David Pocock was born in London in 1928. He studied at Cambridge and Oxford before becoming a lecturer at the Institute of Anthropology in Oxford. In 1966 he moved to the University of Sussex. While there he was Director of the Tom Harrisson Mass Observation Archive at the University of Sussex. He retired in 1987, and died in 2008 aged 79.
The collection listed here consists of his personal genealogical records. His ancestors inhabited the London and Middlesex areas.
The Dunlop Rubber Company takes its name from John Boyd Dunlop, the first person to put the pneumatic principle into everyday use by making an air filled tube tyre for bicycles. However, he was only involved with the company from 1889 to 1894, when he joined a rival firm, Tubeless (Fleuss) Pneumatic Tyre Company.
The original company was the Pneumatic Tyre and Booth's Cycle Agency Ltd, founded in 1888 in Dublin. The name Dunlop Rubber Company was first used in 1889 for a private company created to serve as one of the manufacturing units for the founder company. This founder company changed its name several times: in 1893 to the Pneumatic Tyre Company Limited: in 1896 to the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company Limited and in 1913 to the Parent Tyre Company Limited. In 1931 the founder company went into liquidation.
In the meantime, Harvey Du Cros (who had helped to form the Pneumatic Tyre and Booth's Cycle Agency Ltd.) was providing finance to Byrne Bros., a Birmingham business engaged in the production of general rubber goods. In 1896 Byrne Bros. underwent flotation of the stock market as the Rubber Tyre Manufacturing Company based at Para Mill with the intention of building a new factory, Manor Mills, alongside it. Du Cros purchased the Manor Mills and the Rubber Tyre Manufacturing Company in 1900 and 1901 respectively, and the two companies were amalgamated to form the Dunlop Rubber Company Limited. This company purchased the founder company in 1912.
In subsequent years Dunlop expanded into a vast multinational organisation. By 1946 there were 90,000 shareholders and 70,000 employees with factories in many different countries, sales outlets in nearly every country, and rubber plantations in Southeast Asia (from 1910). Apart from merely producing tyres, the Dunlop Rubber Company Limited made cycle rims and motor car wheels from 1906 and in 1914 developed a process of spinning and doubling cotton for a new tyre fabric. A collapse in trade in 1922 after the post World War I boom led to financial and administrative reorganisation, but the inter war period also saw the development of Latex foam cushioning (sold by the subsidiary, Dunlopillo) and expansion by way of new factories in South Africa and India.
After World War II (during which Dunlop played a major part as suppliers of tyres and rubber goods to the allied forces). Dunlop expanded further to produce sports goods, sponge rubber, precision bearings and adhesives. Dunlop Holdings Limited (encompassing the whole company) was bought by BTR plc in 1985.
Brookes and Studd (Auctioneers and Estate Agents) were based at 136a Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, London.
Based at 64 Lincoln's Inn Fields, William Oliver was a solicitor involved in the development of land at Devonshire Road in Forest Hill, Lewisham.
William was trustee of the Wills of his father (Thomas) and brother (Arthur) and the Marriage Settlement of his sister (Mrs Sanders).
The property in Edmonton was situated adjacent to Green Lanes, bounded by the New River and Barrowell Green. Abstract of title is a summary of prior ownership of a property, drawn up by solicitors. Such an abstract may go back several hundred years or just a few months, and was usually drawn up just prior to a sale.
The Parish of Saint Thomas', Southwark was closely allied with Saint Thomas' Hospital and the Governors of the Hospital paid for the upkeep of the building and also appointed and paid the incumbent. The parish covered only eight acres and included the grounds of Saint Thomas' Hospital and much of Guy's Hospital and was therefore the parish church for the hospitals.
Th parish was not created until 1378 but there were certain parochial rights already in existance before then. The church was dedicated to Saint Thomas the Martyr until the reformation when the dedication was changed to Saint Thomas the Apostle. During the middle ages a substantial stone church was built and was granted to the corporation of the City of London with the hospital buildings at the refounding of Saint Thomas' hospital in 1551. This was rebuilt inbetween 1700 and 1702 with the interior work all being funded by the hospital.
