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Home , Highgate, Swiss Cottage Library, West Hampstead, West Hampstead (ward)

'No34 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY FEB 1976

The Tramway, one of the most unusual The Track to the Top of transport experiments in , is a the Hill - a talk on the subject of great interest to residents and transport enthusiasts and Mr Lee Cable Tramway has dug out a wealth of new material.

Members who know Mr Charles Lee, the noted transport historian and West Streets - founder member of this Society, will the February Event know that his talk on 30 March on the Thursday, 19 February, 7. 30 pm, Swiss Highgate Cable Tramway will be author- Cottage Library, NW3. itative, well researched and witty. This is a joint event with the Highgate Liter- This will be an armchair tour of West ary and Scientific Institute, but in addi- Hampstead conducted by three members tion interested people from the High- of our Hampstead Street History Group: gate Society, the History Shirley Harris, Anthony Moss and Society, and Society, have Christopher Wade. been invited. Short of Highgate being They will be recalling their researches enveloped in fog that evening a large for our latest publication The Streets of attendance is anticipated and we have and illustrating the his- kindly been given permission to use tory of the area with a large number of the large hall of Dyne House, Highgate slides. School, Southwood Lane, NG. It To coincide with this event, there will be starts at 8. 15 pm. an exhibition of West Hampstead prints, Camden's Industrial photographs and watercolours in the Lending Library. Mounted with Archaeology - a March the help of the Local History Librarian, the Event exhibition will run from 10-28 February. Our energetic Transport Group, under the leadership of John Lawson, and the Camden Centenaries Industrial Arcµaeology Se;eral members have kindly replied to Society, are holding a joint workshop my query about Benjamin Franklin and evening on 17 March, at 7. 30 pm at have helped to prove that he actually . lived and worked within our borough boundaries. Anthony Cooper's reply is A number of Camden topics will be published below. I hope to quote from covered. Anthony Cooper will be tell- the other pieces in our next Review but ing us more about the Piano factory in would like to add some further details of Fitzroy Road and about the actual Franklin's life in London. What were processes of manufacture. There will his impressions of at the time? be a survey of the various transport Have we a member or friend from sites that have been studied in Camden, America and/ or Holborn, who would and in particular the Camden stables volunteer to do some research? complex built to house horses for the This year will also be the bi-centenary nearby freight yards. There will also of the death of John Harrison, inventor be a quick tour of other pieces of of the marine chronometer which made heritage - workshops, bakeries, pubs, navigation safe. He has a fine tomb in cinemas, breweries etc, All the the shadow of Hampstead Parish Church aspects will be illustrated and have and a blue plaque on the site of his house display material, in Red Lion Square. If anyone has special knowledge of his local connections or why BLUE PLAQUES OF he was buried at Hampstead, I would be Publications Secretary will be glad to hear glad to hear from them soonest. from anyone interested in helping to com- A curious centenary-and-a-half should pile a booklet about the blue plaques of be explored, too. The St Pancras Book southern-Camden - mainly in Bloomsbury. of Dates says that in 1826 the Kings There is a complete list of these at the Cross Cinder Heap was sold to Russia back of the latest Review. The group's and used in the foundations of the re- main activity will be researching into the building of Moscow. Will somebody lives of the plaqueworthy people and es- please write this up for our next Camden pecially into their local connections and History Review? achievements. Christopher (794-2752) Wade MAILERS WANTED MEMBERSHIP There will be a further mailing party We are sad to report the death of two on Monday, 23 February at 7. 30 pm at members, Miss Joan M Turner and 28 Willoughby Road, Hampstead, NW3. Mr P E Gilroy. Anyone who can wield a pen and would like to help spread the word about our We welcome the following new members: - publications will be most welcome. University College School, Mrs Vivien Please ring Publications Secretary G Binn, Miss Catherine Brighty, Miss (794-2752) to say if you can come and Fay Castles, Mrs Myfanwy , to tell him how you like your coffee. Luigi Denza, Miss P Early, A E THEATRE GROUP GETS UNDER WAY Ecclestone, Mrs Marjorie Elkins, John Adrian's group of members study- L,ady ME Holder, Miss Theo Laurie, ing the history of Camden theatres got Martin J Lawless, Colin A Morgan, under way properly on January 20th. At A J W Nicholls, Mr & Mrs J A Pearce, the moment they are restricting their Dr D M Grant, Mrs F Rea, D M researches to five theatres only. Any Rothwell, Dudley Scholte, Leslie Stokes, other members who feel that they would David RA Thomson, David Tierney, like to be involved should contact him Miss M Van Reenen, Leslie H Willis, during the day at 388 0031. 'THE MARCH TO FINCH LEY' The occasion of this attack was Hogarth's Mr Richard Graham of 4 Sudbury Croft, The Times, containing unfavourable por- , , HAO 2QW, writes: traiture of William Pit and his brother-in- law Earl Temple, both political patrons of I read with interest in your third issue John Wilkes. the account of "Hogarth and The March to . 11 Number xvii of The North Subscriptions Briton (Saturday 2 5 September 1 762) was The Treasurer wishes to remind you that devoted to an attack on Hogarth, in the subscriptions are due on 1st March course of which the following was written. (unless you joined the Society on or after 'When a man of parts dedicates his talents 1st October 1975). Renewal forms are to the service of his country, he deserves enclosed with this Newsletter. Payment the highest rewards: when he makes them by Banker's Order is a great help to the subservient to base purposes, he merits Society and forms for this purpose are execration and punishment. Among the also provided. If you are a tax-payer Spartans, music and poetry were made to and are willing to sign a Deed of Coven- serve the noblest ends of the Lacedemonian ant, the Society can claim back from the state. A manly courage and great con- Inland Revenue, at the present rate of tempt of death were inspired by them, and tax, 75 pence on every £1. 50 subscrip- the poet, musician, soldier, and patriot tion. were often the same good citizen, who despised the low mechanic lucre of the profession, and was zealous only for the Members may be interested to hear that glory of his country. In the year 1746, the proposed purchase of Highgate when the Guards were ordered to march Cemetery has now been taken a stage to Finchley, on the most important ser- further. The Greater London Council vice they could be employed in, the ex- (General Powers) Bill 1975 has now been tinguishing a Scottish Rebellion, which laid before Parliament and a major part threatened the intire ruin of the illustrious of this relates to Camden Council and family on the throne, and, in consequence, Highgate Cemetery. ( Cost 45p from of our liberties, Mr Hogarth came out GLC bookshop and agents). with a print to make them ridiculous to their countrymen and to all Europe; or Certain powers to be granted to the perhaps it rather was to tell the Scots in Council have raised some concern, his way how little the Guards were to be particularly by members of The Friends feared, and that they might safely advance. of Highgate Cemetery who are interested That the ridicule might not stop here, and in all aspects of the Cemetery's history, that it might be as offensive as possible architecture and environment. For those to his own Sovereign, he dedicated the interested in the future of the Cemetery, print to the king of Pru[s]ia>:< as an en- membership of this organisation is courager of arts. Is this patriotism! recommended - minimum subscription In old Rome, or in any of the Grecian is £1 and the Secretary is Mrs Jean states, he would have been published as Pateman, 5 View Road, London N6 4DJ, a profligate citizen, totally devoid of all ( telephone 0l_-348 0808). A copy of principle. In he is rewarded, is avilable for reference at the and made Serjeant painter to that very Local History Collection, Swiss Cottage king's grandson. I think the term means Library. Malcolm Holmes the same as what is vulgarly called house-painter; and indeed he has not been CARING FOR HISTORIC CHURCHES suffered to caricature the royal family. Members may like to know that the The post of portrait painter is given to a Hampstead Centre of The National Trust Scotsman, one Ramsay. Mr Hogarth is have invited us to their lecture on March only to paint the wainscot of the rooms, 18th at 8 pm on 'Caring for Historic or in the phrase of the art, may be called Churches. ' The talk will be given by their pannel-painter.' Peter Burman F. S. A. and is at St Saviour's Hall, Eton Road. 1 ,:

