0

NEWSLETTERVolume 2 Issue 18

Autumn 20070 C

BEM and Itirornley Institute

CIONTENTSJ,

Editorial Note and Memorial Research 2 Comesp4.intlencc 11

ELHS Pru/ranu rre RAI Buckley VC 13Archive AWarene%N.CallIpilign. 210107 4 Edsii London Schools Athletics Assoc.HUT!: r Twel •etrees 5 Coach Trip 16

Lt. FI Siewdmer Aulurnn 30I7

Editorial Note;

The Newsletter is edited. typeSet and producedby R.osemary Taylor with the assistance of anciJitorta.I team comprising Philip Menuck,Doreen Kendall. Da ... id Rehr. and DoreenOsborne.

Our guitviu11 tlidoks go to all the eontributorsof this edition of the newsletter. Wc havedecided to put tou,ei her anottiet newsletter toincorporate the Programme for 2.007-2008_Letters arid articles on East End history aridreminiscences arc always welcome and wemake every effort to publish suitable material.

hind-whit ArliCIE g are aceeptsble.items of interest that an: typewritten or eventooter still, on disk will get prifority!!

Enquiries to Doreen Kendall., 20 PIACE111‘

House. cranlyrook Estate. Bethnal Green,London E2 OR F, Tell 020$ 9g 1 76RO. or PhilipMemel, philerr5errkieks.coru

All queries regarding membership should beaddressed to Harold Merniek, 42 CampbellRoad, Bow. London E3 211Yi

Check out the History Society's website atwww.tustlooduldlizituoe.,olt.uk.

The present committee are: Philip Merniek,Chairman, Doreen Kendall, Secretary, HaroldMerniek, Membership, David Behr,Programme, Ann Sansom, Doreen Osbil.rne,Rob Dunn. and Rosemary Taylor.

MEMORIAL RESEARCH

Doreen arid Diane Kunciall. with

Dorgcn Osborne and other volunteerscontinue their work in the TowerHamlets Cemetery Park meticulouslyrmarcting graves and recordingmemorial inscriptions. They wouldwelcome any help members can oiler.This labour of love has grown into a

project of enormous proportions and

complexity, with an impressivedatabase Of rives researched. withillustrations attached. Unfortunately.due to the pressure of work. Doreen indDiane i;annk.)t undertake any research onbehalf of individuals, but wouldwelcome any infomation that has beenuncovered through personal searches.Meet them in the Park on the 2ndSunday of every month at 2 pm,

)ne. of the chupu Is in TowerCemetery, damaged during the Second WorldWar, arid subsequently demolished.

Cover Picture: the Bow kind BromleyInstitute from a 1 11 109 dated postcard.. Note theBryant A. May tiumtain to the right. Only afew coutus of brick sur,1 ye at the rear of thecurrent Enterprise Car Hire site.

E LI IS Ninv.111:11ce Aullumn ?rwri

East London History SocietyProgramme 2007-2008

Thursd p.1 13 Se lemhur 2001

East Lundum Social lii5tur:I. i i r Pt' si CardsRay Newton & bit Tab>.

I horstloy_U ohur 907

Seven Biro' parishioners - aspects Of BO%Church and ParishRev. Michael lice(

(Prtvtdirli by ikirifol at 1001

Thursd AV 29 NON'EM her 2007

The Nfus-ver 'Tongue — Ciactioc. y di a leutaaritrop

Thursdav 13 Decernher 2.00?

SCHIlt more Niluslc HallChria. Sumner

Thu r%ddati (1711. 1a3-al 2 101111.

The llistory of the Co-operati►e movementin Lond onStan Nc.wc.ns

hursda y 10 ‘pril 20118

Quick Tongoics & Big Hearts - rime EastEnd Women before the l'irst arPal Francis

'Thursday II N1ai20.1IN

lo he confirmed

The lectures are held On Thurida Evening!'at 7.30 pin in the Latimer CongrcgarionalChurch Hall, Erneirt Street, El.. ErnestStrtet /5 Vitw4,• vni Ilarford Street andWhirieharst Lane, off hlu a End Road(Opposite Queen Mar> and Vi.'est1ieid()allege). The nearest Underground Stationsart N111t End and Stepney Green.Bus No_ 25,

Suggo5tions ari d ideas for future topics aniforsneakers for our Lcciurc. PTOgrUITIrrkt 41tvalways welcomed. If VOU ran suggest somormeor indced if you would like give a calkyourself, please do comic euog to an: ()neinEvcriirig ill May, and meat David Behr, ourPrngrarnmacci-orcliniaiir.

