moving
from their posts.
The wheels have polished hubs and are elaborately painted
and gold-lined on their felloes and spokes.
The tool-boxes are of polished mahogany, or of mahogany
painted and lined in gold.
The bell is polished, and handsomely engraved with the name,
number, or arms at' the brigade.
The air-vessels are of copper, burnished; and the pumps are
of gun-metal or phosphor bronze, highly finished.
The buckets are of leather, painted and lettered, and the
tools are all of polished steel. The Engine throughout is of the best construction
and material.
By means of "dividing breechings" each Engine will
pump three or four jets of water simultaneously.
PATENT SINGLE-CYLINDER STEAM FIRE ENGINE-"AMERICA”
The following
articles are included with each Engine:-injector with Tank complete Pressure Gauges Feed Pump, Feed from main
Pump, one Copper Strainer, four Copper
Branch Pipes (two long and two short). two supports for branch pipes, six gun
metal nozzles, four handsome brass lamps with reflectors, water bags for
wheels, engine hose and suction wrenches, shifting wrench, stoking irons, Oil cans,
spare valve facings, and gauge glasses, and sway bars for horses, hand pole and
ropes, complete without suction and delivery hoses
Printed instructions for working-and keeping Fire Engines in
order are sent with each Engine.
NOTE: for use with Steam Fire Engine leather hose is preferable
to either rubber, lined canvas or plain leather hose as it Iasts many years and
can be easily repaired if injured at a fire. Canvas hose cannot be repaired
with facility neither is it serviceable for hard and rough usage as it is quickly
damaged by over rough roads, flint walls, and slate roofs.
Extra for improved Lever Brake to act on both hind wheels, £10.
Greenwich Road, S.E.; and 63, Long Acre, WC London.
Merryweather and Sons Time-line
Merryweather - the early days of the firm before they arrived in Greenwich
c. 1690 or 1692 - Nathaniel Hadley. ‘Cross Street’ London. Manufacture of small manual pumps, leather fire buckets etc.
1738 – fire engine factory built, corner of Bow Street and Long Acre. 63 Long
Acre and Nathaniel Hadley moved in
1750– Adam Nuttall started a company in Long Acre building manual fire pumps.
1765 - Adam
Neuttall’s widow Elizabeth, in Long Acre, advertised as fire engine maker to the
King and Navy.
1799 – by this
time predecessors of Merryweather supplied black jacks (leather tankard ‘bottels’)
and coal buckets to the Greenwich Hospital.
1807 - Moses M
apprenticed to fire applicance maker Hadley.
1823 – Hadley & Simpkin at 63 Long Acre listed as Engine Makers.
1829 Braithwaite & Ericsson make the first steam fire engine, but it was not
adopted for public use. Parts of their engines probably used to make
the Novelty for the Rainhill Trials. Moses Merryweather is described as Managing Clerk
to Hadley & Co, Long Acre.
1834 - Moses Merryweather
assisted at a fire at the Houses of Parliament, An experimental Braithwaite & Ericsson engine worked well at this
fire.
1836 - Moses
Merryweather took control of the firm and renamed it.
1838 - Moses Merryweather assisted at a fire in Inner Temple, London. A fire in the engine room
of I.K. Brunel’s ship the Great Western was doused
by a Merryweather fire engine/auxiliary pump.
Friday, 9 October 2015
Siemens Woolwich site - what is happening now!
Thanks to the Siemens Engineering Society we have an update - extracted from their new booklet - about what is happening on their old Woolwich site from the perspective of the Society. Thanks to Brian Middlemiss who wrote and published the following piece (very slightly edited). Copies of the original are deposited at the Greenwich Heritage Centre
THE WOOLWICH WORKS
"Our old Woolwich Works is
now known as The Westminster Industrial Estate.
Members of the Siemens
Engineering Society wanted a memorial to
Siemens Brothers on the site of the old
Woolwich Works. The site was owned and managed by The Co-operative Insurance
Society and an industrial sculpture was suggested to link the past and the present. A sculptress produced
a model based on a Motor Uniselector mounted on two cable drums".
Brian Middlemiss continues with what happened
next:
"The project went into a six month delay due to the popularity of the Sculptress following her London exhibition. However we were shocked to learn in October 2005 that the CIS had sold its entire Property Portfolio to AXA Real Estate ....our project became a watching brief with updates every six months.
"The project went into a six month delay due to the popularity of the Sculptress following her London exhibition. However we were shocked to learn in October 2005 that the CIS had sold its entire Property Portfolio to AXA Real Estate ....our project became a watching brief with updates every six months.
AXA slowly developed their own plans for
the site and put an architect's scheme in place which involved liaison with Greenwich Council, refurbishment and re-use
(leasing) some of the original
Siemens buildings and a residential aspect. This was a significant investment,
interest had been expressed in the historical
aspects of the site, but everything depended on the success of the AXA plans
and the market demand for refurbished warehouse/workshop accommodation.
The economic downturn in
2008 resulted in little progress being made. AXA confmned in April 2009 that a feasibility study for buildings 64 and 61 C (the old
IR Building) had been completed with a projected expenditure of £3 .5m to
refurbish them. However due the economic climate and little demand the refurbishment project
was mothballed. AtOctober 2009 there was no meaningful progress, the plans still not being
viable. AXA continued to manage the existing tenants in the Victorian buildings and had
been able to do some smalllettings in the buildings, but in their existing condition. There was
some progress on the more traditional warehouse buildings, they had substantially refurbished
four warehouse units along Warspite Road.
