The Washline. 09/03/2012. New Cross Road. Click for high-res photo

The Washline.

09/03/2012. New Cross Road.

‘These Alms Houses / where built AD 1714 / At the expence of the / Inhabitants for the / Poor of this Parish / past their Labour / Robert Cromwell, George Starkie: Church Wardens’

‘The Almshouse Stone, 1714. Originally mounted on the chimney of the almshouse built on the north-west of the present school site. Newly erected here by North Westminster Community School, with the help of a contribution by Travis Perkins PLC. Rededicated by Lord Asa Briggs, 3rd December, 1990.’

16/02/2012. Paddington Basin, West London, at the entrance of an abandoned school building, currently protected by occupation, but soon destined to be demolished.

In 1980, an inscribed stone was found lying in the grounds of the then Sarah Siddons School, in North Wharf Road, Paddington. At that time Sarah Siddons was becoming part of North Westminster Community School, and the new Headteacher, Michael Marland, found the stone when looking round the site. The Schoolkeepers had washed it down regularly, but its history was lost. It appeared to have dropped out of the skies.

(‘The Almshouse Stone and Paddington Green, The Oldest Engraved Stone in Paddington’, by Jack Whitehead. Source.)

‘In memory of a friend and colleague, FRANCIS BLAKEY, who passed away, 1.5.1995, Aged 34.’ 15/02/2012. London Bridge Underground Station.

‘In memory of a friend and colleague, FRANCIS BLAKEY, who passed away, 1.5.1995, Aged 34.’

15/02/2012. London Bridge Underground Station.

‘The foundation stone of this building was laid by His Grace the Duke of Sussex on 15 September 1831 Three years later it was opened as the CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SCHOOL where for one hundred and thirty nine years patients were treated and staff trained in this renowned institution IN 1973 The Hospital and Medical School moved to new premises on the site of the former Fulham Hospital in West London’ 12/02/2012. William IV Street, London. Charing Cross Hospital was established in 1823 in Villiers Street, London, as a charitable institution known as the West London Infirmary. The institution had its orgins in a meeting initiated by Dr Benjamin Golding in 1818. The infirmary provided accommodation for twelve beds, and became known as Charing Cross Hospital in 1827. A new building was opened in Agar Street in 1834 with accommodation for twenty-two students, and was extended several times. After the second world war it was decided that the hospital should move out of cental London, and in 1957 a link was proposed with Fulham and West London Hospitals. The new Charing Cross Hospital was opened in 1973 on Fulham Palace Road, on the site of the old Fulham Hospital. (Source) Click for high-res photo

‘The foundation stone of this building was laid by His Grace the Duke of Sussex on 15 September 1831

Three years later it was opened as the CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL SCHOOL where for one hundred and thirty nine years patients were treated and staff trained in this renowned institution

IN 1973

The Hospital and Medical School moved to new premises on the site of the former Fulham Hospital in West London’

12/02/2012. William IV Street, London.

Charing Cross Hospital was established in 1823 in Villiers Street, London, as a charitable institution known as the West London Infirmary. The institution had its orgins in a meeting initiated by Dr Benjamin Golding in 1818. The infirmary provided accommodation for twelve beds, and became known as Charing Cross Hospital in 1827. A new building was opened in Agar Street in 1834 with accommodation for twenty-two students, and was extended several times.

After the second world war it was decided that the hospital should move out of cental London, and in 1957 a link was proposed with Fulham and West London Hospitals. The new Charing Cross Hospital was opened in 1973 on Fulham Palace Road, on the site of the old Fulham Hospital. (Source)

The back part of Walworth, at its greatest distance from town, is a straggling miserable place enough, even in these days; but, five-and-thirty years ago, the greater portion of it was little better than a dreary waste, inhabited by a few scattered people of questionable character, whose poverty prevented their living in any better neighbourhood, or whose pursuits and mode of life rendered its solitude desirable. Very many of the houses which have since sprung up on all sides, were not built until some years afterwards; and the great majority even of those which were sprinkled about, at irregular intervals, were of the rudest and most miserable description. (Source)

Charles Dickens, ‘The Black Veil’, from Sketches by Boz.

‘Opened June 14, 1902 by CHARLES BOOTH, Founder of The Science of Cities, and by the BISHOP of HEREFORD.’ 05/02/2012, Browning Street, Walworth. Charles Booth was one of those remarkable English Victorians who can justly be described as one of the great and the good. Profoundly concerned by contemporary social problems, and not a pious nor even a religious man, he recognised the limitations of philanthropy and conditional charity in addressing the poverty which scarred British society. Without any commission other than his own he devised, organised, and funded one of the most comprehensive and scientific social surveys of London life that had then been undertaken. Booth also added his voice to the cause of state old age pensions as a practical instrument of social policy to alleviate destitution in old age, established as one of the commonest causes of pauperism. Simultaneously he was a successful businessman, running international interests in the leather industry and a steam shipping line. (Source) You can read more about Charles Booth (what a fascinating man, the founder of the Science of Cities!) at LSE’s Online Charles Booth Archive. The Bishop of Hereford at the time, it seems, was John Percival.

‘Opened June 14, 1902 by CHARLES BOOTH, Founder of The Science of Cities, and by the BISHOP of HEREFORD.’