Aherrialivety, email our Chairman PhilipMem ick at ph @Ain rr ycl:q.c...9rri with yourcorium: 7m 2nd. suggestions.

Thorsda% 10 Januar y 21.108

title to be corifirmorlAndress Clra.

Th kr rsdav ?? ruin. 24)37

To he conlirrned

5

I ..I.HS Newslener A anima 2007

Archive AY, areness Campaign2007

Guildhall] Library. NisinuacrIpti Section isholding a ia2r11,1q. Or free eileents a' part of Archive.Awareness Campaign 2007. The series aims toencourage the u' of arehives by family and localhistonans. Some sessions will include the4. tpiturluitily fur attendees to see examples ofdoe.urnerns. Or YOU fr1411, hot* ern a lour behind Ikescenes at Guildhall Library. These free events0.1.nnnence in the Library WhittingtonRoom at 2prn- on the following days:

18th Seprem her 2007! "The records of Si Paul'sCathedral". Stephen Freeth, iuildha II Library,followed by m Obit to 41 Paul's CathedralLibrary, Jo Wisdom, Si Paul's Cathedral. 2 hrs),15 people maximumAn introcludion to the records of ST Paul'sCathedral followed hi an opponuniry iti visit theCathedral Library. NR: access to St Paul''Cathedra1 Library is via the Geometric SUITS (9.41leps.1 and Ili not guiuble for su fferers tiom igo,

17 `}' October 2007: "John New ion: "a Monumentof grace". M.a.rylynn House,. The John NewtonPr6ject. Ihl ). 20 pelvic ""amoral.

John Newleaes story is extraordinary - a sailorflogged for desertion, a slave. a slave trader acrd aslave abolitionist. Author id the lamous hymn.4mazing Gftkv .he was Mentor to WilliamWilberforce for twenty years.

25' October 2007: Het ind the scenes tour of theManuscripts Section store arid Cotner% Alvaworkshop. (ihr 15 minutes). 16 people maximum.

(Om: and see how the nialiliScripts arc stored.Meet the conservators. and set what projects theyare working Olt. Discover how In care for yourtreasures.

7".. November 2007: 4A Place tit the Sun: fireinsurance- records rbriCK311 wad family historyBrenda Crilfith-Williains, A Plat iii the Suu.I I hr). 20 people maximum.

An mtroduction to tire insurance records as asource of information on London householders and

traders in the early l thih century (i.e. pre 18371, ofinterest to !amity, 'Social and business historians,

27P'NoVember 2IKF -t-'ity of London andLiiters Company Frredum Records". FlimhethScuctdm London Metropolitan ArdliNri andPhilippa Smith, Guildhall Library. ( Ihr 30 rums2U rompie maximum.

An introduction in the Ilse and interpretation of theFreedom Records of the City of London and ofCity of London Liver..4• Companies_ The sessionwill provide an opportunity to see examples ofrelevant documents and to diseuss their contc.nr.You will find this sem inar 1,04.ru1 if: you oreunfamiliar with the use of City of London andLivery Company Freedom Records and would likelu blow mom, }till intere.,ted 3n family orsocial history: and vou have an interest in thehistory of the City of London.

OCCeintler 2007: Behind the series lour of t heManuscripts Section store and conservationworkshop. t 1hr 15 minute M. I O people //lax i mum..

Come and see how the manuscripts are stored.Mort the conservators and see what projects theyarc Working on. Discover how to • 2IFC fur ruff

treasktres , NUMber$ tie 111110011. Max book inadvance by telephoning 020 7332 Ift63.1. You axeweiCoMe to come on the day and see if then areany places 0-yoiluble.

The Manuscripts Setlion of Cuildha.II Library 1sthe local n..ktord office for the City of London raw-Square Mile"). apart from the records; of the Cityof U111411531 Corporation which MC Stp3ralrlyadm iris eyed. Its holdings date front' the 11°century and include ecclesiastical and probateFOCCIIIIS, records or City wards and parishes, and ofaround KO of Its livery companies. Ii also holdsconsiderable business and commercial a.rchishes,including the London Stock Exchange. Lloyd's ofLondon and the London C.:htimber of Commerce.