Again there was little
progress over the next six months to April 2010. However one avenue of interest
was received from film companies who wanted to use the buildings and surrounds
for filming adverts, pop videos and
movies. It was hoped this may provide some short term income and an agreement was signed with a location
company. As a point of interest the film "Blow Up" was
partly filmed in Maryon Park opposite the Woolwich Works.
There were no major
changes on the estate, with no redevelopment or refurbishment plans for the
multi-story warehouse buildings to report in October 2010. AXA had however just
completed a
major refurbishment of 150 Yate1y Street, which included full redecoration and
a new roof and
had let this unit to an importer of electricity generators from China. This
area was where our
staff canteen once stood. There had also
been numerous film and stills photography enquiries
and a couple of shoots had taken place; a pop video and a magazine shoot.
A significant change had taken place by
April 2011. The London Borough (LB) of Greenwich had
announced the potential for expansion of residential development along the
Thames frontage over a 20 year time frame.
In early September 2011 I received an enquiry from Andrew Williamson
of Mott MacDonald. The LB of Greenwich now planned to build a University Technical College (UTC) on our old site ana Mott MacDonald were
the Project Managers. They needed to know more about the Siemens works and in particular the
south western corner marked up on a map provided. With Bill Philpott's help we put
together a quite detailed reply which provided some background; the nature
of the business conducted on the site and specifically on the south western corner,
known to ,us as the Auto-Rack Wiring Shop G53.
I had also mentioned in my
reply that we kept a watching brief on the site in the long term
hope that one day some sort of memorial or plaque would be put in place on the
site to reflect the 100+ years occupancy by Siemens Brothers. Mr Williamson
much appreciated our detailed and fascinating overview of the Siemens works
which was very helpful to him, he was also especially fascinated by the industrial history. The
proposed UTC would have specialisms in engineering and construction and was
linked to industrial sponsors. He suggested that this link , may be of interest to the UTC and he forwarded our comments to the
College. I seized the opportunity and sent another email which detailed the
very close links and long association between
Siemens Brothers, the Engineering Society and Lewisham College [the old SELTEC]
now a part of the University of Greenwich, one of the
sponsors of the new UTC. As events later transpired, this proved to be a significant piece of information.
By Oct 2011 the proposal that
the LB of Greenwich planned to build a UTC on our old site had been formally
announced. In February 2012 the LB of Greenwich produced their long term
strategy report for "Charlton Riverside" all 54 pages of it, which I
made available to members at our April 2012 meeting. The proposal to build a UTC
on our old site had been agreed and the south western corner of the site had
been sold to the LB of Greenwich. They had
also purchased the former Victorian school, next to our
old site, at the time this school was known as Holborn
College.
By October 2012 the Holborn College building
had been restored as a primary school and had reopened in September 2012. The land on the south western corner of our site, sold to the LB
of'Greenwich, was
now being redeveloped
for use as a UTC and it was intended that it
would open in September 2013. So after many years it was all happening on our old site, with the exception that the
situation regarding the old Victorian multi-storey buildings remained unchanged.
At our April 2013 meeting I
was able to report that the UTC development was progressing on
schedule with the planned opening in September
2013. Events had also moved forward with
regard to the older multi-storey buildings. AXA were carrying out an
exercise of cleaning the
vacant buildings including the removal of asbestos and de-contamination further
to pigeon
infestation. Increased interest was being received (predominately from house
builders and
developers) in the buildings due to the longer term plans for the Charlton
Riverside area. AXA
had also now sold 50 Bowater Road to the adjoining owner, who was planning to refurbish the
building and expand their business of letting small suites to artists and small
creative businesses. At our final meeting in
October 2013 I reported that the Greenwich UTC was
virtually complete
and that the College was enrolling its first students. The building was to be
formally opened on
24 October 2013, this proved to be a significant event for the Society - more later. The multi- storey buildings were still undergoing the cleaning and asbestos removal process which was due to be completed in January 2014. There was still interest in the multi-storey buildings for residential use, however, Greenwich Council were now unsure as to whether they want to allow this use on the estate and it may be that they allocate the area as strategic industrial land in the next local plan. This would fix the use for the next 15 years. AXA, not surprisingly, were trying to resist this as the buildings were not really a viable commercial proposition in the current use as not many modem occupiers want to be located above ground floor.
24 October 2013, this proved to be a significant event for the Society - more later. The multi- storey buildings were still undergoing the cleaning and asbestos removal process which was due to be completed in January 2014. There was still interest in the multi-storey buildings for residential use, however, Greenwich Council were now unsure as to whether they want to allow this use on the estate and it may be that they allocate the area as strategic industrial land in the next local plan. This would fix the use for the next 15 years. AXA, not surprisingly, were trying to resist this as the buildings were not really a viable commercial proposition in the current use as not many modem occupiers want to be located above ground floor.
There is clearly a sense of
irony that our old site could be allocated as strategic industrial land,
back where it all started well over 100 years ago.
Monday, 5 October 2015
Very small amount of stuff in the post
A few newsletters and stuff have turned up over the past fortnight, not much, to be honest.
