Letters May 2004
From: Norma Chantler
How very, very pleased I was to locate my husband's great grandfather on
the 1871 Census living with fellow members of the Army Service Corps in
Woolwich, Woolwich Arsenal, District 9. Henry Joseph Horton served in the
Crimean War, in the Army Works Corps as a Labourer for 13 months. We have a
copy of the original discharge certificate dated 6th August 1856. Is there any
way I could obtain a copy of a history of the Woolwich Arsenal? I would be
eternally grateful if you could provide me with more information.
From: Dave
I have a round aneroid barometer which bears the inscription Henry Ward which through research I believe it to have come from such a
Thames Sludge vessel. The maker of the item was Lilley & Reynolds Ltd based in Wellclose Square,
London, but I have drawn a blank on the name. Could you help me or point me in
the right direction so as I can find out who Henry Ward was?
From Barbara Ludlow
I read the front page of the last newsletter about the opening of
the Greenwich
Heritage Centre – plenty about the Arsenal but nothing about the new Search Room –
and only something about Julian Watson’s contribution and
retirement at the bottom of the back page. What a pity this wasn’t on the front
page! I remember the walk that Julian and I did that Sunday morning in October
1975 with Director of Leisure, Chris Field, and Cllrs. Jim Gillman, Derek
Penfold, etc.. It was to prove to them just how important it was to protect the
riverside walk.
Sorry Barbara – I thought that it would
be better to pay tribute to Julian’s work separately from the note about the
Heritage Centre and that it would be more prominent on the back
page. Editor.
From: Jean Williams
I just came across your Web site and was very interested to read one of
the letters regarding J. Stone & Co. (extract:
"That makes reference to J. Stones and Co., Deptford as the producers of
the propellers for the QM"). My father worked for this Company from the
age of 14 until he retired at 65. 1930-1981. He told me he made the propellers
for the QM! Do you know if any records have survived, as I would love to find
out more?
From: Dennis Grubb
Is there any resource I can use to find Brickyards and Brickmakers in the Deptford and Greenwich areas about
1700 to 1825?
From: Virginia Stola
I read with interest the article on the Charlton Fire and in particular, the mention of Mrs. Eliza Ayles. I believe she is my great-great grandmother. On
the 1871 census, Eliza's occupation is listed as a rope manufacturer. I have
several questions concerning the rope company:
What was the name of the company in the 1800's and was it rebuilt after
the fire?
Does the company exist today and, if so, under what name?
Does the company exist today and, if so, under what name?
I am grateful for any information or the name of someone who knows the
history of this rope-making company.
From: The Crosses
I've been reading Francis Pryor's wonderful book Britain BC, in which he writes helpfully at a layperson's level about Neolithic
flint artifacts. In particular he mentions a childhood incident in which he
found himself briefly trapped in a Norfolk flint mine of prehistoric date
(maybe it was Grimes Graves??). It's 'design' was so clearly similar to the
Dene Holes I was familiar with as a child living in Joydens Wood, Bexley, that
I started to wonder whether the purpose of some of these was also flint mining.
I had never heard this offered as an explanation when I lived there 30-40 years
ago, though of course flints littered our garden. And of course great antiquity
was never suggested for these phenomena (well, at least, not at an anecdotal,
non professional archaeological level). So I wondered if there'd been any misinterpretation
here? Do you know any more?
From: John Janman
I sent you an email a short while ago about an old spirit glass I had etched with pub or brewery names and I have obtained a glass
etched within scrolls.... Property of The Bunker Greenwich. Would you believe it I have found the answer to my
question !!!! For future reference if needed.... The Bunker is at The Kings
Arms Greenwich. During the blitz in the Second World War a bar below the pub
was used so patrons could keep on drinking which was called The Bunker. PM
Numerous readers have sent in
contributions on The Bunker:
From: Diana Rimel
'The Bunker', Greenwich, was the colloquial name given to the Kings Arms
pub in King William Walk, most likely during the Second World War. It was
certainly referred to by this name by naval staff of the National Maritime
Museum when I worked there in the early 1970s. I am pretty sure the staff used
it as a place of refuge (and for drinking) during air raids.
From: Harold Slight
The 'Kings Arms', King William Walk, Greenwich was called 'The Bunker'
from the late 1930's to the 1950's. It was my father's favourite pub. The
landlord was Bill Barlow - a 6ft 4", 15 stone, down-to-earth Yorkshireman.
From: Iris Bryce
The pub in King William Walk at the entrance to Greenwich Market ‘The
Cricketers’ was called ‘The Bunker’ by my father and uncles.
From: Barbara Ludlow
My father, William Wellard, always referred to the Kings Arms in King
William Walk as 'The Bunker'. He said that the nickname came from the habit of
coal-heavers, in particular those working at the LCC power station at
Highbridge leaving their shovels leaning against the wall of the pub when they
took some refreshment. Whether it had the nickname before the pub was rebuilt
at the beginning of the twentieth century I cannot be sure about, but certainly
in the years before WW2 it was commonly known as 'The Bunker'. There is a photo
of old Kings Arms P.H. in M.Mills, Greenwich and
Woolwich at Work.