For further information contaccGni ldha I I Library Manuscripts SectionA IdermaaburyLondon F.C2VTel:020 7:02 18.63.'2Textphone: 020 7332 3803EmailrnanuscrIpts.guildhailtikcityrrflondon goN.ukWebs ice: w w .history_ae.uk.shi

4

ELIAS tri; alenc, AuEurnn.:nu7

Twelvetrees

guess it would he reasonable to assume thatsomewhere in the history of the Kent town ofSevanoaka there .1 lati51. ba ilie been at sometimeSeven Oak Trees, As too i suppose with thevillag,c of Five Oak Green • also in Kent. Sohow about Twelvetreea in firomley-,By-BowLondon .F.;4. would the same criteria apply?Let me digress a little.

1 twat; horn in 1925 attlawgood Street, BowCommon, London E3 in a two up two downtype of house la-plc:al of that area; there wereseven of us as a family Ii \ mg upstairs. withAunt Lizzie and her brood downstairs Aisometime in 1925.7 we were re-housed in arecently built block of flats in Bromley. itspostal address being 155a, Si Leonard'sStreet. Bromley-By-Bow. London E3, it wasright next dour to Bromley Gas Works withthe Mulberry Tree pull sandwiched inbetween. Slum clearance was taking placeand the demolition sites were our out of schoolplaygrounds. Through my street wanderingsof Poplar. Bow. and the fringes at Stepney andStratford, there wasn't a street or road namethat I didn't know, Then suddenly in the modmof all this, the flats we lived in were given aname - TWELVEMELS HOUSE! The postaladdress now became 155a, TwelvetrecsHouse, St. Leonard's Street_ Bromley•by-BowLondon L Ai the time there didn't appearto he any significance in this_ the rent still hadto be paid and the life we led remained much

the same. but sotrlOaxla had divided that theflats were worthy of a name and came up withTwelvetrccs!

Today. in illy reminiscent years, I began toponder the reason for this, why Twelvetrees -had someone at the time found 12 trees in thegrounds of the local gas-works, (whoae gas.holders the flab looked out on). or perhaps itwas to avoid the confusion with the buildinas(Coventry. Crass) that WCre in the stages ofeoristruoion further down the road, but whyTwelvetrees! Whatever the reason. the 'bug'

had Sitten and I needed to find out. Then thequestion where do I start? The Hatsthemselves no longer exist - even though theysurvived the war - having been demolished tomake way for the Blackwall Tunnel ApproachRoad. but the name Twelvetrees Crescent hasbeen given to one of its contributor>, roads aswell as to an adjacent business park, butnothing further to satisfy my quest of wantingto know Various sources via the interactseemed to bring me tantalisingly close butnothing positive to convince me that thrk waas reason, and then it happened. A phone callfront the Essex Record OffiCv told me thatthey did have a printed article that may be ofinterest to me, would I like it forwarded!Needless to say its arrival was eagerly awaitedand when mealed gave me the gut feelingthat this was it- Milled Atly 4th 1562 it camefrom the Essex Weekly News written as partof a series can Essex Commercial Enterprises.It began as follows! The former papers of thisseries have been devoted to Illustrolloris ofestablishments within the boundaries of Essex.but the present one will be an exception to therule and take the reader in imagination acrossthe River Lea into the ,adjoining county ofMiddlesex_ The mere width of the streamhowever separates the spot from our owncounty, . ito that we hardly feel it im ixssary to

attempt an apology for over stepping it inorder to visit the 'Manufactory of Mr HarperTwelvetroes. situated ;at Bromley-By-Row',

This had to be it its reading showed too manycoincidences For it to be otherwise. Themention of Three Mill Lame, i tycrial Worksalong with other factors offered proof to that.So here t was looking at a surname rather thansome other meaning_

remembered there was a works in ImperialStreet, and there was a Three Mill Lane. - -which we used as a shortcut to Stratford viathe River Lea tow-path hut betterremembered for its pawnshop at its junctionwith St. Leonard's Strom. As for the name ofIwc-Ivetrees; - newer heard of it. Readingfurther into the article the reader is taken on a