Lewisham Local History Newsletter. Really this edition is all about Forest Hill, and like places in Lewisham which even I can't argue are really in Greenwich! There is a note about a Heritage Exhibition on 10-17th October at St.Mary's Church, which will cover some of the joint history when in 918 lands in Greenwich and Lewisham were left to St.Peter's Abbey in Ghent. There is also an appeal for speakers on local history items at Manor House Library on Wednesday mornings (info Robert.Tamplin@Lewisham.gov.uk)
GLIAS Newsletter - This includes an article by Peter Butt on Millennium Mills - its not in Greenwich but you can see it from Greenwich! Otherwise - they list the following meetings which might be of interest:
17th February. GLIAS lecture. Father Thames, Still alive and kicking. The Changing Role of Thames Wharves. David Hilling. Swedenborg Hall, Barter Street, WC1 6.30
18th May. GLIAS AGM The Gallery, Cowcross Street, EC1
4th November. Trinity Buoy Wharf by Eric Reynolds. Docklands History Group, Museum in Docklands 5.30 (well, again, you can see it from Greenwich)
- and also - Danny Hayton and Andrew Turner's Greenwich Peninsula walk last Saturday seemed to go very well. I understand it took over three hours to get round - and that they were advised by Elizabeth Pearcey at Enderby Wharf with piles of Enderby Group leaflets. On the walk was a visitor from Germany - Barbara Gasometra Berger - here to look at our gasholders, and hot on the heels of a previous visitor with similar intentions from Finland. So, welcome, to Barbara, and glad she described our massive East Greenwich No.1. holder as 'adorable'.
Beale of East Greenwich - Elizabeth Pearcey has shared with us an article from Newcomen Society Links (which is on a members only website). This is by Bob Carr and talks about the rotary engine patented by Joshua Beale who had a works on part of the site of Enderby Wharf in the early 19th century. It is illustrated with a copy of part of his patent. Rotary engines are an interesting subject and Bob is hoping to put forward the view that they were a more common and more long lasting design than has previously been thought. More about the Beales in due course.
Links also a note about the Enderby Group, its work and links to recent publications by Stewart Ash.
English Heritage have sent us notes of some archaeological work about to start:
Phase 7/8 Riverside, Woolwich (LAG/011/387)
and PLOT M0401, OLD SCHOOL CLOSE, GREENWICH PENINSULA: 14/3601/F (LAG/011/271) - archaeology (this includes a full site briefing - happy to share if someone emails marymillsmmmmm@aol.com)
and - hope you have all been down to see Bullet from a Shooting Star. It is on Point Wharf, by the way, not the gas works or any part of the gas works site. It claims to be reminiscent of industry on the Peninsula - do we think that is so? And do we have any thoughts on what is clearly a triumph of structural engineering??
and - for thoughts on the 19th century telecoms revolution - try http://www.scrambledmessages.ac.uk/
Lewisham Local History Newsletter. Really this edition is all about Forest Hill, and like places in Lewisham which even I can't argue are really in Greenwich! There is a note about a Heritage Exhibition on 10-17th October at St.Mary's Church, which will cover some of the joint history when in 918 lands in Greenwich and Lewisham were left to St.Peter's Abbey in Ghent. There is also an appeal for speakers on local history items at Manor House Library on Wednesday mornings (info Robert.Tamplin@Lewisham.gov.uk)
GLIAS Newsletter - This includes an article by Peter Butt on Millennium Mills - its not in Greenwich but you can see it from Greenwich! Otherwise - they list the following meetings which might be of interest:
17th February. GLIAS lecture. Father Thames, Still alive and kicking. The Changing Role of Thames Wharves. David Hilling. Swedenborg Hall, Barter Street, WC1 6.30
18th May. GLIAS AGM The Gallery, Cowcross Street, EC1
4th November. Trinity Buoy Wharf by Eric Reynolds. Docklands History Group, Museum in Docklands 5.30 (well, again, you can see it from Greenwich)
- and also - Danny Hayton and Andrew Turner's Greenwich Peninsula walk last Saturday seemed to go very well. I understand it took over three hours to get round - and that they were advised by Elizabeth Pearcey at Enderby Wharf with piles of Enderby Group leaflets. On the walk was a visitor from Germany - Barbara Gasometra Berger - here to look at our gasholders, and hot on the heels of a previous visitor with similar intentions from Finland. So, welcome, to Barbara, and glad she described our massive East Greenwich No.1. holder as 'adorable'.
Beale of East Greenwich - Elizabeth Pearcey has shared with us an article from Newcomen Society Links (which is on a members only website). This is by Bob Carr and talks about the rotary engine patented by Joshua Beale who had a works on part of the site of Enderby Wharf in the early 19th century. It is illustrated with a copy of part of his patent. Rotary engines are an interesting subject and Bob is hoping to put forward the view that they were a more common and more long lasting design than has previously been thought. More about the Beales in due course.
Links also a note about the Enderby Group, its work and links to recent publications by Stewart Ash.
English Heritage have sent us notes of some archaeological work about to start:
Phase 7/8 Riverside, Woolwich (LAG/011/387)
and PLOT M0401, OLD SCHOOL CLOSE, GREENWICH PENINSULA: 14/3601/F (LAG/011/271) - archaeology (this includes a full site briefing - happy to share if someone emails marymillsmmmmm@aol.com)
and - hope you have all been down to see Bullet from a Shooting Star. It is on Point Wharf, by the way, not the gas works or any part of the gas works site. It claims to be reminiscent of industry on the Peninsula - do we think that is so? And do we have any thoughts on what is clearly a triumph of structural engineering??and - for thoughts on the 19th century telecoms revolution - try http://www.scrambledmessages.ac.uk/
Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Siemens Woolwich - a brief history
Siemens Brothers was one of the most important of our local industries. Although they closed as long ago as 1968 the Engineering Society attached to the works has continued to meet until very recently. As mentioned in an earlier post we have just received a supplementary volume to their original report published in 2009.