Editorial note: How is it that GIHS
members know so much about pubs?
From: Kelya
You cannot imagine my delight when I found Vol.3,
Issue 2 of March 2000 by Greenwich Industrial History Society on the Web,
with comprehensive notes regarding Charles Enderby and
the Auckland Islands in the "Making History" section and the article by
Barbara Ludlow titled "The Enderby Settlement Diaries". It has added
much to my research regarding the ill-conceived settlement and spurred me on to
find more information so I wanted you to know how much I appreciated the
article, albeit four years after it appeared in print. I am seeking the
passenger lists of the ships - "Brisk", "Fancy" and
"Samuel Enderby" which carried the intended settlers to the Islands
and am also endeavouring to have the Enderby Settlement Diaries checked for
Mann Family references. I would be happy to hear from any descendants of the
original settlers who may have contacted you following the articles, with a
view to exchanging data. Once again, many thanks to the GIHS for wonderfully
informative articles which certainly "struck a chord down under".
From: Flos Harrap
I have searched for information on George Mence Smith Ltd which I now
understand was founded in Greenwich and your society published an article on
this recently. I am keen to find out anything I can about the company, which I
remember from my childhood in Watford.
From: Ron Jones
One of the piers at Woolwich Arsenal which I think
is Victorian, is being dismantled as I write. I walk to Woolwich & back
every morning and evening and have been taking photographs of it being
dismantled. If anyone is interested I could put up a temp web page showing the
progress.
From: Edward Collins
I am interested in the copperas industry that flourished in Deptford and
Rotherhithe in the seventeenth century.
I came across your publication part of Christopher Philpott's study of
industry in Deptford published in the GIHS Newsletter Volume
4, Issue 2 (March 2001). In it he refers to the Copperas lands north of the
Gravel Pits where he says early dye and chemical manufacture was established by
Sir Nicholas Crispe. He also refers to a map of 1674 showing coppris beds on
the north side of Copperas Lane with coppris houses in the southeast corner and
to the east a dock opening onto the creek with a crane. I was wondering where I
might be able to view the map he refers to and what his other sources are. My
particular interest is in James Smith (1587-1667) and his son, Sir John Smith
(1627-1673), both of whom were involved in the copperas industry in Redriff
(Rotherhithe). It seems that the lives of Sir Nicholas Crispe (1599?-1666) and
James Smith overlapped to a certain extent. For example, not only were they
both involved in the copperas and dyeing industries but also James Smith, like
Sir Nicholas, had a house at Hammersmith and was involved in the establishment
of the chapel of ease (now St Paul's) at Hammersmith (the church contains
memorials to both). Did their lives overlap in other ways as well? Sir John
Smith was Master of the Salters' Company at the time of his death in 1673. He
was also sheriff of London in 1669. The coppris works in Redriff (or Redderith)
were settled on Sir John by his father in 1662 and are described in Sir John's
will as follows:
".. .the coppris house and coppris works with the warehouses
[cisterns] beds boilers coolers yards grounds structures sheds and other
edifices thereunto belonging in Redderith aforesaid in the County of Surrey and
the wharf and crane and tenements near to the North East end of the said
coppris work and the messuage or tenement and lands late in the occupation of
William Stephens deceased and now in the tenure or occupation of Thomas Lunt
coppris maker adjoining at or near the said coppris house... [and] the Cole
Yard in Redderith aforesaid adjoining to the said coppris work on the East side
thereof... and certain lands meadow and pasture lying behind my coppris house
called Maddbrook alias Threescore Acres [alias Sixty Acres] in Redderith
aforesaid which I lately purchased of Mr John and Mr Cuthbert Winder of Bray
near Maidenhead..."
I would like to find out where the Smith copperas works were and whether
any records of them survive. Can any of your readers help either with this or
with general information about James and Sir John Smith and/or the extent of
the copperas industry in the area at the time?
From: SS Robin Trust
Morgan Stanley International Foundation have very
kindly awarded the Trust £10,000 towards the education programme - this is a
tremendous boost for everyone involved in trying to get the project off the
ground. The money will allow us to focus on bringing local schools into the
gallery over the summer, and means we can look ahead positively to teaching
kids on board there!
From: Roy Tindle
I am now in touch with the owner of the Mersey Ferry, Royal Iris, which has been moored for some years at the Thames Barrier. Work is
continuing on her and she is being restored.
From: Liza Walden
I wonder if you can help - my granddad, Edward Farrow, was working at the Woolwich Arsenal in the Second World War. I don't
know if there was an accident at the factory or the factory was bombed. He
lived but lost half an arm and some fingers on the other hand. I would much
appreciate any thing you could tell me about this accident.
From: Doreen Carter
Can anyone give me information about a Captain Langmead who was involved with CS Faraday?
From: Anthony Bryer
I am interested in Henry Bryer who lived in
Greenwich. In 1857 & 1864 he is described as a Floor Cloth Manufacturer. I
have been unable to trace any reference sin the trade directory. In
anticipation of your help.
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