5

Et_FIS Newsk-ner Attrairm 2007

tour of the reTnis.es and works by Mr_ HawTw'el'vetrirm covering "nine acres of ground,that comprise manufactories, workshops aridStores in which 500 people arc constantlyoccupied in the preparation of API almostendless variew of useful articles all adapted weconomise time, labour and money in thehomes of English people-. So what were

product of such iNClairn that itrliNarhave had made the name Twelvetrees ahousehold word. An advertisement in 1860goes a list of over 13 laundry and householdpro ducts front Soaps, '1/44'ashing, Powders., BlackLead. Inks. and Baking Soda. Even Wringersand Mangles_ the list seems endless_But what of the man hirn5cIrday information seems very scant, but fromwhat I have been able to glean he proves tohave been a rather extraordinary man. lk wasone of 10 children born to WilliamTwelvarecs and his wife Anna Harris inBiggleswade, Bedfordshire. in the year 1g23.Fl is father. a carpenter in Ei iggieswatic. iscredited for the building of the Town Hall.Harper at the age of 14 apprenticed himself to

local printerbook seller who 2 years laterdied. 'Harper was then asked if he would takeover the running of the business and althoughonly aged 16, accepted_ He spent many earlymorning hour; studying hard from books ofvarious subjects, coupling this alongside his]ear'n ing's from the business. Full orconfidence it seems he decided in 11845begin his own company and set up in businessin another part of Bedfordshire. Sometimelater he marries, and along with his wife Maryarid son William corno: to London to 'ventureinto the manufacturing of Laundry Products_It seems however that this venture really didn'tEgi off the ground through financialrestrictions in the way of government taxes.Sadly on 3rd of March 1849 his wife Marydies.

The 1851 Census shows thus;--Harper Twelvetrees Bead • 27yrs Widr - bBigg.leswadc • Wholesale Drysalterese

- Non - 2 yrs . l3 Dunstable

Thirza Twelvetrees • Sister - 23 • unm • hBijgleswadeRosa Twelvetrees - Sister - 1 9 - unrn -RiggleswadeRichd Twevarces - Brother - 17 - b -

Biggleswade Railway Ayvnt GNRFrederic Twelvetrees - Brother - 15 - b -Biggleswade - Merchants ClerkMary A Lune - Servant - 15 - h Walworthliouse Sen.antNortblk Cottages, Peckham. Camberwell.Surrey.

Later. Harper remarries to a lady namedIsabella Noble whose father had a primingbusiness in Boston, Lincolnshire. Looking toretirement his father-in-hmn proposed dialHarper joined his son in the company thrillinga famil y amalgamation, and this he did Butit scenes Hai pui love of laundry productscame to the fore and around the year I g55decided to leave Boston and head 11..K Londonwhere he took up residence in I lackney.Shortly after, he began manufacturing hislaundry products in a factory in Goswell Road,Islington. London. Some 3 years later, theforever ambitious Fed enterprising I larpc rmoved on, having found premises within afactory complex in Three Mill Lane Bromley-by-Bow, London E. _ a situation that permittedthe Ilarper family to become resident withinthe company grounds.

The 1861 CeliSIDITwelvetrees - Head - 37yrs --Born

Efigglcswad.e. - Manufacturing Chemicals -Employing 250 Work People.Isabella - Wife 32yrs - b BostonV4 illiam H - Son - 12 yrs - b Dunstable -BedfordshireYf'altcr N - Son - 3 yr - b Elusion -LincolnshireFlorence R Dau = 2 tiros - h I hackney -Middle:00. exAlong with a Brother-in-Law, Nephew, and 2Servants. The address given as Three MillLane. Poplar, Middlesex.

6

PAIS Airumn Mtn

M Y mil l-legs for research material firran varioussources had begun to filter through, and fromtheir study I began to get a wider picture ofthis extraordinary man. We read that it wasn'tlong before visionary Harper had expanded thefacinry premise', by taking over the buildiegeof 2 other companies that were on site when hefirst arrived, so he was now able to put a nameto his manufacturing enterprise naming itImperial Works.

Dunng his time at Bromley, Harper began toeeercise and reflect the intellect of hielearning's. His early book studies made him arecognisable figure in the world of literaturearid the Street Directory of 1865 lists him aspresident of The East London ParliamentaryReform Association as well as president ofBromley Literary Association, his son Williamhi ing Hon. Secretary. In this position, l ic was

anxious to encourage the cultivation of literarytastes amongst his employees and members ofthe Bromley Literary Association, this in ametropolitan district which up to tut time hadbeen greatly neglected. l-fe encouraged pecpleto 'write and resolved to give prizes to the bestof the eseeys, and these latter became kelownas ''Ihe Bromley Prize Essays'.