Malcolm Holmes Local History Librarian No35 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY APR 1976

Story of a Family Constable and Engineering Firm - The Hampstead-June Lecture April Lecture An illustrated lecture entitled "Constable and Hampstead" will be given by Lindsay Engineering in Euston 1825-196o is the Stainton, Assistant Curator of the Iveagh title of a lecture to be given by Rex Bequest, , at the new Wailes, OBE, FSA, FIMecbE, FFSA at St Pancras Church House, Lancing Street, theatre of University College School, off Eversholt Street, NWl (near Euston , NW3, on Friday 11 June, at Station) on Thursday, 22 April 1976 at 7. 30 pm. 7,;-0 pm. This is a joint event with the Hampstead In 1825 Charles Rich started in busi- Centre of the National Trust. The speaker ness as an engineer, millwright and has made a special study of Constable's founder at 10 Palace Row, New Road, Hampstead work and should fill in some later to become 258 Euston Road. From gaps about this side of the painter's art 1855 to 19o6 the business was carried which are evident in the present Suffolk- on by George Wailes, moving on his sided exhibition at the Tate. retirement to ;86 Euston Road and closing in 1960 when the road was wid- After the lecture members of the audience ened and redeveloped. The range of who wish to do so can join in a walk up the work covered a large number of firms hill to Constable's tomb. in Camden as well as elsewhere and was surprisingly varied, including some On the Saturday and Sunday following there important inventions and ranging from are plans for an art exhibition, poetry scale models to heavy machines. Our recital, Constable walks and Graveyard speaker, Mr Rex Wailes, is a grandson of George and was the last Managing walks, all centred on the Parish Church. Director of the business. He is Further details will be given in the "Ham widely known as the historian of the and High" windmill, and has produced many Watch out also for a booklet on Constable authoritative books and papers on that subject. For fifty years he has and Hampstead which should be in book- been a member of the Newcomen Society shops and newsagents any moment now. It and served as President in 1953-55, has been specially compiled for the bicen- Since the closure of his firm, he has tenary celebrations by Camden History contributed extensively to the work of PubHcations and is being sold in aid of the industrial archaeology, and has en- tomb restoration fund. hanced a deserved reputation for conveying in interesting manner the All Constable-lovers are urged to help the essentials of early mechanical engin- restoration work by sending donations to eering to non-technical audiences. the Fund, c/o Hampstead This is our first lecture at the St and Highgate Express, Perrin's Court, Pancras Church House, easily accessible Hampstead, London, NW3. by public transport - don't miss this unique event! Annual General Meeting

By courtesy of the Rev Poul-Erik the Danish Lutheran faith. Fabricius, this year's AG Mis to be held in the beautiful and historic The business meeting at 6.YJ pm will setting of S. Katharine's, Regent's be followed by refreshments (small Park, on the evening of 13 May. charge) and a lecture by Prebendary H~nry Cooper who,·until he came to The Hospital of Saint Katharine moved Bloomsbury seven years ago, was Master to Regent's Park in 1829 but its his- of the Royal Foundation of Saint tory in the East End goes back to Katharine, the successor the Royal 1148. Some medieval and renaissance Hospital,. Mr Fitbricius will add a relics can still be seen in the Church. postscript on the Danish Church. In 1952 the Church was consecrated to

Archaeologists Forward FESTIVAL TIME Irene Schwab of the Inner London Would you like to join in your local neigh- Archaeological Unit is seeking volui1t- bourhood festival and help run a CHS eers to help in rescue digs from now stall? It would be a sort of bookstall- until the end of the year. Would cu~ exhibition-cum information desk anyone interested please contact her for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. at 242 6620. Provisional dates are 5 June ; There is also a training excavation to 12 June Falkland Fair and Mansfield; be run in in the first half 2-4 July Queen Square and Somers Town; of August. Further details can be 3-11' July West Hampstead; 3 July King's obtained from Archaeology Vacation Cross; 10 July Bloomsbury; 17 July Albert Courses Officer, Department of Extra- Street NWl; 24 & 25 July Winchester Fair; Mural Studies, University of London, 28 & 29 August. ; 4 Septem- Room 8, 7 Ridgmount Street, London, ber Gayton; 11 September . WClE 7AD. Please contact Christopher Wade if you CAMDEN CIVIC SOCIETY can cover any of these. The Secretary now has an up-to-date list of the officers of the Camden Civic Society. This can be seen by any member wishing to contact the Society. Transport Group Recent meetings and activities have It was suggested at the workshop even- been devoted to preparation for tl~e ing that it was time to publish a joint workshop evening on 17 March summary of the sites we have so far with the Greater London Archaeological covered. The sketch map shows the S~ciety. It was necessary to collect sites which have received some cover- together slides, drawings and photo- age. Some of them have been exten- graphs and select suitable ones for sively photographed, measured and display. At our next indoor meeting drawn, but only the stables block off on 28 April (6.30 pm at 31 Earlsmead Road has had more documen- Road, NWlO) we shall be looking at tary research than the reading of pub- them again to consider which of them lished material. For anyone with time should be copied for deposit with the to spare,especially during weekdays, Local History Collection at Swiss there is therefore plenty of docum- Cottage Library. If you have any entary research to be undertaken. photographs etc of any Camden trans- port subjects, John Lawson (969 2529 We intend to take a look at further or 603 4622 - office) will be pleased parts of the extensive King's Cross to know. We will also have to con- Goods Depot on Friday 9 April. Meet at sider how best to catalogue the items 12.,30 pm at York Way entrance or the deposited and decide how and when to administration block. fill the gaps.

AAn.w--, ~,Tes Su~Cl> ~"f CHS/GL,AS 'Tb ~'"' 'q, ..

Tho-se ~,keS UrdeY-\,f\ed s\,,)~d BRICKFIELDS WHITE STONE Hugh S Pocock writes - Your reference John Dizer writes - I have greatly en- to the King's Cross cinder heap and joyed exploring Hampstead with the Malcolm Holmes's note, both in the help of your booklet The Streets of February newsletter prompts me to send Hampstead. About a month ago, my you an extract from the will of Jolm mother unearthed from our family Thomas Pocock dated 4 January 1827. archives a letter from my Grandfather It Js a long will with references to to the Evening news of ;I) December much property in London and Middlesex. 1924. He refers to the face of'the White Stone which has 'IV Miles·from "All that my freehold estate situate Giles Pound' on it. He asks, "Where lying and being in the parish of St was Gile's Pound, and why was it so Mary Islington now in my own occupat- important? Even the head keeper ion and in part used as a brickfield could not tell me, though he know the with the six messuages and stabling stone well". thereon and which estate lies on both The only reply he apparently received sides of the Battle Bridge and was an anonymous one, reading "Don't ". worry about Giles Pound but Read your 11 Bible, it is far more important • This would seem to be the area in the illustration on the membership In The streets of Hampstead only the application form of the CHS. side which has on it '4¼ miles from Holborn Bars' is mentioned. Now, John Thomas Pocock, citizen and both faces of the stone are so stationer, was a prosperous coal mer- weathered that it seems just possible chant of St Brides Wharf where he also that, although it is still just had a dwelling house and a '1 country legible, the Giles Pound side may soon house11 in Greville Place. The house be forgotten. was No 6 at that time but is now numbered 18 and is well preserved. Grave Survey There is an accou..rit of Battle Bridge A Hampstead Graveyard Group has been in Old and new London, volume II, formed from among our members to page 278, to which Lady Holder, a survey the tombstones in the Parish new member, has dra~m my attention. Churchyard. After a number of meetings, we have settled down to checking and re- NEW LAMAS PUBLICATION cording the inscriptions on the stones, Members can see a copy of The archaeo- many of which are wearing away fast. logy of the London area: current know- ledge and problems in the Local History Among the many famous graves in this Library at Swiss Cottage. This is a churchyard, those of John Constable and Special Paper No. 1 recently published John Harrison have bicentenary interest by the London and Middlesex Archaeo- this year. Many others are offering local logical Society. It will be reviewed history and genealogical interest. in our next newsletter. Christopher Wade