In 1836 the parish was for poor law and other civil purposes united with Saint Olave's, Southwark and Saint John's, Horsleydown to form Saint Olave's Union. To this were added Saint Mary Magdelene, Bermondsey and Saint Mary, Rotherhithe in 1869. In 1898 Saint Thomas' Church was closed down and the parish incorporated into Saint Saviour's, Southwark for ecclesiastical purposes. The parish church of Saint Saviour later became Southwark Cathedral and Saint Thomas' church is now used as the Cathedral Chapter House. It also housed the Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garrett in the roof space of the church where an operating theatre was in use in 1821.
The Anchor Brewery in Southwark was established in 1616 by James Monger and taken over later by James Monger junior. It was bought by James (or Josiah) Child by 1670; who was joined by his son-in-law Edmund Halsey in 1693. Halsey became sole proprietor on Child's death. The brewery was bought in 1729 by Ralph Thrale, Halsey's nephew, and passed to his son Henry in 1758. It was sold on Henry Thrale's death in 1781 to David Barclay, Robert Barclay, Sylvanus Bevan and John Perkins. The name was later changed from "Thrale and Company" (later "H. Thrale and Company") to "Barclay Perkins and Company" on 1 Jan 1798. The company was incorporated as "Barclay Perkins and Company Limited" in 1896. Barclay Perkins took over Style and Winch with the Dartford Brewery Company and the Royal Brewery Brentford in 1929. In 1951 the company began to establish the Blue Nile Brewery in Khartoum.
John Courage of Aberdeen bought a brewhouse in Southwark in 1787. After his death it was managed by his wife Harriet and then the senior clerk John Donaldson. It was known as Courage and Donaldson from about 1800 until 1851, when John Courage junior and his sons removed the Donaldsons from management. The company was incorporated as Courage and Company Limited in 1888.
The Brewery was founded in Reading in 1768 by William Simonds. The brewery moved to Broad Street in 1782 and Bridge Street in 1790. By late nineteenth century the brewery had established overseas branches to supply army garrisons. The business was incorporated in November 1885 as H and G Simonds Limited.
Courage and Barclay Limited was formed in 1955 upon the merger of Barclay Perkins and Company Limited and Courage and Company Limited. Took over Charles Kinloch and Reffells Bexley Brewery in 1957 and Yardley's London and Provincial Stores and Santovin in 1959. Nicholson and Sons Limited was a wholly owned subsidiary by 1959.
Courage, Barclay and Simonds Limited was created by the merger of Courage and Barclay Limited and H and G Simonds Limited in 1960. Courage Barclay and Simonds Limited changed its name to Courage Limited in 1970. In 1972 the firm was acquired by Imperial Tobacco Group Limited for £320 million, changed name to Imperial Brewing and Leisure Limited. In 1986 Imperial Group acquired by Hanson Trust plc, which sold Courage Limited as a separate concern to Elders IXL, the Australian conglomerate.
Originally the Chemists' Aerated and Mineral Waters Association Limited, a group of chemists established and incorporated in 1878. Based at 45 Gifford Street, Caledonian Road. By 1895 the company had factories in London, Bristol, Harrogate and Mitcham.
Acquired by Barclay Perkins and Company Limited in 1954. The company took over the operations of York Mineral Water Company Limited in May 1955; and merged with Cantrell and Cochrane in 1960 to form Cantrell and Cochrane (Southern) Limited. This company took over Mellersh and Neale Oct 1961 and acquired the factory and trade of R. Halley in September 1963. Finances used for Horselydown Property Investments (Developments) Limited 1967-1969.
The Red Lion Brewery in Brentford was founded in the 18th Century. By 1830 it was owned by Felix Booth who had the name changed to the "Royal Brewery" in consequence of a visit by King William IV and Booth's baronetcy.
The brewery was owned by Carrington and Whitehead in 1850 to 1875; and Gibbon and Croxford to 1880 (or 1890). It was subsequently bought by Montague Ballard and became a limited liability company in 1890. Royal Brewery Brentford Limited, was based at 23 High Street, Brentford, Middlesex.
A controlling interest in the brewery was acquired by Kent brewers Style and Winch Limited in 1922 and they jointly acquired the Dartford Brewery Company Limited in 1924. The company ceased to brew. Style and Winch Limited was acquired by Barclay Perkins and Company Limited in 1929. The brewery went into voluntary liquidation in 1970.
Courage (Export) Limited, of Anchor Brewhouse, Southwark, was probably incorporated in 1963 to consolidate export functions and supervise overseas interest of the Courage Group. The company was based in London. It probably ceased to operate in 1984.