As well as becoming a well knownindustrialist his benevolent side began to showthrough. He built a number of cottages for hisworkers and their families, and set up a lecturehalts within the factory complex Ofrei lug ins useto the community as a whole. He began abook library and tnsiituted evening classes foefurther education. AU employees had to jennthe company Sick scheme making their owneontributions that would entitle them to agreedbenefits when in need. Other initiatives wereilltrOdileed Ruch as a savings clothingand boot club, this along with theencouregement to form social organisations inthe field of sport and Music.

An clement of religious worship was alsofostered. the lecture hall being used for thepurpose with wirvices contlix.:11..-(1 by ministersof all denominations. f fzupers wife Isabella

was a member of the Dorcas society andir-lcuuragcli the woman of the neighbourhoodto attend sewing classes along with otherwomen's activities_ Prominent anddistinguished speakers from all over thecountry were invited to give lectures andaddresses within the hall, no doubt induced byI larper who at this time was a Fellow of theRoyal Sonicty of Litt:future with eorineelieneto many other notable associations. So not justan industrialist, but a philanthropist too andthis pre-dates the likes of Rowntree andLeverhulme ley many years. On Neu YearsDay in 1746 a social evening of his employeeswas attended by I larper and his family.unbeknown to him Ins rmin3ger, on behalf ofhis workers, presented Harper with a mostelegant time piece as a token of their love andrespect towards him. I lis wife /sabella wasalso presented wail a beautiful ring set withRubies as a tribute of thanks From those towhose wants and cares she had from time totrine. administered.

In the month of April 1861 there was avacancy for the representation of the boroughof Maryletione of a parliamentary candidate:Mr Harper put himself forward as a Liberal.On a shove of hands, the returning Officerultimately declared in his opponents favour,

although there w4-4 an clement of doubt if thiswas so. Amidst of all this achievement andsuccess, I tamer must have shocked the world -he puts his business up for gale! One can Cully

speculate the reason, health perhaps? I lardlvretirement for he was only 42. The completeestahlishment was sold to a limited company -General Trading Company - for close on1.54.000.

In the year of 1865, the company went intoliquidation ard as a con sequence Harper wasdeclared a bankrupt only having received one

pay'me'nt of 1:79 I -5s-Od of the agreedpurchasing price. I lis own personal solutionsto the turmoil were rejected by the liquidators.Typical of the man, he battled back and withthe aid of his friends was eventuallydischarged. The judge on granting the order

7

E1.1-tS Nmilevier Aui iirnrS 211C7

conunented that: -The Bankrupt wa-s entitledto great sympathy on account of his s.c .vc rclosses and ih it niusi always be a matter ofgreat regret to find LI person who, from aro,Liition or affluence, had tlillen through hisconnection will.' Pubiie Connanies -The stigma of being a Bankroll' wnri Id nothave gone down well with Flarper, particularlyLo. U.t. (11 party, a IL ictim ofcircumstance, and irk selling the husintss hewould have made some provision within theagreetnenr for the welfare of his employees, sofor it to revolve into this mess must have beensickening to him. So making surc there wereno legal in fringemenis he set up another

tit 1t 4 P Ltrp-11. 1 . Tv.tlyttrees.and Son, Cordova Works_ Grove Road_ BowLondon. 11_ Sole manufactures of HarperTwelvetrec-s gin I patent CILYCFRINESOAP POWDER. Fri eireulatirig his price 'listhe added: "We respectfully inform ourWholmle and Expori customers. that havingcolisidwaltrly ULIE Mill WI-MAIM

Premises., we now posses unequalled facilitiesfor t he cx.veui ion of orders. for a continuanceof which we will_ rev] }treaty' honoured andobliged".

There iS very little evidence at This stage ofHdE 11.31111.031 Indushial lift:, although

the I g7 I Census shows him to be 'Retired`-u Living at., 9, Shore Road HackneyLondon. along with 'Wife Isabella, DaughterFlorence and Sons William, Edwin andltrbent. r Some 10 years barer on the 1 gg I

Census they have moved again to 223, EvertingHmad, LQ3141L5(1. Nhatix, with tlidrpler tiNtial US a

Laundry Engineer. aged 5?. Wife Isabella ismill with him l52) as are Florence {22), Edwin

I WI and flerbcri 1 . 15) and one wrcanticook.Wil ham { 32 } stems to have i lknyn the neg.