This supplement is packed with interesting information about the Woolwich works - but before we go on here is a copy of their front page, a brief history of the Company so that we all know where we are.
William Siemens first
conducted business in London in 1843 and in 1847 became an Agent for Siemens & Halske. This company had been established in Germany that year by his
elder brother Wemer and Johann Georg Halske, a highly skilled mechanical engineer. Siemens & Halske
had established a telegraph factory in Berlin, but
it became clear that London needed a permanent staff, warehouse and workshop
and thus in 1858 the Siemens & Halske Company was founded in London,
England. William, Wemer and Halske (who apart from being a
partner, was also in charge ofthe workshop) paid in £1000 each.
From its humble start at Woolwich, when
employees averaged around 800 total, the Company grew to encompass over 20,000 employees world wide. Employees at Woolwich reached a peak in the WWII period of 9,500 total, but
generally averaged around
8,000 in the post war years. iJ
This supplement is packed with interesting information about the Woolwich works - but before we go on here is a copy of their front page, a brief history of the Company so that we all know where we are.
SIEMENS BROTHERS
ENGINEERING SOCIETY
A brief history of the Company
William Siemens first
conducted business in London in 1843 and in 1847 became an Agent for Siemens & Halske. This company had been established in Germany that year by his
elder brother Wemer and Johann Georg Halske, a highly skilled mechanical engineer. Siemens & Halske
had established a telegraph factory in Berlin, but
it became clear that London needed a permanent staff, warehouse and workshop
and thus in 1858 the Siemens & Halske Company was founded in London,
England. William, Wemer and Halske (who apart from being a
partner, was also in charge ofthe workshop) paid in £1000 each.
In 1863 with continued expansion, Siemens & Halske of London bought a piece of land on the Thames in Woolwich
and built on it a cable factory,
a mechanical workshop and
stores. In 1865 Halske withdrew his support from the
Company; largely as a consequence of William and Halske's disagreements over the risks involved in the cable business. The two remaining
partners, William and Werner Siemens, took over the assets of Siemens & Halske
and re-registered the business as Siemens
Brothers, London. Siemens
Brothers became a Limited Company in 1880 and pioneered research, development, engineering and manufacture of Electrical
Cables, Telegraph, Telephone, Signalling and Measuring Apparatus, Wireless
Equipment, Lamps, Lights and Batteries.
From its humble start at Woolwich, when
employees averaged around 800 total, the Company grew to encompass over 20,000 employees world wide. Employees at Woolwich reached a peak in the WWII period of 9,500 total, but
generally averaged around
8,000 in the post war years. iJ
In 1958 the Company celebrated its Centenary and was honoured with a visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. However the period
1958-1968 heralded many changes in the manufacturing
industry. Siemens Brothers became Siemens Edison Swan, a part of the
Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) Group, and was then renamed AEI Telecommunications.
This period was coincident with the emergence of electronics and the Company again played a pioneering role in the design, development, manufacture and installation
of the first electronic telephone exchanges. AEI was in
turn taken over by GEC which led to the closure of the Woolwich Works in 1968.
Ironically this closure was due mainly to serious over capacity in Britain's power
generation manufacturing companies at a period when the ex-Siemens
telecommunications business was flourishing.
Brian Middlemiss Thursday, 10 September 2015
NOTES AND STUFF IN THE POST
LAMAS NEWSLETTER - this comes regularly and lists local history events all round London. They seem to have removed GIHS and we need to see what we can do to remind them. Its bad enough we can't get listed in national Industrial History publications, on account of this being an electronic newsletter.
THE LAMAS NEWSLETTER contains an article about the Thames Discovery Programme which includes some notes about their work - the FROG Project - in Greenwich. This says: that the foreshore outside the Old Royal Naval College has been described by Gus Milne as the "most dynamic foreshore on the Thames" and that in 2011 the Greenwich Foreshore Recording and Observation Group was set up to monitor three main sites in the borough on a regular basis. - the key site being Greenwich Palace. The article goes on to describe visits to the foreshore and fieldwork. They found that many structures have been 'dramatically eroded' ie - 'Several previously recorded timbers from what had been interpreted as a Tudor jetty have disappeared' however 'several new features have become visible'. Changes have allowed 'a better understanding of the jettys construction and period' and that 'the majority of the wood used is elm, including the larger timbers, and many of the timbers have been pit sawn. Damian Goodburn has suggested that this would date the structure from about 1560 to 1660'. Furtherc 'The results of analysis support an interpretation that this structure could be the "King's Bridge" associated with Greenwich Palace, and that the
timbers currently visible may be the 1631 rebuild under Charles I'. and 'Further downstream, a causeway and granite platform around the Queen's Stairs is now clearly visible, and a large chalk barge bed is appearing east of the causeway'.