MEMBERSHIP WHISTLING STONE ON HEATH There are now 582 members. Recent en- Christopher Ikin has drawn our atten- rolments include two schools (North Bridge tion to a reference by Antony D House School and High Hippisley Coxe in his Haunted Britain School), Mrs Miriam Alman, Dr M Alpert, (Pan Books) to a stone on "which whistles at the place Miss Charlotte Anderson, Mrs P Braun, 11 where a highwayman was killed • Mr Miss Dinah Brook, Mr Graham Collins, Il~in can find no reference to such a Mr & Mrs Peter Demos, Dr JR Fairhurst, stone in any of the Hampstead his- Miss Adelaide Harris, Miss Pat A Hendra, tories and wonders whether any other Mr D G Pitt, Miss Jean Pontefract, Miss member knows the source of the story. Joan Quinn, Mr & Mrs T J Rider, Mr & Mrs WW Salinger, Mr & Mrs Peter Stadlen, Mrs M J Tringham, Mrs Jean Tsushima, Mrs J E Wigley, Mr & Mrs W H Wilcox, and Dr P M E Youngman. Book Reviews booklet records and illustrates the The Growth of London is the title of a story of the Kingsway Subway, the series of six packs being produced by the only tramway subway ever constructed Media Resources Centre in co-operation in the London area. The author is well with the Greater London Record Office. qualified for his task, as he is a lead- ing tramway historian and a former The packs are a series of source units for editor of transport journals. He out- teachers and pupils containing facsimiles lines the need to connect the northern of maps, documents and other material and southern systems of the London relating to the growth and development of County Council, and the difficulty of London as a great city. Broadsheets for securing the necessary powers. both teachers and pupils give further back- Eventually the tunnel was built, but ground information and reference is made only for single-deck cars, and was to relevant material to be found elsewhere opened from Aldwych to Southampton (including an extensive bibliography). Full Row on 24 February 1906. Together transcriptions of the more difficult docu- with the electrified horse tramway mentary items are given and sets of work along Theobalds Road, and a new cards are included which are based on the line from Holborn Hall to the Angel, this information contained in each pack. Age enabled an electric service to be estab- 12 upwards. lished, the first in north London of the The following are now available:- LCC system, Mr Dunbar describes the vehicles and route changes, which were Sixteenth Century: The Beginning of numerous after the subway was opened to Expansion the Embankment on 10 April 1908. The Seventeenth Century: Beyond the Walls work of enlarging the subway to take Eighteenth Century: Flowering of a City double-deck cars was begun on 11 Septem- Price for each pack: £1. 50 (ILEA ber 1929, necessitating the closure from customers) 3 February 1930 to the reopening as en- £2. 25 (Non-ILEA larged on 15 January 1931. With the customers) abandonment of tramways in London, under Available from: - London Transport auspicies, the last car ran through the subway on 5 April 1952. Greater London (Cash and cheque Record Office orders only. It is a worth-while story, well told, and London Records Cheques should be by an author who pays great attention to Room B21 made payable to accurate detail. In addition, there is The County Hall the Greater London an article entitled "Subway Memories" London SEl 7PB Council) by J H Price, another well-known trans- Inner London Education port enthusiast who had done much for Authority (ILEA orders only) pret,ervati~n of vehicles, records, and Media Resources Centre details of tramway history. A further Station Road contribution, by B G Wilson, outlines Islington unfulfilled subway proposals for the London London Nl lSB area. The booklet is a valuable contribu- tion to local history which is worthy of commendation. "London's Tramway Subway" by C S Dunbar. 26p 8½ in x 5½ in. SUBSCRIPTION RENEWALS Light Railway Transport League. Subscription reminders are enclosed Copies from the Publications Officer, for those members who have not renewed following our note in the last news- 13a The Precinct, Broxbourne, Herts, letter. ENl O 7HY. Price 30p. Regretfully, because of the high cost By reason of its proximity to the of postage, we shall not be able to Cities of London and , the send newsletters after the present southern part of Camden has been one to those members who do not re- associate_d with many transport new. The chore of annual renewal can developments, and this interesting be eliminated by completing a banker's order or better still, a deed of covenant. THE CORAM FOUNDATION HOGARTH AND WILKES Seeing a copy of the Annual Report 1974/ Jim Swinley, Director and Secretary of 1975 of the Thomas Coram Foundation the Thomas Coram Foundation writes - I was very interested in Mr Richard for Children prompts us to remind mem- 1 bers of the fact that the art gallery and Graham s letter and the extract from The North Briton containing the attack museum at 40 Brunswick Square, WCl, on Hogarth by Wilkes. Both were are- open from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Governors of the Foundling Hospital. Friday. There are some very fine pic- After their quarrel arose, they ceased tures by Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds to attend Governors 1 meetings nas if etc. there, as well as a collection of most each were afraid of meeting the other, interesting historical mementoes. even on the most benevolent groundn. While Hogarth's connection with the PIANO FACTORY, NW1 Hospital was entirely beneficial, Wilkes seems to have misapplied some of At the time of writing, the result the funds for the branch Hospital at of the Public Inquiry last October into Aylesbury! Of the other people men- the future of the old piano factory tioned in Mr Graham's letter, Allan in Fitzroy Road, Chalk Farm, has not Ramsay was also a Governor and his por- been published. But even if the build- trait of the famous Dr Mead (who lived ing is not pulled down, it will be on the site of the Hospital for Sick considerably altered. Children) is in our possession. I I undertook to provide record drawings cannot find William Pitt's name in our of the building for the Cam:len History records, but Earl Temple was elected Society and have made a survey but am in 1758. To round the matter off, Mr having difficulty in finishing. I nCM Richard Graham of Prince's Court, West- have 3½ nearly complete drawings out minster, was made a Governor on May of six. Would anyone with a draughting 12th, 1742. skill like to take on a drawing? The work involved would be tracing from my roughs. Anthony Cooper (722 7063)

The Piano Factory, Fitzroy Road, N.W.l. No36 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY JUN 1976