Ifowever. from the re-search paperwork webegin to sense that at the ape of 57 years.

farperN health is. hiegmning LL3 rai 1 hum In

October 18SI he dnk Its his will and inNovember dies - the registration beingCkeetriber. FiN gitincy'. The Obtaining EJ rhideath certificate shows that he had not been awell man for a number of years, his death

being attributed to Lehronie Bronchitis t E5-20- E L.:an DiNclise." • A legaey perhaps

from his earl y days of producing powder),products at his Bromley-by•Bow factory,coupled with h y ing in London and its sulphurladen wintry fogs. Fie was buried in thegrounds of the Old IVIceting Baptist Church atIiiggieswatte where his first wife was alsoPurled.

Around 1.9f 4 the choreh was demolished tomake way for a new telephone exchange andthe graves 'removed' to permit building work.This was a c ivii proceedihg arid it appears norcgisrrat ion of their fu—riher settler-wry waSkept. Not a very disiinguished ending for sueta proven gentleman. Isabella his wifesuryi O rd for SI3irLe [fi- years longer, her deathbeing registered in Wandsworth in June 180

Mangy W44; ty FloufrcE v uti i.:ct• CO,

At somet Erne in his industrial life. Harperproduced arid publisl"Fed a 'hand-book . titled"The Science of Washing". It wasn't a largehuok and contained 'The directions foreconomical and expeitlitiotis washing -Liz.dedii(T ImPw ELI al.:1;4•PnVp litilk f^Ebtiily t+ It

a_sh before breakfot for less khan sixpence -without a washerwoman, making washingdays l the dread of married men }as quiet asocher days and warranted not to injure fabric'Within die book were written letters arid

N41,-.112ner Aurunin 2007

extracni of letters addressed to Harpertestifying to the excl:111.110E' of his washingdirections. I he book is now housed in the RareBook Section of the British Library and is noanaikible for loan.

There was another hook that Harrier becamefamed for. and that was the story of `JohnAnderson - The Runaway Slave- 1 Prepared althe request of the John Anderson committeeby Mr. I larper Twelvetrees. MA and JohnAnderson himself).

Harper, along with other notable gentrybecame a member of the Committee of theBritish and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society andin particular Chairman of the John AndersonCommittee. John Anderson, as a 510%4! inAmerica's south, "escaped' his captors and as:, fugitive made his way Fr! Canada - then aBritish colony. Making friends with the Anti-Slavery movement he avoids extradition bymany deputations being presented TO theGovernor Ciencral on his behalf

I le decides to come to England and on hisArrivAl, one of the largest meetings ever held mthe rrieiroprn is assembled in Exeter 11:41 forthe purpose of expressing it's sympathy' withJohn Anderson and offering him a cordialwelcome. Harper occupied the chairmanship,the platform being presented by' otherrespected gentleman. Upon John Anderson'sappearance on the platform - leaning on thearm of Harper - he was received with "loudand prolonged cheering," The Cha i colon(Harper) reminded the assembly "that theywere there for a philanthropic object, not forOrly political or factious purpose, not for thepurpose of expressing an opinion on thepresent they had met there that night - /15

he understood - to do honour to their principlesas Ph i lanthropists and Christians- After alengthy speech embracing all his literary skillshe resumed his seat amidst lengthy andenthusiastic applause.

In January 102 an enquiry from a reader tothe deputy head librarian of Poplar library -

Mr W B Thorne - gaNe cause for him to lakeup the request that led him to an area ofknow linLine that at the time he must have felthad local historical interest, IL concerned thenow &fiend. "How and Bromley Institute" andthe individual most active in promoting itswork - Harper Tweivetrec-s, Perhaps with theaid of a telephone and trade directory he cameacross zL company in London under thelieudii im. in "I larper Tw,:lv,:wcs Ltd. Maker:.of the 'Villa' washing and mangling machine.the address being City Road_ Finsbury' Square,London_ EC. Through correspondence helearned through the director of the company -Kingston Smith - 'hat it was believed thatindeed Harper Tw-elvinrces was the founder ofthe t;01.11.}.1WAIY but was no longer tISSOCilltiNi

with it so he was unable to further any otherinformation than that, l le did however suggestthat a Mr. W. Noble Tvirelvettces of Bedford11111 akelicved to be Harpers son) would beable to be of more help.

