Letters September 2001
From Barbara Ludlow
Do you know anything about the Welsbach Incandescent GasLight Co? They sound Welsh or German – I have something about their mantles?
I take it that the passage which runs from Crowley/Anchor Iron Wharf and Ballast Quay is a right of way. Often I have hurried along it hoping the scrap would not fall on my head. The Robinsons (who had the original scrap yard there) who used to live in Mycenae Road told me that their father was not happy about the pathway. Dorothy Robinson told me that they lived at 63 Foyle Road for a time and found papers in the attic about the Brocklebank (shipbuilding family) because Thomas Brocklebank’s grandson lived there until 1919. I think Dorothy said that they threw the Brocklebank stuff in the dustbin.
From Tom Ridge
I am interested in a building in Greenwich, which has stanchions and cranes similar to one I am investigating on the Regent’s Canal.
From Mark Ladley
Could you put the following request for information to your members to help solve a long running puzzle: The subject is an entry in a will dated 1727 referring to "a duty and profit arising from the Chains in the River Thames.” A copy of the will had been entered in the local Parish Register (Barnby Dun, Doncaster, S Yorks) and my father and some friends had been transcribing it when they came across this item, and they have been unable to find any information about it since. The will is that of Francis, Duchess of Sunderland. Thanks,
From Brockelbank family
I came across this site via a search engine, searching for General Steam Navigation. I am trying to find information on. My great-great great grandfather, Thomas Brockelbank (1774-1843), was managing director of the company prior to his death in 1843.
From Colin Read
Can you give me any information, or advise me as to where I can get information about the scientific instrument makers, Troughton & Sims. My grandfather was apprenticed to the firm around 1880.
From Dave Warren
Have just stumbled across your very interesting and informative website. I don't know if you are the right person to ask this question, but here goes anyway. Do you happen to know if Cade’s cavern underneath the Point, Blackheath is planned to be opened for public entry in the not too distant future?
From Valda Low
I found your Greenwich Industrial History site. This is a long shot but I am wondering if you can help me. My great grandfather, William Reynolds, was an iron moulders here in Australia. Among other things, he worked on the design of lacework for some of Brisbane's prominent buildings. Before arriving in Australia he is listed in Greenwich, Kent in 1881 and as working as an iron founder at "the Works.” Can you tell me if there was an iron works or foundry there and if so, could you point me in the right direction to find further information on it?
From Linda Scott
My husband's grandfather Francis Scott was working as a carman for Pickfords and was the second person to use the Blackwall Tunnel. When it opened he was given a silver or gold topped whip. Are there any photographs of the opening event available or any other relevant information about the opening of the tunnel? Many thanks
From A.D.D.Jenkins
I should be grateful if you could provide any information on the identity of the factory manufacturing Kampultican in the Creek Road area of Greenwich and shown on the large scale OS maps of the area.
From An Engineer
The riveted wrought iron roof of the former Neptune Hall of the National Maritime Museum was dismantled about three years ago. The metalwork was put in store with the expectation that it would be re-erected within a reasonable period. Has it been re-erected and if so where?
Via email
I am interested in Ballast Quay. These were small, humble dwellings and I presume that they belonged to dock workers, rope-makers etc. when built. I would like to know more about them. I understand they were on the site of the Green Man Public House which was rebuilt around 1800 and it would appear that some of the properties date from that time. The buildings of ‘Union Wharf’ are curious - the symmetrical terrace with the prominent central block has been altered over time and the individual houses have difference external details. I have been unable to trace when the building at number 11 was demolished. There is a rumour that the building dates from C.1840, but this does not seem to accord with the physical evidence.
From Geoff Knight
Henry Maudslay's sister Ann married a g-g-g grandfather of mine - a William Hartshorn, who was I believe, employed by Maudslay as a engineer and worked with him on the block making machinery at Portsmouth. This is supposition based on the fact that one of their children - Ann Joanna Hartshorn was born in Portsea in 1803 - the time when the work was underway on the machinery. Do you have any records, or for that matter, any information about Henry Maudslay, or his firm Maudlsay, Sons & Field Ltd?
From Terry Tomlin
Request information on the ship Maulesden built by Alexander Stephen & Sons, Dundee in 1875, to complete an historical painting. The Maulesden sailed from Greenock to Maryborough Queensland Australia with immigrants in 70 Days, a record that still stands. I need a description of the Maulesdens Figurehead and if possible details of the ribbon carving on the trail boards. Can you HELP?
From Lorna Barter
Greetings! Well, things are really moving for The Swiftstone Trust now... after what seemed like forever - talking, meeting, negotiating, waiting, paperwork and more waiting... at last The Swiftstone officially belongs to the Trust and we have 'hands-on' her to begin the preservation work. Wonderful!!
Sadly, we were not able to get a full qualified crew together at relatively short notice to assist on Barge Race Day - but we have plans to be actively involved in the Sponsored Barge Driving (in aid of the Dreadnought Unit) in August from Erith to Gravesend.
Swifty is now sitting on the foreshore at the (still doomed but not lost) Wood Wharf. There is a lovely report on the day she was moved, written by Ian Hale, on the Updates page at the site. Pop over and have a look when you have a chance www.thames.org.uk/news.htm. Full results and a few pix of the Barge Race are also up now.
From James Sargeant
Please would you be so good as to inform Mrs Ward that indeed the Anchor and Hope public House is indeed still in existence... I must to admit to having a certain fascination for this pub as it was owned and operated by my family for 99 years.... My Father and his brothers were all born in the pub... and they worked as waterman and lighterman on the Thames.... Kind Regards
From Iris Bryce
Re: Ted Barr’s series on ‘Small Engineering Firms’ –here’s some more he might like to include:
Merrett’s Coal Yard – The Merrett family lived in Woodlands Grove and their yard was in the alleyway that ran behind the shops in Trafalgar Road between David Greig (on the corner of Woodland Walk – called Woodland Street until the 1930s) and Woolworths. By the coal yard was a wheelwright’s business owned by Mr. David Baker who lived next door to my grandmother in Woodland Grove. His son, also named Dave, lived next door to me in 22 Woodland Walk. Another son, Tim Baker, lived in a small house in that alleyway.
There was a blacksmith – sorry, I don’t know the name – situated at the top of Mell Street – this street was known as Miles Street when I lived in Greenwich and there was a three or four storey tenement block opposite the blacksmith, known as Miles Buildings.
From Colin Evans, The Maudslay Society
I am referring to the recent seminar on Maudslay held at Kew Bridge Engines Trust. It was very nice to attend this seminar despite the heat in the lecture room! We also talked about the new museum, which is being set up in the old Royal Arsenal to house some of the exhibits from the Artillery Museum on Woolwich Common. In view of Maudslay’s early association with the Arsenal and then with Greenwich some space in the new museum should be reserved for a section on Maudslay and his work.
From Howard Slight
Further information on Ted Barr’s ‘Smaller Engineering Firms’: The premises of Haybeard, a manufacturer of small electrical transformers, was situated in the building that forms the corner of Blackheath Road and Lewisham Road.
The electric cable manufacturer whose factory was situated in Georgette Place (not Luton Place) and extended along behind King George Street was, in the mid 1920s, the Croydon Cable Works Ltd. In the early 1930s the premises was taken over by the Metropolitan Electric Light and Power Co., later LEB, who used it as a store. In the 1960s the land was compulsory purchased by the GLC. In the 1970s, part of the main building was used by the Greenwich Theatre to build stage scenery and later the whole building became artists’ studios. The land is now partly school property and partly private housing.
Henry Sykes the pump manufacturer still exists and has premises in Gallions Road, Charlton.