July Event Constable Weekend 15 July 1976 at 6.30 p.m. Friday, 11 June. 7.:;o 'Constable & St Giles-in-the-Fields Hampstead' lecture by Lindsay Stainton CHS and HC. NT event at University College For our July event we go to Church in School Theatre., Frognal, NW3 (See April Holborn, to St Giles-in-the-Fields, for newsletter) . a talk on its history by the Rector, the Rev. Gordon C Taylor, MA, FSA. The Church Saturday , 12 ·June: 2. 00 A walk round stands on part of the site of the leper Constable's Hampstead, starting from the hospital founded by Queen Matilda in 1117 Parish Church. but the present Church is probably the third to stand on the site, having been 4.00 A recital of Poetry and Prose with built in 1734 by Henry Flitcroft, a pro- Constable connections, given by Ruth tege of Lord Burlington and a pupil of Rosen: in the Churchyard. James Gibbs. 10.39 Special Film Show at Everyman Come and hear the full story and note the Cinema: 'John Constable: Romantic versus ususually early time - 6.30 pm. Classic Art' featuring Lord Clark, and Korda's 'Rembrandt'., starring Charles Laugh.ton. Sunday, 13 June: 2.00 and 4.oo Further walks round Constable's Hampstead, start- ing from the Parish Church. 2.00 - 5.00 'Paint your own Constable' rally and competition at Judges Walk, near Whitestone Pond. Guided tour of Church and Church- yard. 6.00 Special Evensong in Parish Church. Constable's Hampstead has now been pub- lished by Carlile House Press, in associ- ation with Camden History Society, and is available, price 30P from all local book- shops and newsagents. Profits from the first edition are going to the Constable Tomb Restoration Fund. CHS Members can order copies to be sent, post free, from 28 Willoughby Road, NW3 lSA. Mr. Gregory to be deeply involved in the political and cultural life of-London and to put to- The Chairman announced at the Annual gether, as a result of lunch-time ~esearch, Meeting that Mr Gr~gory, our Secretary, is a best-selling and widely acclaimed retiring from Camden Libraries in June Encyclopedia for local historians~ Our and, at the same time,- from the Secretary- charming Vice-Chairman, Cherr~r Lavell, is ship,. of this Society. a tower of strength in all archaeelegical matters. Assistant Secretary, ' gorgeous Those who know him will realise the ex- Coral Howells, has shown her skill at tent of the loss to both Camden and our- organising special events such as the selves. He has been our secretary for successful 11 Camden Miscellany" at the nearly six years and quietly and compet- Embassy Theatre and the Dickens evening ently kept pace with our rapid growth - last Christmas. Two archivists, Tina Gee indeed the growth has a great deal to do and Malcolm Holmes, have provided a link with Mr Gregory's efforts. We wish him between researchers and the Borough's well in his retirement and hope to see local history collections. Wilfrid him on many occasions. Meadows, the first Treasurer, set the Society on a sound financial footing and The President of the Society, Sir James will also be remembered for his work on Brown, presented him with a set of The the "Streets" series. His successor, Annals of Hampstead by Thomas Barratt. Jane Ramsay, has been frighteningly efficient. Christopher Wade, urbaneand. scholarly Editor of Publications, has GD Gregory writes - The Editor has allow- been responsible for the Society's highly ed me a little space to thank members for successful publications programme. He the totally unexpected and most generous rapidly found himself at home in the gift of a set of Barratt's The annals. of world of printers and booksellers and his Hampstead and for the added pleasure of expertise is such that he makes money for having it presented by the President at the Society. the annual general meeting on 13 May. As my office copy will have to stay put for Council meetings have been a deUght, with my successor, I had been bracing myself their mixture of business and local history to buy a copy to have at home. There talk. Each member brings a special know- could therefore have been no more welcome ledge or skill - Gillian Tindall, combin- gift and I am delighted. ing her ability as a writer with an enthusiasm for ; Anthony Cooper, It has been a great pleasure to serve as authority on architectural matters; Secretary since 1970 and to see the Society Viv Morris and Leslie Newman, the joint grow steadily in numbers and activity. driving force behind a productive social The Secretary's role has been the enviable history group which has delighted members one of observing work going on all around with a number of t.he'matic symposia; him and he has felt guilty for having con- Horace Shooter and E G Brassington,·each tributed no more than a little gentl~ making a highly practical contribution stamp-licking from time to time. and both particularly interested in ecclesiastical history; and John Lawson, We have been fortunate in our officers and newest council member, who organises the council. The first President, Lord work of an enthusiastic team urgently Wolfenden, befGre his retirement as recording transport history. Director of the , gave us a great deal of help and encouragement in As I leave, a fresh attempt is being made the early days and took part in the inau- to interest and involve schools in our gural weekend school. His successor, Sir work and a promising start has been made JamesBrown, is the perfect President, by a new industrial archaeology group led always ready to help in a practical and by David Thomas. generous way. A galaxy of Vice-Presidents, all of whom have helped from time to time, The close link with the Borough Council are most often represented by Charles Lee, is, as far as I know, unique. Help in known to us all for his meticulous schol- money and kind, as well as' the Patronage arship and authoritative knowledge of all of the Mayor and the interest of the aspects of the Borough's history. John Libraries & Arts and Planning & Communic- Richardson, founder of the Society, has ations Departments and their Directors, proved an able, influential and energetic have been a source of great encourage- Chairman. Who else, in adclition to a ment. In return, the Society has done a demanding day-time job, could find time great service to the Council and the people of Camden. The link is certainly the envy of colleagues in other boroughs and of societies such as ours. daughters, caroline, Amelia and Cecilia The Story of Kidderpore (Hampstead and Highgate Express, 19 August 1876, Cannon's obituary). Barratt Hall describes cannon as an "India and Dye According to Thomas J Barratt in The Merchant". In this context, "India" re- Ann~ls. of Hampstead, vol. 2, p. 250: fers to Indian ink, a black pigment ma.de "About 1844 Mr Cannon, a retired India and (0 do 11 in China ancl Japan ED), nothing to Dye Merchant, built Kidderpore Hall • with India! The Mis~Cannon lived at While looking at original sources I have the Hall until 1889 (Hampstead Directory discovered some facts which show that this 1888-9). statement may not be correct. The Council of Westfield College purchased The 1839 Tithe. map of Hampstead and the Kidderpore Hall, together with two an

12. Lutheran churches in Camden. Anyone wishing to use this type of material is strongly advised to contact Malcolm 13. Cost of living at various dates. Holmes,, unless he is familiar with the complexities of 19th century census 14. Gordon Riots in Camden. recording and methods of analysis.