Perhaps I could comment here that it is a pity some of this energy is not going into investigating what could be the remains of the 1690s jetty at what is now Enderbys - and also the early 19th century tide mill and causeway at what used to be called Riverway, where any evidence will almost certainly be completely destroyed soon with not even a single photograph. Mary
WOODLANDS FARM
This is the usual cheery newsletter with articles of current interest of work going on. www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org
SUBTERRANEA BRITANNICA are advertising their Autumn Meeting on 10th October which includes items on PLUTO and on the Thames Tunnel at Rotherhithe info: meetings@subbrit.org.uk
TIDELINE ART. Mudlarker Nicola White has done a very interesting piece of research and constructed a whole life from a luggage label she found on the foreshore. Please read it http:/www.tidelineart.com/tideline-art-blog/a-river-thames-mudlarking-find-brings-to-life-world-war-one-soldier-Frederick-Jury-1873-1932
HISTORIC GAS TIMES - this includes an article from local gas historian Brian Sturt. It describes Gas Works Park in Seattle. Happy to give details of what he says (might even ask him to come and speak to GIHS about it) - Basically it is the same old story about how everywhere else in the world gas works remains are preserved ... but ... in England .....
Now - they are more interested in Gravesend in saving bits of Greenwich than we are! The following web site https://sites.google.com/site/riverthamesheritageopportunity/ is mainly interested in the riverside and cement industry sites in Northfleet. They include however a whole page about the drawdock at the end of Blackwall Lane - which they describe as 'Greenwich Peninsular O2 Arena Slipway'. It is well worth seeing what they say 'Greenwich Council would do well to insist that any further development .... this much needed facility can be brought back into use'. They also provide 'vision drawings' of what could be done 'all this slipway needs is space for cars and boat trailors to park and then it is back in business'.
Cory - now people in Spitalfields are more interested in the Charlton Riverside than we are. I would recommend (thanks to Darryl) 'Among the Thames Lightermen' from Spitalfields Life http://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen This is all about Corys which are still extant on the Charlton Riverside - and I think are a rather larger company than they appear and less easily picked off by developers. The article describes a voyage down river on one of their tugs which transport the city's waste (and the City's waste too) down river to where the rest of us can forget about it. (GIHS could do with a speaker on them too)
IN HACKNEY BUT - the East End Waterway Group are pointing out threats from developers to buildings in Hackney Wick. One of these is the first building where plastic (Parksine) was made on an industrial scale. They are also still concerned about Swan Wharf and Bream Street. https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-gb/suite (hope that works)
AND FINALLY - MORE NONSENSE FROM DEVELOPERS
I have been shown a copy of the Evening Standard 19th August 2015. This refers to the area of Greenwich now apparently known as 'Telegraph Works' - which at least shows even developers listen to the Enderby Group. However it goes on 'the site dates back to the Tudor Period when it served as a gunpowder store in Queen Elizabeth I's reign' ................... er .............. er - the gunpowder store was opened in the late 1690s which is 90 years after Elizabeth died..................... AND 'its last hurrah was as a tin foil factory which closed in 2013'. Well hooray!! can someone please tell us more about this hitherto unknown works which only closed two years ago. I don't rule its existence out - but Please tell us.
Comments welcomed
THE LAMAS NEWSLETTER contains an article about the Thames Discovery Programme which includes some notes about their work - the FROG Project - in Greenwich. This says: that the foreshore outside the Old Royal Naval College has been described by Gus Milne as the "most dynamic foreshore on the Thames" and that in 2011 the Greenwich Foreshore Recording and Observation Group was set up to monitor three main sites in the borough on a regular basis. - the key site being Greenwich Palace. The article goes on to describe visits to the foreshore and fieldwork. They found that many structures have been 'dramatically eroded' ie - 'Several previously recorded timbers from what had been interpreted as a Tudor jetty have disappeared' however 'several new features have become visible'. Changes have allowed 'a better understanding of the jettys construction and period' and that 'the majority of the wood used is elm, including the larger timbers, and many of the timbers have been pit sawn. Damian Goodburn has suggested that this would date the structure from about 1560 to 1660'. Furtherc 'The results of analysis support an interpretation that this structure could be the "King's Bridge" associated with Greenwich Palace, and that the
timbers currently visible may be the 1631 rebuild under Charles I'. and 'Further downstream, a causeway and granite platform around the Queen's Stairs is now clearly visible, and a large chalk barge bed is appearing east of the causeway'.
The
latest progress report by the Greenwich FROG may be found at:
http://www.thamesdiscovery.org/frog-blog/greenwich-monitoring-report-
2013-14.
Perhaps I could comment here that it is a pity some of this energy is not going into investigating what could be the remains of the 1690s jetty at what is now Enderbys - and also the early 19th century tide mill and causeway at what used to be called Riverway, where any evidence will almost certainly be completely destroyed soon with not even a single photograph. Mary
WOODLANDS FARM
This is the usual cheery newsletter with articles of current interest of work going on. www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org
SUBTERRANEA BRITANNICA are advertising their Autumn Meeting on 10th October which includes items on PLUTO and on the Thames Tunnel at Rotherhithe info: meetings@subbrit.org.uk
TIDELINE ART. Mudlarker Nicola White has done a very interesting piece of research and constructed a whole life from a luggage label she found on the foreshore. Please read it http:/www.tidelineart.com/tideline-art-blog/a-river-thames-mudlarking-find-brings-to-life-world-war-one-soldier-Frederick-Jury-1873-1932
HISTORIC GAS TIMES - this includes an article from local gas historian Brian Sturt. It describes Gas Works Park in Seattle. Happy to give details of what he says (might even ask him to come and speak to GIHS about it) - Basically it is the same old story about how everywhere else in the world gas works remains are preserved ... but ... in England .....