The Kingston Brewery, on Brook Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, was established about 1610. It was owned by Charles Rowlls in 1854 when it was acquired by the Hodgson brothers, wine merchants, of St Mary Axe. The company was incorporated in 1886.
They acquired Fricker's Eagle Brewery, Kingston-upon-Thames, in 1903, and F.A. Crooke and Company Limited, Guildford Brewery, Guildford, in 1929. The company was itself acquired by Courage and Company Ltd in 1943; and went into voluntary liquidation in 1965.
Nevile Reid acquired the Windsor Brewery, Thames Street, Windsor, from Baverstock and Ramsbottom in about 1810. Some time before 1900 they also took over John Jennings and Company. The company was incorporated in 1915. It was acquired by Noakes and Co Ltd, in 1918. Brewing ceased in 1930.
Yardley's London and Provincial Stores Limited were incorporated in 1919; and acquired by Courage and Barclay Ltd in 1959 in order to expand their off-licences interests, as Yardley's had over 60 off-licences. The company was in liquidation in 1964. The company was based at 3/4 Chivalry Road, Battersea Rise, London SW11.
The Eagle Brewery, Witney, Oxfordshire, was established by William Clinch in 1840. It was taken over by William Clinch and Company in 1877. The company was incorporated in 1950. It was taken over by Courage, Barclay and Simonds in 1962; and was in voluntary liquidation in 1967.
The brewery was established in 1865 on the High Street, Slough, Berkshire. It was incorporated as R Halley Limited in 1947. A controlling interest was taken by Harman's Uxbridge Brewery in 1954. The brewery ceased trading in August 1963, and entered into voluntary liquidation in January 1967.
Horselydown Property Investment Company (Developments) Limited, was a wholly owned property dealing subsidiary of Horselydown Property Investment Company Limited formed in 1969. It is not known if it ever traded.
London and Provincial Shop Centres (Slough) Limited was set up jointly by Horselydown Property Investment Company Limited and London and Provincial Shop Centres (Holdings) Limited to develop the site of the Royal Oak, High Street, Slough, Bucks (later Erin House). The company was incorporated in July 1963.
Kingston Brewery Property Company Limited was set up by Horselydown Property Investment Company Limited and City and Central Investments Limited in 1963 to develop site of Hodgson's Kingston Brewery, Brook Street, Kingston-upon-Thames. The company was incorporated in 1963.
McManus-Horselydown Limited was set up by Horselydown Property Investment Company Ltd and McManus and Company Limited in 1963 to develop parcels of land in brewery ownership for residential use.
Shepton Mallet Town Street Investments Limited was set up by Horselydown Property Investment Company Limited and Regents Park Land Company Limited in 1963 to develop the Town Street area of Shepton Mallet, Somerset. In liquidation 1968.
Slough Retail Centre Limited was set up by the Slough Chamber of Commerce and Courage Barclay and Simonds Limited in 1963 to enable business concerns displaced by the re-development of Slough to re-establish themselves on favourable terms.
Saccone and Speed Limited, wine and spirits merchants, was established in 1839. H and G Simonds had acquired a large holding. The company was associated with Lawn and Alder which they set up as a limited company in 1954. By 1960 the parent company in Gibraltar had wholly owned subsidiaries in London and Morrocco with branches in Malta and South Africa. Whisky was sold in USA. In 1961 Courage, Barclay and Simonds acquired the balance of the share capital. By 1963 most of the home trade (function of Saccone and Speed London Ltd) was taken over by Charles Kinloch.
Lawn and Alder Limited, wine merchants (of 19 Clifford Street, New Bond Street, London, SW1) was incorporated in 1954. It was a subsidiary of Saccone and Speed 1954-1963; and was taken over by Courage Barclay and Simonds, probably in 1963. The company was in voluntary liquidation in April 1979, Courage Limited was the liquidator.
Ashford Valley Cyders Limited, of The Cyder Factory, Dover Place, Ashford, Kent, were incorporated in December 1948. They went bankrupt in August 1957 and were taken over by Courage and Barclay before March 1958. The company was in liquidation in September 1964.
H and G Watts (1935) Limited, of 6 New Street, Sandwich, Kent, and Back Church Lane, Stepney, London were established in 1935. Trading rights and assets passed to Courage, Barclay and Simonds in 1962. The company was in voluntary liquidation in 1964.