15. Street ballads and broadsides (some This material was often available to earl- work already done on Pitts and Catnach). ier historians who often had to generalise (often inaccurately!) on the population. 16. Early policing of the area pre-18,32. The Meeting was held in the magnificent Early advertisements, e.g., for surroundings of St Katharine I s Church in "bug catchers" • Regent's Park. We were entertained by two witty and informative talks by the 30. Breweries • Rev. Poul-Erik Fabricius who told us about the history of the Danish Church 31 :- CUstoms (work being done on :this in London, and by Prebendary Henry topic by Malcolm Holmes but information Cooper who described the high points always welcomed). (and the low) of the St Katharine's Hospital Foundation. ,32. Tape recording of local residents' memories. Very little of thi_s has been Everyone agreed that it was a very done in' Crunden, but it does involve a successful evening and we are most gratee great deal of preparation and possibly ful to the Danish Church for their more than one visit. Most people are hospitality. unable to provide the sort of historical information sought unless pertinent questions are asked. However, if well Transport Group News done, this source will provide information John Lawson has been on holiday during May often not available from books, news- and before going, he wrote, "On Friday 9 papers etc. The Local History staff have April we visited. anotp.er part of ~e King I s done a little work in this field and Cross Goods Depot and saw what remains of may be able to help here. the hydraulic system. The shaft which housed the pump and weights remains, as 33. Development of particular localities, do some of the connecting pipes. Next e.g. Somers To~m. door, the boiler house also remains but the boilers went many years ago (probably 34. Victorian housing for the working pre-war), being replaced by supplies from clas_ses. the Hydraulic Power Co. We were told that a tap remained which allowed canal water into the supply. Some doors were locked The Annual Meeting and we were unable to find it. Whilst look- At the Annual .Meeting the Cha;f.rman ing, however, we did find some stables in described a successful year of talks and which the layout and design of the enterprise. He welcomed the probable ad- mangers and bales were very similar to vent of a local history centre at Lauder- those on the London Midland at Chalk Farm. dale House and promised the co-operation of the Society in the venture. I had earlier in the week been looking at some of the tenders put out by the Great The Mayor, Arthur Seutter, patron of the Northern Railway 1891 for alterations to Society, said that he was particularly some parts of the King's Cross Good~ Yard. impressed by the Society's publications These records, now stored in the Public and was pleased that the partnership Record Office at Porchester Road, show between Council and Society worked so very prec:i,,sely the materials to be used well. and their costs. It was interesting to look out for the iron viaduct which had The follow~ng officers were elected: been rebuilt in a new position, look at the roadway built in cement and coke breeze President - Sir James Brown conc~ete and topped with Srnart's Limmer Vice-Presidents - Sir Colin Anderson,KBE Asphalte, and to see how well the red deal Sir John Betjernan, CBE wood had survived as paving. Charles E Lee,~, FCIT R Michael Robbins, MA., FSA It is becoming increasingly clear to me Prof.FM L Thompson D.Phil that we need to do nruch more research be- Chairman - John Richardson fore we can gain much more from looking at Vice-Chairman - Cherry Lavell sites. We have superficially covered most Secretary - held open for the time being railway sites, though there are some Programme Sec. - 11 corners and some buildings we have not yet Treasurer - Mrs Jane Ramsay covered. On the road transport side we · Publ~cations Sec. - Christopher Wade need to do research before we can get any Archivist - Malcolm Holmes further. Once one has le~rnt where tG f!iii and what to ask for research can be interest- The Council was re-elected in its entirety. ing 1n itself'. For example, what modern contracts would include1 "Materials are Camden's Industrial to be carried as far as possible by the Archaelogy Great Northern Railway at the Contractor's 11 11 A e.x:pense , or No foreign iron or steel will new group has been formed to investi- 11 be allowed to be used on the works • Any- gate, visit, photogrijph and report on one who has time t0 spare, especially some of the places of I A significance weekdays, please contact John Lawson, 31 in Camden. The Group is already active, Earlsmead Road, NWlG 5QD, 6o3 4622 ext. but is as yet very few in numbers, and 467 or 969 2529. rt needs support from members who would like to find out more about this fascinating STRETCHER RAILINGS subject. This is an area in which pre- vious similar experience is not necessary! An interesting relic of London's more So far, the Group have visited two former recent history is to be found at the GLC's piano factories, a bakery and Prince of Ossulston Estate in Somers Town. The Wales Road Baths. Members interested in rather odd-shaped fence found the estate the survey are invited to join the group is made from World War Two civil defence at any of the planned activities listed stretchers which were ordered in large below, or write for further details to quantities by the Authorities in the the acting co-ordinator, David G Thomas, expectation that the V bombs would cause a 4 Heyford Avenue, SW8 lED (735 2132 greater loss of life and casualties than home). was the case. When the emergency was over the LCC bought up the surplus stretchers Saturday, 12 June. Firm near St Pancras; as a job lot and used them to make fences meet steps of St Pancras Hotel, 10.30 am; in_place of railings removed for scrap cameras and note-pa~ useful. as pa.rt of the war effort. Tuesday, 29 June. Progress and planning On the Ossulston Estate the original brick meeting, Swiss Cottage Library, 18.,30 pillars were too close together to take hours. · To plan future and set pr,iorities. two full length stretchers, and it is still possible to see where a section :in Saturday, 17 July. Site near ; the middle of each stretcher was removed meet Camden Town Tube, 10. 30 hours. Again, and the two ends welded back together. cameras and note-pads. The fence is well-maintained and should survive-as a reminder of the war years. Philip Hawkins. Book Review The Archaeology of the London area; of maps than have (as a I.AMAS member) a current lmowledge and problems (London & free copy with only one map. Middlesex Archaeological Society Special Paper No. 1, _1976). The two sections which cheered me most were Jean Macdonald's on Neolithic Some years ago the London & Middlesex London and John Barrett's on t\te Bronze Archaeological Society's Research Comm- Age. The first contain a lot of exoi ting ittee had the excellent idea of producing new material, the second has an espec- a complete record of what was known of ially thoughtful approach ( though he Greater London's archaeology at all periOds, gets a black mark,\ from me for not so as to show where further research was accepting the Bronze Age barrow on most needed. Unfortunately, like all Parliament Hill! ) In the. chapter on the projects involving a team of writers, Palaeolithic and Mesolithic I felt that this o~e took a long time to complete, the the author had not been able to solve quality is uneven and the papers are not the difficult problem of explaining his as up-to-date as they might be. Nor am· material readably. At the other end of I sure how this volume relates to the the time-scale I was disappointed that Jol:m Kington-Bird Survey of Archaeological Hurst, winding up with Saxon and medieval Needs, about which CHS members heard in London, had to leave us stranded in the June 1974 and which will be published 14th century. He himself bas done so later this year. much for the archaeology of the later periods~ and in any case modern London is Nonetheless, this work in its cheerful largely to be understood by means of red cover is a full and valuable record developments after the 14th century. of what is known, and allows us at last to shelve for good the 1930 book by Specific references to Camden are very few Vulliamy which, though desperately indeed, showing how little archaeological obsolete, was the only collection of work has ever been done in the Borough. factual information we had. How well It is certain that every day we are losing have the authors communicated the new pieces of infonnation, some of which material? I have to admit to feeling a could be vital, through lack of people little disappointed myself. These 67 able and willing to watch building sites. pages are not an easy read - they have Amazingly enough, D of E money is not been written,& experts for enthusiasts, available for the administrative costs of and anyone who wanted a gentle intro- organising rotas of amateurs, even though duction to London's archaeology would do site-watching often brings high benefits much better to read Ralph Merrifield' s for low expenditure. Indeed, much of very enjoyable and well illustrated little the factual information in this I.AMAS book for Heinemann. (The Archaeology of s~ey was recovered. by painstaking. London, 1975) .. individuals peering down sewer trenches a hundred years ago. Dare we hope that One thing sadly missing from the .new the Do E will have the courage to divert publication is a sufficient quantity of a little of the money now spent on not illustrations, as each contributor was entirely vital digs towards the cost- allowed only one page of drawings. Most effective business of site-watching? of them show a few typical objects, with the odd result that we are given only one Cherry Lavell map in the entire volume. I would rather have paid 50P or even £1 and had a series ,No37 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY SEPT1976