A lurly to a letter in that direction came backconfirming that this Mr. W, NobleTwelvetrees was indeed Harper's son and heldthe position of being the present editor of atechnical magazine. Letters behind his namesuggested that he was an educated man.Encouraged by this reply, the librarian pliedmany quuNtiorks to the gentleman who readilygave a greater insight to those days a hisyouth and his memories of the company antithe associates of his father.

lie describes lEversley House (the home ofthe Twelvetrces family when in Bromley-by-Bow) li lt lecture hall and mention!: the namesof those that gave lectures there. He speaks ofstandinj on the railway bridge in St_Leonard's Sireet arid luolcilq right acrosscommon land to Bow Common stretchingwithout interruption to Limchouse Church,Ile makes reference TO Eversley House arid ofthe Lefewie -s - a I lugucnot refugee family -theoccupiers prior to his father,

The correspondence after many letters appearsto have ceased with a final word from Mr.

HARPER TWFI tiFTREES. Esc

WA- FAA& F.5.S

LLFIS Ntiksligrcr Aulumn 21)ir

Noble Twelvetrees saving: -I think I havenow been pumped quite dry, but if anythingelse should occur to you that 1 can help youwith, please do not hesitate to write. It hasbeen quiet a pleasure to recall old times and Iam looking forward to a ui p it to view yourhistorical collection some day this spring.Yours very Truly W, Noble Twelvetrees"Noble was the maiden name of Harper's wifeIsabella,

Of another son., William f farper Twelvetrees -11urper's eldest 11,1848 - on to hei..-o lue dmining engineer serving most of his industriallife overseas. After leaving university heworked in Eastern Russia for 9 years and in1882 he went to Lidiczsi silver-lead mines inAsia Minor where in 2 years he becamegeneral manager. Ile remained in that positionuntil 1801 40.14.�n he emigrate] to Tamnenlia.After working in Launceston for 8 years hesecured the position of Government Geologistarid Chief Inspector of Mines with theTasmania mines department al the age of 51,l le held the position tit- Government Geologistuntil his death. I lis works were published inRusg ian And German scienriFie jourildlh.bringing him high recognition, He became aFellow of the Royal Geological S-cciei yLondon, and of the Royal Society ofTasmania, He was awarded The Society ofNSW Clarke Medal for research in NaturalScience, and was regarded as one ofTa!riania's eminent egologibis. He died atLaunceston in November 1919 aged 71.

I am finding it very difficult to bring thisarticle to an end thr 1 :cei there is so muchmore about Ilarper Twelvetrees life andachievements that needs to he known • perhapsin later years &outeonc •sill du laud. The localcouncil of bower Hamlets felt his nameworthy of posterity by naming a road afterhim. as well as a nearby industrial estate sitoklon or close by to 11 arpers past Imperial Works.So at least some historical remembrance,

Image from The Drawing Room Gallery ofEminent Per.,5inages

Footnote - Harpers death certificate under theheading 'Occupation' states (.3enileman - asibdo:d k wa.5,

AcknowledgementsMy gratitude to Cathy Yu/mg of the USA rindJWCJUFICe Twtherrees here in the UK fin'gen uerosly plinwMg me to use el-track,: fromtheir writings, Essex Record Office andBancrort Roadefircitives far Irving VI en-operative. And any others land I apologise)that I ma,. have proved a nuisance to.

George Donovan

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F NieWSielEt.1 A ki[kIrm►

Correspondence

Ernest Glynn, of iVuodford Green, wrotecommenting on the previous Newsletter:

refer to you, 41..urr.7,50.induill Simon BarkerBenliq td. page 7, viol 2 issue 17. on the subjectof The Execution Dock. Wapping Station nowcovers the site. There are some interestingphotographs on pages 15-19 in the hookLondon's cast end by Geoffrey house,published by VItliarneliffe. Books"

Mr M. Stocks of Billericay, wrote whenordering a copy of "The Poplars";":11yly interest ill the Poplar St Stepney . BattAlionis through my great uncle Ernest ThomasWalduck who served with them and was killedm action on the 15 d1' September 191 ti"