The Brewery, Brook Street, Basingstoke, was established in 1750. The business was incorporated in 1894 as John May and Company Limited. It was acquired by H and G Simonds in 1947 and in liquidation in 1950.
Dock Road Brewery, Dock Road, Newport, was run by Thomas Lloyd Lewis until sold in 1874 to Thomas Rotherham Phillips. The business was incorporated 1892 as Phillips and Sons Limited. Share capital was acquired by H and G Simonds in 1949; and the company was acquired by H and G Simonds in 1954. In liquidation 1954.
The Company was incorporated in 1897 as "Hawkins and Parfitt South Berkshire Brewery Company Limited" upon the amalgamation of Edward Parfitt, Atlas Brewery, Newbury, and Thomas Edward Hawkins and Company, West Mills Brewery, Newbury. They were based at the Atlas Brewery, Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Berks
The company acquired John Platt and Son, Manor Brewery, Hungerford, c 1900, and Westcombe and Sons, St Nicholas Brewery, Newbury, 1902. Acquired Blandy, Hawkins and Co, Castle Brewery, Bridge Street, Reading (possibly successors to Stephens' Mill Lane Brewery, later Willats and Blandy's Mill Lane Brewery), 1910.
The name was changed to "South Berkshire Brewery Limited" in 1913; and was acquired by H and G Simonds in 1920. In voluntary liquidation 1936.
The Anchor Brewery in Southwark was established in 1616 by James Monger and taken over later by James Monger junior. It was bought by James (or Josiah) Child by 1670; who was joined by his son-in-law Edmund Halsey in 1693. Halsey became sole proprietor on Child's death.
The brewery was bought in 1729 by Ralph Thrale, Halsey's nephew, and passed to his son Henry in 1758. It was sold on Henry Thrale's death in 1781 to David Barclay, Robert Barclay, Sylvanus Bevan and John Perkins. The name was later changed from "Thrale and Company" (later "H. Thrale and Company") to "Barclay Perkins and Company" on 1 Jan 1798.
The company was incorporated as "Barclay Perkins and Company Limited" in 1896. Barclay Perkins took over Style and Winch with the Dartford Brewery Company and the Royal Brewery Brentford in 1929. In 1951 the company began to establish the Blue Nile Brewery in Khartoum.
John Courage of Aberdeen bought a brewhouse in Southwark in 1787. After his death it was managed by his wife Harriet and then the senior clerk John Donaldson. It was known as Courage and Donaldson from about 1800 until 1851, when John Courage junior and his sons removed the Donaldsons from management. The company was incorporated as Courage and Company Limited in 1888. The Company was based at Anchor Terrace, Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1
Courage merged with Barclay Perkins and Company Limited in 1955, and ceased to trade in 1957. The name was changed to Courage, Barclay and Simonds in 1970.
Oakhill Brewery Company Limited, Ashwick, Somerset was established in 1767. By 1791 the brewery was owned by Jordan and Billingsley. In 1811 it was owned by W.P. Jillard and later by the Spencer family. Incorporated in 1889 as Oakhill Brewery Company Limited. It was taken over by Bristol United Breweries after a major fire in 1925 and with them taken over by Courage, Barclay and Simonds in 1961.
Samuel Vosper, "Regent Brewery", Stonehouse; Mrs Butcher, "Anchor Brewery", Chapel Street, Stonehouse; George Ryall, "Frankfort Street Brewery", Plymouth; Hicks and Company "South Devon Brewery", Willow Street, Plymouth and FR Vaughan and Company, "Saltash Brewery", Saltash-on-Tamar, Cornwall, were all amalgamated and incorporated as Plymouth Breweries in 1889. By 1894 all but the Regent Brewery had closed.
The Company acquired Torquay Brewing and Trading Co. Ltd. in 1897 and Swayne and Co. Ltd., Ellacombe Brewery, Church Road, Torquay and Greenslade Bros. St Mary Church Brewery, Fore Street, Torquay, in 1925.
They were acquired by Courage, Barclay and Simonds in 1970. The company name was changed to Courage (PB) in 1971 and became part of Courage (Western) in 1973.
The brewery in Fleet Street, Torquay, was run by Matcham and Hussey until incorporated in 1865 as Torquay Brewing and Trading Company Limited. It was acquired by Plymouth Breweries (see ACC/2305/72) in 1897, and in liquidation the same year.