The September Event - The West Hampstead Walk Three Films SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER Starting at Emmanuel Church, West End Green 1,h SEPTEMBER at 2.30 pm, Christopher Wade will be leading The Society has arranged for three films of varied another exploration of the beauties, curiosities topics to be presented at Swiss Cottage Library and antiquities of West Hampstead. This tour will at 7.30 pm. They are: embrace the northern reaches including sites of 1907-1975 the Iron Foundry and Eley's Cartridge Factory, Age of Invention (Industrial Archaeology) the houses of Alfred Harmsworth and Evelyn Caring for history (Techniques uesed in the Waugh, the Boy's Industrial Home and Fortune preservation work by the Department of Green Cemetery. the Environment) This is the first film show we have given and New Members' Meeting we anticipate a good attendance. Every so often we hold a meeting at which members who have joined since the last one HAMPSTEAD HISTORY can come and hear more about the Society, meet Brenda Tyler, one of our first members and a the Society's officers and Research leaders in- contributor to 'The Streets of Hampstead' and formally, and get to know more about the 'More Streets', also lectured in Hampstead history research facilities in Camden. We are having for many years at the Camden Institute in New another such meeting on September 20th, at End. She has now moved to Birmingham and Swiss Cottage Library at 7 .30 pm. There will her chair at New End has been taken over tem- be short talks from group leaders and some

porarily by Christopher Wade. Christopher will officers1 and members will also be shown the be known to most of you as our energetic Editor. archives in the strong room at the Library. New of Publications and an expert on Hampstead members are very welcome - and also not-so- history. new members who haven't been before! His first course of Hampstead lectures will be on Wednesday evenings from Sept. 29th to Dec. 8th LOCAL HISTORY STAFF (Enrolment in the week commencing Sept. 13th). Th,~ last few gionths have seen a high turnover Christopher is an amusing and imaginative speaker in local history staff in Camden. Miss Irene Burns and those wanting to know more of Hampstead from Holborn has been appointed local history History are strongly advised to enrol. librarian of the neighbouring borough of Brent, and now works from their new local history centre Our New Officers in Forty Lane. She will, however, be keeping in We reported in our last Newsletter that Mr. close .contact with Camden as the CHS programme Gregory had retired as our Secretary. We have secretary. She is replaced by Richard Knight. been fortunate to gain the services of Jenny Mrs. Maureen Rowbotham now works at Holborn Stevens,who works at St Pancras Library, as our Reference Library and in her place at Swiss new secretary and we warmly welcome her. In Cottage came Miss Felicity Macqueen. One of addition, Irene Burns, who was formerly in the her first queries in the job resulted in the article local history department of Camden, has on Kiddepore Avenue in the previous issue of the become our Programme Secretary and all Newsletter. correspondence to do with meetings etc should Mr. Bowen Pearse has arrived to fill the vacancy be sent to her at St Pancras Library. Mrs resulting from the departure of Mrs Bernie Hennah Ramsay, our Treasurer, will deal with all to have a baby girl. Membership enquiries. Malcolm Holmes, Local History Librarian. The Summer Outing This year's trip proved so popular that we had to come in two coaches, and for some good When the Society's Summer Outing on June 26th reason that I have now forgotten those in one coincided with the first days of the heat wave, coach were taken to have a cream tea at nearby we thought how lucky we were: little did we Tenterton while those in the other were given · know how long it was to last. Bayham Street, 50p by the Treasurer to pick their own goodies Camden Town, at nine a.m. was already seeming from Sissinghurst's tearoom. ("Just like \:1 school a particularly sticky, dusty place to be on such a lovely morning, while Bayham Abbey on the journey", said one young member of the party, Kent-Sussex borders, two hours of comfortable pleased to be in a situation perhaps more familiar to him than to the grown-ups). However the Board riae and a coffee break away, was far more Wages coach subsequently reached Tenterton also, appropriate. which is thought to have been the birthplace of This ruined monastery, some of which is still William Caxton the printer and where an exhibit- under excavation, has a long history, which only ion concerning him was in full swing. We were intersects late in time with the fortunes of the shown round by the Mayor, who was interesting Camden family and hence with the develop- and informative both about Caxton and about ment of Camden Town. Its days as a religious the old houses of Tenterton. In the last half hour house were two hundred years behind it and before the coaches collected us again, some people most of its splendid perpendicular architecture went to look at Tenterton's privately run steam was already roofless and fragmented, when it was railway and others to sit in the gardens of her acquired, in 1714, by Sir John Pratt, ancestor of public houses, while one member of the Committee the family that has held it ever since. This family, acquired an extremely cheap kitchen cupboard from which was raised to the peerage later in the century a second-hand dealer who was just shutting up and took the name 'Camden' from another family shop. Clearly, CHS outings are acquiring the seat, also managed by money or influence to get subtle knack of catering for all tastes, and this their leasehold of Manor (St Pancras one was a triumphant finale to Mr. Gregory's Parish) converted to a freehold in perpetuity, assiduous years as Secretary. and subsequently laid out Camden Town upon it. The second Lord Camden, who succeeded to Gillian Tindall both the title and the fast-developing new suburb in 1797, was also (according to the Battleships of West National Trust Guide) 'among the pioneers of pre-Romantic Gothic taste'; at Bayham Abbey as Hampstead a younger man he had built himself a Georgian- Several readers of our Streets of West Hampstead Gothic villa which still stands and is known as claimed that Achilles, Agamemnon, Ajax and the Dower House. Evidently, property specula- Ulysses Roads were not named fancifully after tion, then as now, was one thing, and personal 'top people from the Trojan War' but after British taste in architecture for one's own dwelling was battleships. A quick look at battleship histories another: Camden Town could have done with a would encourage this claim as the four roads few Gothic villas among its modest terraces. were built about the time that the first iron-clad