05/02/2012, Browning Street, Walworth.

Charles Booth was one of those remarkable English Victorians who can justly be described as one of the great and the good. Profoundly concerned by contemporary social problems, and not a pious nor even a religious man, he recognised the limitations of philanthropy and conditional charity in addressing the poverty which scarred British society.

Without any commission other than his own he devised, organised, and funded one of the most comprehensive and scientific social surveys of London life that had then been undertaken. Booth also added his voice to the cause of state old age pensions as a practical instrument of social policy to alleviate destitution in old age, established as one of the commonest causes of pauperism. Simultaneously he was a successful businessman, running international interests in the leather industry and a steam shipping line. (Source)

You can read more about Charles Booth (what a fascinating man, the founder of the Science of Cities!) at LSE’s Online Charles Booth Archive. The Bishop of Hereford at the time, it seems, was John Percival.

‘SFG, 1691’ 30/01/2012. West Street, Covent Garden. Looks like another guild emblem, obviously harking back to 17th Century. Any theories? Click for high-res photo

‘SFG, 1691’

30/01/2012. West Street, Covent Garden. Looks like another guild emblem, obviously harking back to 17th Century. Any theories?

‘Haberdashers Company’ 29/01/2012. East Road, Hackney. ‘The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers has its origins in medieval times. Throughout six and a half centuries it has moved away from its historical involvement in the trade of haberdashery and developed into a significant supporter of schools and education in England and Wales. The Company has its roots in a fraternity, a group of people who lived in the same area doing the same sort of work in medieval times and who worshipped at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Members were haberdashers by trade. They sold ribbons, beads, purses, gloves, pins, caps and toys and in 1502 were joined by the hatmakers’ fraternity. Thereafter there were two types of haberdasher: haberdashers of hats and the original haberdashers of small wares.  The first surviving ordinances were recorded by the Mayor’s Court in 1371. In 1446 the Company adopted its first Coat of Arms, an important symbol when many people could not read. In 1448 the Company was granted a charter of incorporation by Henry VI enabling it to hold land and to have its own Hall in which to hold meetings. The first of three subsequent Halls was built on the corner of Staining Lane and Maiden Lane (now Gresham Street) in 1459.   By 1650 the population of London had grown to such an extent that it was no longer possible to control the haberdashery trade. This resulted in a change of direction, over a long period, to the Company as it is now, with its emphasis on education and charitable giving. To this day the Company continues its historical involvement in the governance of the City of London.’ (Source) Click for high-res photo

‘Haberdashers Company’

29/01/2012. East Road, Hackney.

‘The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers has its origins in medieval times. Throughout six and a half centuries it has moved away from its historical involvement in the trade of haberdashery and developed into a significant supporter of schools and education in England and Wales.

The Company has its roots in a fraternity, a group of people who lived in the same area doing the same sort of work in medieval times and who worshipped at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Members were haberdashers by trade. They sold ribbons, beads, purses, gloves, pins, caps and toys and in 1502 were joined by the hatmakers’ fraternity. Thereafter there were two types of haberdasher: haberdashers of hats and the original haberdashers of small wares. 

The first surviving ordinances were recorded by the Mayor’s Court in 1371. In 1446 the Company adopted its first Coat of Arms, an important symbol when many people could not read. In 1448 the Company was granted a charter of incorporation by Henry VI enabling it to hold land and to have its own Hall in which to hold meetings. The first of three subsequent Halls was built on the corner of Staining Lane and Maiden Lane (now Gresham Street) in 1459.  

By 1650 the population of London had grown to such an extent that it was no longer possible to control the haberdashery trade. This resulted in a change of direction, over a long period, to the Company as it is now, with its emphasis on education and charitable giving. To this day the Company continues its historical involvement in the governance of the City of London.’ (Source)

‘The Gift of Henry Sterry Esq., 1859.’ 01/02/2012. Abbey Street, Southwark. MR. HENRY STERRY, late of Streatham, Surrey, died on February 12th, aged seventy-two. He was the son of Mr. Samuel Henry Sterry, a highly respected and much esteemed member of the medical profession, who carried on an extensive practice in Bermondsey for fifty years.  The loss of Mr. Sterry will be severely felt, not only by his immediate friends, but by many whose cares and anxieties he was foremost to assuage. He was a man of high and sterling principles, faithfully fulfilling all the various relations of life, both socially and morally. (March 8th, 1873. Source) Click for high-res photo

‘The Gift of Henry Sterry Esq., 1859.’

01/02/2012. Abbey Street, Southwark.

MR. HENRY STERRY, late of Streatham, Surrey, died on February 12th, aged seventy-two. He was the son of Mr. Samuel Henry Sterry, a highly respected and much esteemed member of the medical profession, who carried on an extensive practice in Bermondsey for fifty years. 

The loss of Mr. Sterry will be severely felt, not only by his immediate friends, but by many whose cares and anxieties he was foremost to assuage. He was a man of high and sterling principles, faithfully fulfilling all the various relations of life, both socially and morally. (March 8th, 1873. Source)

‘One foot east of this wall is the property of MR THOMAS PEACOCK’ 28/01/12. Lytham Street, Walworth. Click for high-res photo

‘One foot east of this wall is the property of MR THOMAS PEACOCK’

28/01/12. Lytham Street, Walworth.