Now - they are more interested in Gravesend in saving bits of Greenwich than we are! The following web site https://sites.google.com/site/riverthamesheritageopportunity/ is mainly interested in the riverside and cement industry sites in Northfleet. They include however a whole page about the drawdock at the end of Blackwall Lane - which they describe as 'Greenwich Peninsular O2 Arena Slipway'. It is well worth seeing what they say 'Greenwich Council would do well to insist that any further development .... this much needed facility can be brought back into use'. They also provide 'vision drawings' of what could be done 'all this slipway needs is space for cars and boat trailors to park and then it is back in business'.
Cory - now people in Spitalfields are more interested in the Charlton Riverside than we are. I would recommend (thanks to Darryl) 'Among the Thames Lightermen' from Spitalfields Life http://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/09/among-the-thames-lightermen This is all about Corys which are still extant on the Charlton Riverside - and I think are a rather larger company than they appear and less easily picked off by developers. The article describes a voyage down river on one of their tugs which transport the city's waste (and the City's waste too) down river to where the rest of us can forget about it. (GIHS could do with a speaker on them too)
IN HACKNEY BUT - the East End Waterway Group are pointing out threats from developers to buildings in Hackney Wick. One of these is the first building where plastic (Parksine) was made on an industrial scale. They are also still concerned about Swan Wharf and Bream Street. https://mail.aol.com/webmail-std/en-gb/suite (hope that works)
AND FINALLY - MORE NONSENSE FROM DEVELOPERS
I have been shown a copy of the Evening Standard 19th August 2015. This refers to the area of Greenwich now apparently known as 'Telegraph Works' - which at least shows even developers listen to the Enderby Group. However it goes on 'the site dates back to the Tudor Period when it served as a gunpowder store in Queen Elizabeth I's reign' ................... er .............. er - the gunpowder store was opened in the late 1690s which is 90 years after Elizabeth died..................... AND 'its last hurrah was as a tin foil factory which closed in 2013'. Well hooray!! can someone please tell us more about this hitherto unknown works which only closed two years ago. I don't rule its existence out - but Please tell us.
Comments welcomed
Tuesday, 8 September 2015
The Eponymous Enderbys
Review
The story starts with Daniel Enderby, born at the beginning of 17th
century and, in later life, rewarded by Oliver Cromwell with lands in
Ireland. His son Samuell sold these
lands and set up as a tanner in Bermondsey.
Four generations of Enderbys ran the tannery, but then Samuel (spelt
with one ‘l’), 1719-1797, trained as a cooper and was admitted to the
Worshipful Company of Coopers. He set up
in business when barrels were commonly used to pack a range of goods. This brought him into contact with a Mr
Buxton, a merchant, whose daughter Elizabeth he married in 1752. Over the next ten years they had seven
children though one died young, the third a son they called Samuel (denoted
Samuel junior in the narrative). Samuel’s
main residence was in London, but in 1758 he leased a house in Greenwich; in which
Elizabeth took up residence. Thereafter
various members of the family lived in Greenwich and Blackheath, a well-to-do
area not far from London, for nearly hundred years.
Buxton & Enderby was founded ca1765, at St Paul’s Wharf in London. They developed a successful business trading with the American colonies – shipping out British goods and bringing back whale oil and seal skins. Americans crossed the Atlantic too, one being Nathaniel Wheatley who came to England with his adopted sister Phillis to promote her poetry; she had been taken to America to be sold as a slave but was adopted, and educated, by Nathaniel’s parents. While in London, Nathaniel met and married Mary, Samuel Enderby’s eldest daughter; after the wedding they returned to Boston, where Nathaniel acted as the agent for the Enderbys. This was just after the Boston Tea Party, which involved ships used by Buxton & Enderby, though it is not clear whether they were owned or leased, or to what extent it was their tea that was lost.
In 1775 Samuel founded Samuel Enderby & Sons, to hunt whales, not just transport the oil. In 1783 Samuel junior was sent to Boston to engage Americans to crew Enderby whaling ships – they soon had 17 ships. By then whales had been all but eliminated in the north Atlantic and they were exploiting the south Atlantic. South Atlantic whales also became scarce. In 1788 their ship the Emilia (described in Moby Dick as the Amelia) initiated whaling in the Pacific, despite restrictions imposed by the East India Company. They set up base in what was to become Sydney.
In 1787 the Enderbys, then quite influential in London and seen as being in a respectable line of business, were granted arms featuring a ‘harpooner’. That year Samuel junior married Mary Goodwyn, daughter of a brewer; their first two babies died at birth but nine more survived. Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Henry Gordon of the Royal Artillery at the Greenwich parish church of St Alphege – one of her sons being General Gordon of Khartoum.
The family became wealthy and when Samuel (senior) died in 1797 he was able to bequeath four figure sums around the family, and ensure they could continue to live in style.
Samuel junior took the business to new heights; it peaked in 1891 with 68 ships owned or under charter. He encouraged his ship captains to explore the southern ocean in search of new whaling and seal hunting grounds. This resulted in the discovery of several island groups, including Auckland Islands found in1805. Eventually they reached Antarctica. However, no significant whaling grounds were found and decline set in – in a search for fewer and fewer whales the Enderby ships were outnumbered by American ships. In England oil lamps had largely given way to gas lighting and other uses were declining.