battleships were launched amid great public The ruins, despite some meddlesome over- excitement. Frank Cole, Director of Camden's landscaping in the nineteenth century, still Libraries and Arts, who has a special interest in look much as they did when the eighteenth Naval History, investigated this idea and reported: century sketched them as models of that new and chic phenomenon, The Picturesque. They "Agamemnon and Ajax fit the theory: Achilles are lapped by- green lawns, on shady corners of and Ulysses don't. The Ajax and Agamemnon were which we ate our picnic lunches, before proceed- two of the most unsatisfactory battleships ever ing to Sissingh urst, the gardens created by Harold produced for the RN - 'the black sheep of the Nicholson and Vita Sackville-West among the battle fleet', says Oscar Parkes in 'British Battle- remnants of a Tudor house. What can one say ships 1860-1950'. They were commissioned to about Sissinghurst that has not been said many official and press praise in 1885 and 1884, and tim~s before? It remains an astonishing and paid off into fleet service in 1892 and 1893. beautiful achievement, and even in this summer's Ulysses doesn't figure in the big ship names at drought it retained cool, fragrant and lovely all, while Achilles has the wrong dates in relation corners. to the building of the roads around 1886." As a further torpedo for the battleship theory, a West Hampstead member has pointed out that the northern leg of Agamemnon Road was earlier called Penelope Road. C.W. The Story of Fitzroy Bridge driving through the middle of various developers' plots. This was not necessarily a disadvantage to Members who live around may them as they were able to build houses both have wondered why the canal bridge in sides without forming access roads, but Henry Gloucester Avenue is unsafe for traffic on one Bassett, architect, was not so lucky. He had side, and might like to know the answer which already built four terrace houses at the north I found among the Southampton papers in the junction of Regent's Park Road and Gl\=rncester G .L.C. Records. I will use modern place names. Avenue, and had to pull down two of them. The end wall of 196 Regent's Park Road is rendered The canal bridge was built, and solidly built with although the rest of the house is brick, and this arched brickwork, on the line of an 'intended represents what was originally the party wall road' running roughly from the south west end with the second demolished house. of Parkway to Chalk Farm_ Tube .Station. The arrival of the London and Birmingham Railway With the alteration in alignment, the canal after 1833 spoilt the idea, but when this part bridge was pointing too far to the north, and of the Southampton estate was sold for develop- it had to be widened on the south west side. ment in 1840 Gloucester Avenue beyond the This was done at the Railway's expense but bridge was planned to keep as nearly as possible cast-iron girders and stone slabs were used which to the original route, hard up to the Railway have proved inadequate for modern traffic, and boundary. It was at least partially formed on that is why there are baulks of wood keeping this line as the sewer at the north end was in- cars away. The construction can be seen from stalled. the tow path, and on the other side at the. north In 1846 the Railway, now the L.N.W.R., decided end of the parapet the original wall and the later wall can be seen diverging. it needed another strip of land which took nearly the whole of the Gloucester Avenue road north Anthony Cooper. of the canal bridge, and the road wasresited in its present position at the Railway's expense, A PLAN FOR CAMDEN King's Cross, incidentally, is a fairly new name for In 1975 Camden Council opened consultation on the district. It was formerly known as Battle the Borough Plan with a round of public meetings Bridge giving rise to all sorts of conjectures of and an invitation to local organisations and a battle there between Queen Boadicea and the individuals to submit their ideas on the future Romans, under Suetonius Paulinus. It is likely, planning of the Borough. Later in the year Camden however, that Battle Bridge is a Tudor corruption Sc~ne 1975 was published and meetings held to of Bradford Bridge. explain what had happened so far. The Council will shortly publish a consultative The name King's Cross is derived from a monu- document 'A Plan for Camden' and it is intended ment to George IV erected in 1830 where all the to mount a travelling exhibition which will provide roads converge outside King's Cross station. It a basis for discussion and consultation to establish was designed by Stephen Geary, the architect Council policies and proposals. of Highgate Cemetery, and was the subject of considerable derision, so much so that it was The Plan will consist of two parts: partly dismantled in 1842 and finally removed 1. The Summary of Policies and Proposals which in 1845. The monument took the form of a will be free square building containing a room with the 2. A longer, technical part of the Plan, which statue of the king on top. The room was even- will be available for reference at libraries and tually used as a beer shop. the town halls. The Exhibition will be at the following venues: CHRISTOPHER GOTCH SPEAKS. That well-known columnist Christopher Gotch Sep 13 - Highgate Literary and Scientific is guest speaker fro the Hampstead Centre of the Institute National Trust on Oct. 20th. His talk is called Sep 20 - Central Hall, Chenies St Drill Hall 'New and Old in Architecture', and will be at Sep 27 - Lambousa Hall, Greenland St, 8pm at St. Saviour's Hall, Eton Road, NW3. Camden Town Oct 4 - West Hampstead (shop to be arranged) Oct 11 - Hall Oct 18 - Arkwright Road Arts Centre Oct 25 - Kentish Town school, Islip St. The Polytechnic of North London Nov 1 - Camden Town Hall. will be holding a Conference on October 30th entitled 'People and CONCERT FOR CONSTABLE History in Camden•. Its programme On November 16th the Society and the Hampstead includes talks on Discovering Local Music Club will be presenting a joint event in History, The Value of Oral History, Rosslyn Hill Chapel. This will be a concert of the Exploring Local Archives, Social History and Industrial History etc. music that Constable himself might have heard and The Conference will be held at the enjoyed,..when he lived in Hampstead between 1819 Polytechnic in Prince of Wales Road and 1837. Full details will appear in our November and there is a fee of £1 including Newsletter but members, especially those who lunch. saw our previous joint event 'Musick at Hampstead Fo~ fuller details please write. to Wells' ·may wish to put this in their diary straight Patricia Garside at the Depart~ent away. Admission will be free but there will be a of History and Fhiliosophy there. collection for the John Constable Fund.