The company was established in 1866 as Ashton Gate Brewery Company Limited. In 1868 the name was changed to Hardwick and Company Limited; but in 1883 the name was changed back to Ashton Gate Brewery Company Limited. Amalgamated in 1931 with Bristol Brewery Georges after severe loss in trade, especially in South Wales, and heavier taxation. In voluntary liquidation 1932.
Crocker Brothers Limited of Bath Street, Bristol, was established in 1944 in association with Bristol Brewery Georges, as a subsidiary of that company. In liquidation December 1963: books to Courage (Western) Ltd.
A deed is any document affecting title, that is, proof of ownership, of the land in question. The land may or may not have buildings upon it. Common types of deed include conveyances, mortgages, bonds, grants of easements, wills and administrations.
Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.
Abstract of title is a summary of prior ownership of a property, drawn up by solicitors. Such an abstract may go back several hundred years or just a few months, and was usually drawn up just prior to a sale.
From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".
The Trust was established by Sir Walter St John (1622-1708) in 1700 and made provision for education of boys in Battersea by the Vicar of Battersea. This was known as Battersea Free School. In 1817 a National School was superimposed on the school by the Vicar. By 1853 there was concern over the use of Trust funds for education, and a new scheme was established following a case in Chancery. This scheme separated the National School from Sir Walter St John's School.
In 1873 a new scheme for the Trust made provision for a new school to be established at St John's Hill, later moving to Streatham, known as Battersea Grammar School. The old upper school for Sir Walter St John's School became known as a 'middle class school' or 'middle school' (not to be confused with current usage) under the headmastership of William Taylor. The Taylor family provided three headmasters for this school. A third elementary or lower school, existed between 1875 and 1880.
In 1902 Sir Walter St John's School became a Secondary School under the Education Act of that year. It had already built up a strong reputation in the sciences.
During the Second World War, the school was evacuated to Godalming, and in the post-war period the school was brought more closely into line with the administration of the London County Council Education Officer's Department as a voluntary controlled school (1951). It retained its distinctive status, benefitting from various investments, scholarship and memorial funds, enjoying its fine set of buildings (some of which were designed by W. Butterfield in 1859) and having an active Old Boys Association. Reorganisation of schools in the 1960s and 1970s by the ILEA meant the advent of comprehensive education and merger with neighbouring schools.
John Thornton was born in Clapham on 1 April 1720, the son of Robert Thornton, a successful merchant in Russia. John inherited his father's fortune and invested it in trade. He was a generous supporter of the first generation of 'Evangelical' Anglicans and was one of the so-called 'Clapham Sect', a group of pious evangelical reformers living in Clapham whose lives were ruled by the teaching of the Bible. In addition to their religious activities, the Clapham Sect were equally active in the cause of social reform and the abolition of slavery. The group included William Wilberforce and Thornton's diaries mention his friendship with the Wilberforce family. The journals reflect the great importance of the Bible in John Thornton's daily life and his intense religious conviction. He died on 7 November 1790.
The Royal Choral Society began its life as the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society, and was formed towards the end of 1871 with money provided for the purpose by Her Majesty's Commissioners for the 1851 exhibition. Charles Gounod conducted the society's first concerts, which began in May 1872, but was soon succeeded by Sir Joseph Barnby, who remained in office until 1896.
In 1888 Queen Victoria became patron of the society, allowing it to change its name to the Royal Choral Society. Successive conductors have included Sir Frederick Bridge, who directed the society for 25 years; Sir Malcolm Sargent, who remained in office until his death in 1967; Wyn Morris, who left amidst some controversy in 1970 and Meredith Davies, 1971-1985, followed by Laszlo Heltay and Richard Cooke. During the 1920's and 1930's the Royal Choral Society became famous for its performances of Coleridge-Taylor's 'Hiawatha', which was performed in the Royal Albert Hall with full costumes and often up to 1000 performers. The society is also well known for its Good Friday performances of Handel's Messiah and its extremely popular carol concerts. Highlights of the society's career include the British premier of Verdi's Requiem, which was conducted by the composer. It was the first choral society to make a gramophone recording and, under the baton of Sir Malcolm Sargent, became one of the first choirs to present choral works at the annual promenade concerts.