Samuel junior died in 1829. His eldest son, Samuel, had already become a professional soldier (whose fascinating story Mr Ash tells). The business was therefore left to the next three sons: Charles, Henry and George, though Henry took no active part. In 1830 it was renamed Messrs Enderby Brothers; they purchased a Thames-side site in Greenwich, which had first been developed as a naval gunpowder store, but which by then had a rope-walk. They developed and modernised this and added sail making, serving their own and others’ shipping interests. The site became known as Enderby Wharf, the name still in use today. Then, with dwindling resources, they left their London offices and premises at St Paul’s wharf, which they moved to Poplar.
Charles and George, however, were still explorers at heart, and were founder members of the Geographical Society (to become Royal in 1859). They organised three voyages during the 1830s, each with a pair of ships, to the southern ocean, which made notable contributions to the geography of the region; these put Charles Enderby into high regard and in1841 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
None of the three voyages had paid financially. However their trading and rope & sail making businesses made some money, and in 1834 they commissioned a new trading ship, named the Samuel Enderby. But in 1845 there was a devastating fire at the Enderby works. It was not rebuilt; instead Charles built himself a house on the site – still there, known as Enderby House – and listed Grade II. The house has an unusual and attractive ‘Octagon’ room on the top floor with a large window giving a good view of the Thames. The Geographical Society met there at Charles’ invitation.
Despite his enthusiasm for the southern ocean, Charles had never been there. But James Clark Ross had, and in 1840 had discovered a fine natural harbour in the Auckland Islands, which he said would be an ideal site for a whaling station. Charles decided to go and set one up. The Enderbys could not finance such an expedition themselves and set up the Southern Whale Fishing Company. The British Government granted a 20 year lease of the Auckland Islands to the Company and named Charles Enderby as the Lieutenant-Governor. He set sail on the Samuel Enderby with two other ships in August 1849, and arrived in December. A settlement was soon built, but then things deteriorated; Charles, who proved to be ineffective, was evicted. By 1852 the settlement was abandoned. Charles was in Wellington vainly trying to clear his name; in 1853 he returned to London but fared no better.
After his return it became possible to wind up Messrs Enderby Brothers, duly done in 1854. By then none of the Enderby family was still living in the Greenwich district. George had moved to Northfleet, Kent. When Charles died in 1876 he was a lodger in Holborn.
The Eponymous Enderbys
by Stewart AshReview by Richard Buchanan
Enderby is a
name commemorated in Greenwich, particularly by Enderby House at Enderby Wharf. The name is of a family whose story Mr Ash
describes in detail; one that prospered, rose to the top of London society, but
then declined; a family whose fortunes took them to America and to become
explorers in the southern ocean.
 |
| The Samuel Enderby |
Buxton & Enderby was founded ca1765, at St Paul’s Wharf in London. They developed a successful business trading with the American colonies – shipping out British goods and bringing back whale oil and seal skins. Americans crossed the Atlantic too, one being Nathaniel Wheatley who came to England with his adopted sister Phillis to promote her poetry; she had been taken to America to be sold as a slave but was adopted, and educated, by Nathaniel’s parents. While in London, Nathaniel met and married Mary, Samuel Enderby’s eldest daughter; after the wedding they returned to Boston, where Nathaniel acted as the agent for the Enderbys. This was just after the Boston Tea Party, which involved ships used by Buxton & Enderby, though it is not clear whether they were owned or leased, or to what extent it was their tea that was lost.
In 1775 Samuel founded Samuel Enderby & Sons, to hunt whales, not just transport the oil. In 1783 Samuel junior was sent to Boston to engage Americans to crew Enderby whaling ships – they soon had 17 ships. By then whales had been all but eliminated in the north Atlantic and they were exploiting the south Atlantic. South Atlantic whales also became scarce. In 1788 their ship the Emilia (described in Moby Dick as the Amelia) initiated whaling in the Pacific, despite restrictions imposed by the East India Company. They set up base in what was to become Sydney.
 |
| Enderby Wharf from the river in the mid-19th century (kind permission Roger Marshall) |
In 1787 the Enderbys, then quite influential in London and seen as being in a respectable line of business, were granted arms featuring a ‘harpooner’. That year Samuel junior married Mary Goodwyn, daughter of a brewer; their first two babies died at birth but nine more survived. Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, married Henry Gordon of the Royal Artillery at the Greenwich parish church of St Alphege – one of her sons being General Gordon of Khartoum.
The family became wealthy and when Samuel (senior) died in 1797 he was able to bequeath four figure sums around the family, and ensure they could continue to live in style.
Samuel junior took the business to new heights; it peaked in 1891 with 68 ships owned or under charter. He encouraged his ship captains to explore the southern ocean in search of new whaling and seal hunting grounds. This resulted in the discovery of several island groups, including Auckland Islands found in1805. Eventually they reached Antarctica. However, no significant whaling grounds were found and decline set in – in a search for fewer and fewer whales the Enderby ships were outnumbered by American ships. In England oil lamps had largely given way to gas lighting and other uses were declining.
Samuel junior died in 1829. His eldest son, Samuel, had already become a professional soldier (whose fascinating story Mr Ash tells). The business was therefore left to the next three sons: Charles, Henry and George, though Henry took no active part. In 1830 it was renamed Messrs Enderby Brothers; they purchased a Thames-side site in Greenwich, which had first been developed as a naval gunpowder store, but which by then had a rope-walk. They developed and modernised this and added sail making, serving their own and others’ shipping interests. The site became known as Enderby Wharf, the name still in use today. Then, with dwindling resources, they left their London offices and premises at St Paul’s wharf, which they moved to Poplar.