LIVING IN KINGS CROSS Those members interested in the King's Cross area may like to know that an Environment Group of the King's Cross community has been set up. It is interested in the future and the past of the area, examines planning proposals and organises public meetings to debate proposals. It rooks in~o the history of the area, visits-in- teresting buildings etc. It next meets on September 23rd and October 7th at 51 Argyle St, WCl at 8pm. The Secretary is Mr. M: Spencer (388 4311). No38 of the CAMDEN HISTORY SOCIETY Nov 1976

Concert for Constable Jerry and Elizabeth Shields, who last Tuesday, 16 November, in Rosslyn Hill year presented 'Musick at Hampstead Chapel, NW3 (between Pilgrims Lane Wells', have again done the research. and Willoughby Road) at 8 pm. There will be pictorial illustrations in- cluding slides of paintings by Const;ble. Admission free. Collection in aid of the John Constable Fund. The combination of music familiar and unfamiliar, pictorial illustrations and Joint event of Hampstead Music Club, sidelights on local history makes this an Cam4en History Society and Rosslyn event to note. Hill Chapel, to be given by members of the Music Club: Rescue Singers, Jetta Robertson, Juliet THE WORK OF RESCUE, an illustrated Clutterbuck, Nor man Soutar, Clifford Hindley; flute and piccolo, Joan Miller; talk by Robert Kiln. Swiss Cottage oboe, David Firth; piano, Lesley Barnes; Library, 7. 30 pm, Wednesday 17 narrator, Jerry Shie.lds. November. What better tribute to Constable in his The organisation RESCUE was formed bicentenary year than a concert of music in 1971 to press for improved Govern- which he himself might have heard and ment action to help record some at least enjoyed when he lived in Hampstead of the thousands of archaeological sites between 1819 and 1837? Constable all over Britain that were being destroy- played the flute as a young man; he , ed by the building of new housing estates, liked music to be simple and expressive. motorways, reservoirs, deep-piled He was a friend of Dr William Crotch, office blocks and even by new ploughing an infant prodigy and professor of music methods on farms. Largely as a result at Oxford, who was himself an accom- of RESC OE' s campaigning; greatly plished landscape painter. The concert increased central funds have been made will include compositions by Crotch, available so that archaeologists can such as a round called 'Painter's Lingo'; record at least some of the most im- and 'the celebrated Gipsey Glee in Guy portant of these irreplaceable traces of Mannering' - the music by Henry Bishop Britain's past before they are lost for and the words by Joanna Baillie, at one ever. Many important discoveries have time Constable's neighbour. Glees and been made as a result. Robert Kiln Scotch airs were popular at the concerts has been active in RESC OE since its held in the Assembly Rooms in Hollybush inception and has been its Treasurer Hill (Romney's house), where Constable for the last two years; he will tell us also gave lectures on the his~ory of land- about its past successes and future . scape painting to the Literary and Scien- hopes, illustrating his talk with slides tific Society. Among the items resur- of archaeological sites including some rected are some variations for flute on of his own discoveries in Hertfordshire. 'Robin Adair'. Besides such curiosities there will be a Song without Words by Mendelssohn, a Nocturne by John Field, and a sequence of musical nature paint- ing from The Seasons by Haydn. THE FOOD WAS GOOD Old Hornsey- our Lunch was the highlight of the "People and History in Camden" conference on December Event 30 October, organised by the Polytechnic 2 December, 7. 30 pm at the Highgate of North London. Literary and Scientific Institute, Alas, the rest of the conference did not South Grove, N 6 live up to the expectations outlined in Highgate, which many Camden residents the original description. Aimed at both seem to believe is entirely part of Cam- beginners in local history and more ex- den, is, in fact, mostly in Hornsey. perienced researchers, it satisfied the Highgate, of course, is a subject all needs of neither. on its own, but Hornsey as an area The lectures (Discovering Local History, will be new ground for this .Society when The Value of Oral History, Exploring we hear Ian Murray, Archivist for the Local Archives) while interesting were London Borough of Haringey. This is not related sufficiently to the approaches an illustrated lecture, Mr Murray is a that would be necessary to discover more good speaker, and it is a joint meeting about Camden. with the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institute, so there is bound to be a good While accepting the local history inex- attendance. perience of those members of the Poly- technic staff who were responsible for Hornsey has a particularly interesting the o·rganisation, it should have been manorial history. It was part of unnecessary for a participant at the end for administrative purposes in to have to state ·that there should now the same way as the manor of Finchley be another conference which really did was part of . Mr Murray has cover "People and History in Camden". made a particular study of his borough's court rolls, especially of the "Jack 0 Straw" part. INDUSTRIALARCHAEOLOGY GROUP PHOTOGRAPH INDEX-IN Pianos, we have discovered, played a notable key part in the Borough's Members have, in the past, spent history. Several well-known names, several evenings indexing the superb including Chappells, Apollo and Collard collection of photographs of some parts & Collard, had workshops in Camden of Camden taken by London Transport which are still standing, albeit in other about 1905. There is a wealth of use, and there are many related firms material in them - street furniture, producing specialist small parts. A trades now disappeared, shop prices, fascinating picture is beginning to architectural gems, etc., all of which em~rge, bq,t help is needed from mem- · makes for an entertaining evening. bers who can assist in tracing the Christina Gee is organising another b,istory of one or two of these firms in such evening on 29 November and any- normal reference books. The organiser one interested in a rewarding, but would be grateful for offers of help and sedentary time, is welcome. It will will, of course, give advice on what be at Swiss Cottage Library from 6 pm needs doing. And there are many, many onwards; coffee and biscuits provided. other industries which promise to be equally interesting. With winter upon us site visits will not start again until the spring, but there will be fairly frequent evenings when .members of the Society will be welcom- ed to help in scouring local history material' for information. To be in- cluded in the mailing list for dates and for details of the group generally, please contact David Thomas, 4 Heyford Avenue, SW8. (735 2132} Our New Review TRANSPORT GROUP Our fourth annual Review has just been Our next meeting will be on 7 December published and looks as good as ever. at Swiss Cottage Library Meetings So does the price, which has been Room (behind the book issue desk). We miraculously kept at 75 pence, the will continue to repair and catalogue same as it was for the first edition the plans, maps and diagrams from in ,,.1973. Can any other publication the Great Northern Railway District claim such a record? The Editor, Engineer's office at Kings Cross. Also Christopher Wade, and his team of we will discuss how we can consolidate distributors have worked hard to boost our work on the Kings Cross Goods the circulation. Our first print order Yard site and, if necessary, plan further was 750; the latest is 2, 500. For a visits or research. If anyone has, or spare-time effort this is quite an knows of, any photographs or records of achievement. the Kings Cross Goods Depot please can they contact John Lawson, 31 Earlsmead Number Four has a constellation of Road, NWl0. (603 4622 ext. 467 or contributors, starting with Sir'·John 969 2529) Summerson: his brief history of Bloomsbury at a CHS meeting last Christmas Presents - year was recorded and transcribed., Then there are the much-published Don't Go Away! Gillian Tindall, Charles Lee and Paul Before the festive season comes the Hogarth, not to mention CHS me_mbers suggestive season - and you can prob- working in the , the ably guess our tip for solving your Museum of London and at . present problem this (and every) Christmas. Our publications make On a topical note, we have articles splendid gifts - especially for old tying up with the American Bicentennial friends who used to live in Camden and the new Lauderdale House Associa- and are now reluctantly stuck some- tion. A full list of contents is included where else. DonJt leave it too late: in the Order Form with this newsletter. use the order form enclosed with this The special price for members ( until newsletter. the end of the year) is down to 60 pence. A BINDER FOR YOUR REVIEWS At last, you can store your Reviews in a hard-back binder, black paper coat with gold lettering CAMDEN HISTORY REVIEW. It holds 10 copies and you can get one at CHS meetings (£1. 25 to members) or by post ( 50 pence extra). HIGHGATE CEMETERY The Society has accepted an invitation to be one of the Trustees of the body which will, at some unspecified date, look after the old Highgate Cemetery. Miss· Gillian Tindall will be our repre- s-entative on the body.

JOHN GREAVES Members who knew him will be saddened by the news of the death of John Greaves, Honorary Secretary ·cover illustration on the of the Dickens Society for 28 years. new Review He collapsed and died, at the age of 78, in Dickens House. Festival Fun Our First Blue Plaque Our photograph is of CHS Council Following the publication of The Streets Member, Anthony Cooper, watching the of West Hampstead, we wrote to the jelly-eating contest at the Bloomsbury GLC suggesting they should erect a Festival this year: but he is also man- Blue Plaque to Lord Northcliffe on 3~, :qJng a CHS publications and publicity Pandora Road, near West End Lane. stall with (off-screen) Pamela Maas. This was his first married home and We flew our flag at several other street the place where he founded his fortune. In 1888, working in an attic here, he launched his first successful magazine ' 'Answers': he also created the Pandora Publishing Company and by 1891 he was rich enough to move to a mansion near Broadstairs. He later founded the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, saved The Times from extinction and did some valuable public service. Whatever you think of him and his works, he was, as the DNB says, 'a consummate journalist, who changed the whole course of British journalism by making it both lively and prosperous'. After eleven months of deliberation, the festivals, mostly in the Hampstead area. GLC has now agreed to erect a Blue Isobel Priest, Rosemary Weinstein Plaque in Pandora Road, reading:

and the Demos family were at the Alfred Harmsworth, Lord N orthcliff½ e Winchester Festival and various Wades (1865-1922) Journalist and Newspaper covered Belsize, Gayton and West Proprietor, liv~d here. 'It may be Hampstead. Altogether, we met a lot some time', says the GLC, 'before the of interested parties, made some new plaque will appear'. members and sold about £8 0 worth of c.w. publications. The stall-holders also had a lot of fun and managed to keep HELP WANTED the jelly off the publications (mostly). The Hampstead Graveyard Group would LAMAS CONFERENCE be glad to hear from anyone who could Members are very welcome to attend the help survey the old graveyard at Hamp- annual local history conference of the stead Parish Church. They would also London and Middlesex Archaeological appreciate_ some typing help for record- Society. Admission is by ticket only ing the inscriptions taken from tomb- and this can be obtained from the Hon. stones; Please ring Christopher Wade Secretary, Local History Committee, (794 2752). 3 Cameron House, Highland Road, , Kent. A Conference fee of NEW MEMBERS 60p (including tea) is payable and cheques Membership of the Society, after the should be made out to the London and annual prui:iing of the lists, has-risen to Middlesex Archaeological Society. The 543. New members recently include: Conference is on 20 November at 1. 30pm. La Sainte Union Convent School, Bishopsgate Institute, Mrs_ GChurchouse, SHEPHERD'S LONDON Miss R Clarke, Miss I Dudeney, Miss We have been asked to announce to C Gobbi, Mr & Mrs D Hamilton-Russell, any members who may have purchased Mrs G Littlewood, Mr J Parkinson, Shepherd's London that an amendment Ms L Pettoello, Miss E Thomas, Mrs leaflet has just been printed. This can B Wall, Mr M Wippell and Ms V Wood. be obtained free from J F C Phillips, 61 Haverhill Road, Ealham, SW12.