The Royal Choral Society is closely associated with the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children, which was launched in 1968 as a memorial to its most famous conductor. Charity concerts in aid of the fund began in the autumn of 1968 with a performance of Verdi's Requiem, conducted by Sir George Solti. A special Music Fund was formed during the choir's 1972/1973 season, to commission or help finance new choral works for the society, and to make financial contributions to the performances of other contemporary choral works.
For further information see http://www.royalchoralsociety.co.uk/.
The first parish church in the area was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist and was probably built in the 12th century, situated near the site of the present Marble Arch. However it was too remote and was moved in 1400. The new church was dedicated to Saint Mary and was known as "Saint Mary at Bourne" as the Ty bourne (stream) flowed nearby, which over time became corrupted to "St Mary le Bone". A new church was built in 1740 and another in 1813, which was renovated in 1883.
For more information please see the church website at http://www.stmarylebone.org.uk/history01.htm (accessed March 2010).
The Company dates its origins from 1885 when Lord Charles William Augustus Montagu joined the firm of Wilson Brown and Montagu, stock brokers, of 5 Angel Court, City of London. The present company is an amalgamation of Shaw Loebl and Co and Montagu Stanley and Co, an amalgamation which took place in 1952.
It was taken over by the Save and Prosper Group in 1985-1986.
A deed is any document affecting title, that is, proof of ownership, of the land in question. The land may or may not have buildings upon it. Common types of deed include conveyances, mortgages, bonds, grants of easements, wills and administrations.
Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.
An assignment of a lease is the transfer of the rights laid out in the lease to another party, usually for a consideration (a sum of money).
Abstract of title is a summary of prior ownership of a property, drawn up by solicitors. Such an abstract may go back several hundred years or just a few months, and was usually drawn up just prior to a sale.
From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".
A deed is any document affecting title, that is, proof of ownership, of the land in question. The land may or may not have buildings upon it. Common types of deed include conveyances, mortgages, bonds, grants of easements, wills and administrations.
Conveyances are transfers of land from one party to another, usually for money. Early forms of conveyance include feoffments, surrenders and admissions at manor courts (if the property was copyhold), final concords, common recoveries, bargains and sales and leases and releases.
Probate (also called proving a will) is the process of establishing the validity of a will, which was recorded in the grant of probate.
If a person died intestate (without a valid will) their money, goods and possessions passed to their next of kin through an administration (or letters of administration) which had the same form in law as a will.
Abstract of title is a summary of prior ownership of a property, drawn up by solicitors. Such an abstract may go back several hundred years or just a few months, and was usually drawn up just prior to a sale.
From the British Records Association "Guidelines 3 - Interpreting Deeds: How To Interpret Deeds - A Simple Guide And Glossary".
In 1889 the North Middlesex Association of Change Ringers put forward a case to Revd D W Barrett to establish the Association on a wider basis in order to promote the cause of change ringing in North Middlesex and South Hertfordshire. As a result, on 17 August 1889, the North Middlesex Association of Change Ringers became the Middlesex Association of Change Ringers.
The South and West Middlesex Guild was established on 4 February 1894 when ringers from Ealing and Isleworth proposed forming an association of bellringers for this district.
During 1896 and 1897 negotiations took place for the amalgamation of the South and West Middlesex Guild and the Middlesex Association of Change Ringers. On 7 June 1897 the Middlesex County Association of Change Ringers was formed "to bring about closer intimacy and a better understanding between the 2 Associations... [for] the advancement of both". The Association comprised 2 districts: the Middlesex Association became known as the North and East District, and the South and West Middlesex became know as the South and West District. The South and West District district was broadly based on the parliamentary divisions of Uxbridge, Brenford, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, and the North and East District on the parliamentary divisions of Harrow, Enfield, Hornsey, Tottenham and Hampstead. For lists of towers in each district see pp 7, 8 and 9 of ACC/2428/9/1. Each district retained its own management and officers, and the affairs of the new County Association were managed by a central committee.
On 10 October 1903, it was decided that the bellringers ought to regard themselves as churchworkers of the diocese and thus ought to have a diocesan name. The title of the Association was therefore amended to Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild of Change Ringers. The name is now Middlesex County Association and London Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers. In February 1984 the South and West District was divided into 2 separate districts: Southern and Western.