Charles and George, however, were still explorers at heart, and were founder members of the Geographical Society (to become Royal in 1859). They organised three voyages during the 1830s, each with a pair of ships, to the southern ocean, which made notable contributions to the geography of the region; these put Charles Enderby into high regard and in1841 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
None of the three voyages had paid financially. However their trading and rope & sail making businesses made some money, and in 1834 they commissioned a new trading ship, named the Samuel Enderby. But in 1845 there was a devastating fire at the Enderby works. It was not rebuilt; instead Charles built himself a house on the site – still there, known as Enderby House – and listed Grade II. The house has an unusual and attractive ‘Octagon’ room on the top floor with a large window giving a good view of the Thames. The Geographical Society met there at Charles’ invitation.
 |
| The Enderby rope and canvas works burns down |
Despite his enthusiasm for the southern ocean, Charles had never been there. But James Clark Ross had, and in 1840 had discovered a fine natural harbour in the Auckland Islands, which he said would be an ideal site for a whaling station. Charles decided to go and set one up. The Enderbys could not finance such an expedition themselves and set up the Southern Whale Fishing Company. The British Government granted a 20 year lease of the Auckland Islands to the Company and named Charles Enderby as the Lieutenant-Governor. He set sail on the Samuel Enderby with two other ships in August 1849, and arrived in December. A settlement was soon built, but then things deteriorated; Charles, who proved to be ineffective, was evicted. By 1852 the settlement was abandoned. Charles was in Wellington vainly trying to clear his name; in 1853 he returned to London but fared no better.
After his return it became possible to wind up Messrs Enderby Brothers, duly done in 1854. By then none of the Enderby family was still living in the Greenwich district. George had moved to Northfleet, Kent. When Charles died in 1876 he was a lodger in Holborn.
 |
| Enderby House today - the only listed building on the Greenwich Peninsula it is now owned by developers. |
This review
briefly tells the main story of the Eponymous
Enderbys – and gives only isolated glimpses of the detailed stories Mr Ash
includes in his narrative of the numerous family connections; of business
associates, many of whom were neighbours; and of the people connected with
whaling and the sad downfall of Charles Enderby. It is altogether a fascinating history.
The derelict
Enderby Wharf site was sold in 1857 to Glass, Elliot & Co and W T Henley, to
manufacture subsea telegraph cables; they used Enderby House for their management
offices and boardroom. After this the
site really prospered and played a pivotal role in the development of subsea
cable systems for the next 150 years. A
story told by Stewart Ash in a companion booklet:
The Story of Subsea Telecommunications and its Association with
Enderby House
Sunday, 6 September 2015
Greenwich Park Bandstand - Deane and Co,
GIHS was sent a query about the Greenwich Park Bandstand - this had been to a number of people and organisations - here is the response from one of our members - Barbara Holland
(and thanks Barbara. Hope this is ok.)
Greenwich Park
Bandstand - Deane and Company
A question has been raised regarding why the name Deane & Co. is stamped into the columns of the bandstand in Greenwich Park when it has been generally accepted that it was made by the Coalbrookdale Company. I have done some research into Deane & Co., and based on this have proposed two theories that might throw some light on this ‘mystery’.
The Bandstand,
Greenwich Park
The lettering - ‘DEANE
& CO LONDON’ - can be seen on the base of each of the columns which join
the decorative cast iron panelsand support the roof made by the Coalbrookdale
Company :
Deane & Co. were a long-established business – their
advertising (1868) claims they started in 1700 – manufacturing and selling a
wide range of metal products:
I can find mention of them as far back as 1785 at 39 Fish
Hill Street in the City of London, as a patent shot warehouse, with a George
Deane (born 1745) described as a hardwareman (ironmonger).In 1799 their main
business appears to be gunmaking, with the company run by George and son Edward
Deane (born 1777 in Fish Street Hill).
In 1803 the company had moved to 41 Fish Hill Street at the corner of
Arthur Street. The 1819 Post Office
Directory has it listed as John & George Deane, hardwaremen, and Pigot’s
Directory of 1825/26 as George Deane, Birmingham and Sheffield Warehouse.
Fish Street Hill,
1795 (Museum of London)
In 1838, the business moved again to 46 King William Street
and is listed as a gun and pistol warehouse, ironmonger, cutler and
jeweller. In 1846 the gunmaking side
moved to 30 King William Street. At this time, George and John Deane formed a
number of partnerships that diversified into stove and range making at 86
Chiswell Street, and saddle making at 2, Arthur Street East. They were
well-renowned gunmakers, appointed as gunmakers to Prince Albert in 1848, and
exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851.
In 1853 the firm won a bronze medal for a fowling piece at the New York Exhibition, and in 1855 a Prize medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition ("carabines, rifles et fusils de chasse, pistolet et revolver").
In 1853 the firm won a bronze medal for a fowling piece at the New York Exhibition, and in 1855 a Prize medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition ("carabines, rifles et fusils de chasse, pistolet et revolver").
King William Street c
1880 (Museum of London)
So, what are my theories?
Is it possible that the columns on the bandstand were supplied
separately, as a sub-contract maybe, by Deane & Co. and the panels, roof
etc by the Coalbrookdale Company? Or, somewhat less likely, were the columns
salvaged from Deane &Co’s premises when they made way for the new King
William Street underground station? The
bandstand was erected in 1891, just after the company closed.
I’d be interested in hearing what other people think?
Barbara Holland
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