The London Co-operative Society was formed in 1921, on the merger of the Stratford, Edmonton and Brentwood Societies. It subsequently grew to incorporate the local co-operative societies of much of London, Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Surrey. It amalgamated with the Co-operative Retail Society in 1980 to form London Regional Co-operative Retail Services Limited, based in Stratford.
The Arcade Property Company Limited was established in May 1934 as a property holding company to the Furness Withy group of shipping companies and British Maritime Trust Limited. It took its name from property which it held in Regent Arcade. Its other principal assets were Hadley Wood Golf Course and the long lease of a private hotel in Cadogan Gardens. These properties were sold in the late 1970s and the company ceased trading in 1980.
According to the Kelly's Directory for Acton, an Albert Putnam, butcher, worked at 86A Church Street, Acton, W3.
The Darenth Valley in Kent follows the course of the River Darent, which flows from the Greensand hills to join the river Thames north of Dartford. The Metropolitan Board of Works was formed in 1845 with the duty of forming a working sewer system in London. Part of the work that arose as a result involved constructing outfall sewers at a distance from the metropolis, nearer the mouth of the Thames so that the effluent would be taken away with the tide.
The Grand Junction Water Works Company was incorporated in 1811 to exercise the water supply rights vested in the Grand Junction Canal Company by virtue of their Act of 1798. The original source of supply was the canal itself which was fed by the rivers Colne and Brent. Following an agreement between the Grand Junction and Regent's Canal companies and the water company for an exchange of water, an intake and pumping station by the Thames were constructed for the water company in 1820. The intake pipe for drawing water from the river was unfortunately laid almost opposite the mouth of the Ranelagh sewer (or Westbourne Brook). This was pointed out in a pamphlet called "The Dolphin" in 1827. This caused a considerable outcry and a campaign led by Sir Francis Burdett, M.P. for Westminster, resulted in the appointment of the first Royal Commission to inquire into the quality of the water to be supplied by the metropolitan water companies. It was not until 1835, however, that powers were granted to open a new intake at Brentford, near Kew Bridge. A pumping station there containing a beam engine by Maudslay, and a thirty inch main five and a half miles long to carry the water to Paddington were completed in 1838. This was the first long trunk main to be laid by any of the companies.
The Paddington works were abandoned in 1845 when a new reservoir was completed on Campden Hill, Kensington. In the same year slow sand filtration on similar lines to that used at the Chelsea waterworks was introduced at the Kew Bridge works.
In conformity with the Metropolis Water Act of 1852 the company again moved their intake, this time to Hampton where deposit reservoirs and a pumping station were completed in 1855. Additions were made to the Hampton works during the remainder of the century and in 1882 the company began to filter part of the supply there, thus relieving the Kew Bridge works.
A large open reservoir for filtered water was inaugurated on Hanger Hill, Ealing, in 1888. Acts of 1852, 1861 and 1878 enlarged the area of supply and by the turn of the century the company's boundary stretched from Mayfair to Sunbury.
In 1904 the functions of the Grand Junction Water Works Company were assumed by the Metropolitan Water Board following the Metropolis Water Act 1902.
The Metropolitan Water Board was established in 1902 under the terms of the Metropolis Water Act of the same year with a statutory area of 576 square miles, of which it directly supplied 540. Its Board met for the first time in 1903 and was composed of 66 members from every local authority concerned (some smaller authorities had joint representation) and the Lee and Thames Conservancies. This number was increased to 88 in 1956 (due to population growth) but reduced to 39 on the reorganisation of local government in 1965.
During 1903 and 1904 arbitration appeals were heard regarding compensation for the companies' shareholders and in 1904 the 'appointed days' for transfer of the undertakings took place, July 25 for the New River Company and June 24 for the rest. The new undertaking also included the areas covered by the Urban Districts of Enfield and Tottenham which had retained their own powers of supply (from wells) although they had also been heavily dependent on the New River and East London companies.
Its first task was to complete schemes inherited from the companies and effect the rationalisation of the eight separate undertakings, primarily in engineering, staffing, administration and water rates. To this end Staines reservoir was opened in 1904, the Kempton Park works in 1906, Walton reservoir in 1907, Honor Oak reservoir in 1909, and Island Barn reservoir in 1911.
Progress on the financial and administrative side was slower and politically sensitive especially in the rationalisation of water charges. Criticisms of the Board continued through the 1910's and eventually in 1919 it agreed to the setting up of a committee by the Ministry of Health under Sir Horace Monro to review the workings of the 1902 Water Act. The committee reported in 1920, largely supporting the Board's management of the undertaking and the resulting Metropolitan Water Board (Charges) Act of 1921 strengthened its financial position.
In 1914 the Round Pond was closed after three hundred years in operation and on its site in 1920 the Board's new headquarters at New River Head were opened. In 1936 another connection with the early history of the capital's water supply was broken with the decision to allow the lease on Hampstead and Highgate ponds to lapse. It had been in existence since 1543.
In 1947 a Departmental Committee was set up by the Ministry of Health on Greater London Water Supplies with a remit "To examine the present system of water supply administration in the Greater London area and to consider and report on the question whether changes in that system are desirable in the public interest and if so what should be the constitution, powers and duties of the new body or bodies in which control should be rented". The Board was in favour of, in effect, a single regional body based on the hydro-geological area of the London Basin but there was a great deal of opposition to the proposal and nothing of substance was enacted although indirectly it led to the creation of the Thames Water Authority in 1974.
The post war period saw the inauguration of a number of major schemes including the opening of the George VI reservoir at Staines in 1947, the William Girling reservoir at Chingford in 1951, the Ashford Common works in 1958, the Thames to Lee Valley trunk main (to supplement supplies from the River Lee) in 1960, the Elizabeth II reservoir at Walton in 1962 and the Coppermills Works (the last great project completed) in 1972. By 1974 the daily amount of water supplied by the Board had risen from an original 220 million gallons in 1904 to 420 million gallons (with peaks up to 500 million).
The Thames Water Authority came into existence under the 1973 Water Act on 1st August of that year. The last meeting of the Metropolitan Water Board took place on 29th March 1974 and the Authority assumed full control three days later.
The South London Water Works Company was incorporated in 1805 and originally drew its water from the Effra which flowed into the Thames at Vauxhall Creek. The company constructed works at Kennington and Vauxhall Bridge. In 1832 the supply of water from the Effra was abandoned as the water was polluted and silted up. Two years later, in 1834, the company changed its name to the Vauxhall Water Works Company and a limitation on its right to supply part of Lambeth and Newington (already within the Lambeth Water Works Company's area) was lifted at the same time by statute.
In 1718 a grant was made by the City of London to Francis Wilkinson to supply water to Southwark, procuring water from the Thames. In 1761 the London Bridge Water Works bought this business from a James Whitchurch whose father had acquired it from Wilkinson. In 1822 the New River Company took over the London Bridge Water Works and sold this Southwark interest to John Edwards Vaughan who, in 1820, had become the proprietor of another undertaking, the Borough Waterworks. In July 1834 the Southwark Water Company was incorporated and empowered to buy up Vaughan's undertaking and to construct new works at Battersea. The old intake at Bankside was abandoned at the same time and a temporary supply was taken from the Lambeth Company. In 1845 new works were built at Battersea on the approximate side of the Power Station and in 1855 an intake from the Thames was introduced at Hampton. Wells were also sunk at Streatham, Honor Oak and Merton Abbey in 1888 and 1902. In 1861 the Company took over the Richmond Water Company.
Between 1839 and 1842 there was a period of unfruitful competition between the Vauxhall company and the Southwark and Lambeth companies. Eventually in 1845 the Southwark and the Vauxhall companies were amalgamated to form The Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company. The works at Kennington were dismantled and conveyed to the Phoenix Gas Company in 1847.
The Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company acquired land at Hampton in 1851 and in 1852 an Act was obtained to sanction the construction of new works and to enlarge the authorised supply area. In 1870 the company began filtering the water at Hampton and the following year, in order to prepare for the introduction of constant supply, decided to construct four covered reservoirs at Nunhead. Peckham, to be supplied with filtered water from Hampton.
A high service reservoir was built on Forest Hill in 1887 and a pumping station at Wandsworth was brought into use in 1891 for pumping to Wimbledon and the higher levels. Wells were sunk at Streatham in 1888 and later at Honor Oak (1901) and Merton Abbey (1902). Throughout the 1890s additions were made to the Hampton works and by 1903 the company was able to dispense with the Battersea Works.
As a result of the Metropolis Water Act 1902, the Metropolitan Water Board took over the functions of the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company in 1904. When it did so the company was in the course of constructing storage reservoirs at Honor Oak and Walton.