David Foster wrote from Roquefort.France, 16 hen ordering w cop' of ThePoplars:1 notice on the Society's web site that therewas an article in a Newsletter about St Jamesi Santiago de Compogella). I'm fascinated byConwidruces - my mother was baptised andmarried in the church of Si James the Great.Bethnal Green Road and from my window as Itype ibis 1 can see one of the nr:1$146 used bypresent day pilgnms: Roquefort is on one ofthe traditional pilgrimage routes toCom postella. Is there any chance of gettinghold o1 a imoy? (It was entailed tax Mr Foster.)

ore: We have ail ref Records antiNewsletters scanned so if wow 4.3 coot fd.on article it can be slipplietl (easiest andquickest by email),

Mtn Btlitrict Stocks, of Rawenstao,Lancashire, wrote when joining the ELM:."I shaliiid like to thank your si)Ciely forproviding the series of hat End maps on theWeb, which have bon so useful to me whenresearching my ancestors. I should beinterested to know whether any of youriiumbeTii has information about silk 'weaving

in Bethnal Green. Two of my family names.,

Cori! and Wensley. were involved with thesilk weaving. (taq50 trimming or buttonmaking eta The other names Bausor (baking)and Sanderson (or Haywood) 1Nere involvedwith other activities common in the area in the9 century:. such as boot making."

,i.frx Stocks has mein a stamped envelope ;lip thePriam' lbw atti .inre owl provide anyinkrnuthon

Mr T. Pierce, of rroydon, w rote whenordering a copy of Mile End Old Town:"My 3 N: great grandfather amended RichardBland's school at Bromley St Leonard,.prohahly from 17 1 7 until 1784, so I amparticularly interested ill finding out as muchas I can about lit'e in Bromley-by-Bow at thisperiod and who lived there"

A few queries via email

31' July - fill Levy asked:We arc trying to find out more about BancroftLodge at Mile End Old Town. One of ourrelatives died there in 1921, and we would liketo know whether it was a Poor Law infirmaryat the time_

rhilfp repliedDear ( ill!, Bancroft Lodge WAS a euphemismfor Mile End Workhouse, in the 20th centuryit became customary to disguise the tad thatpeople were born or died in the workhouse.The workhouse infirmary still survives in dieform of Mile End hospital.

166 July - Joan Pa pa ro asked:Please can you help me, researching myfamily. I found most of them I [Veld in Poplar.my Great grand parents, were sent to prison inAug 1880, this information from theworkhouse entry for the children. ] was toldmaybe their crimes were recorded in the localnewspaper of the time, would you know ofany newspaper serving Poplar and wherewould I find it.

L1

ELHS Ne • s.lerEvi. Aulumn Z.0117

kepi>: We advised that Tower Hamlets Localhistory. Library has copies of these localnew: Tapers on microfilmEast London Advertiser - I K66 on-liastcrn Argus - I M77 - 1912Eastern Post - 1146K 193KEastern Times- 1.859 1864

21 m June - Melissa Grainger askedI happened across your web page while doingresearch for 41 book I'm writin g and hope youcan help me with a question. Could you tell ruehenk . busy ViCtOrirl Park Would haveany given night in the I K8asi If someone werewalking through the park at say, ten-thirty.would there be many people around or wouldthe park be almost deserted? Hope this isn'ttoo odd a question and that you can helpanswer it.

Philip replied: I would have thought that thepark would have been empty apart from thecross paths that were public rights of veay. Thegates wo uld have been closed and there wouldhave been more park keepers (some of themresident in the lodges).

Joan Soule is trying to get a bloe plaque toJohn Buckley VC (mentioned inF.vcry Stone Tells a Story) put on the house helived in. Philip !Merrick has confirmed for herthat the building survives, and he tookpicture or t. He way amazed it was still there,as very little survives. of E11311 alsochecked the Dtrectories at the BishopsgatcInstitute. and found John Buckley recorded at213 La_st India Dock Road between 1869 and1876.

Philip wrote: In 1877 the house is occupiedby kin; SUSIM Buckley. presumably his widow.He may have Seen there before 1869(definitely not in 1865) but they don't haveI K66-8, I can cunrirrn that the 1876 nurntua213 is the same location a.5 the present213 and I was pleasantly surprised to see thatthe building still survives (restaurant huildingwith agents sign on wall - hue attachment.

ch 'kin of earres pondenceJoan Soak wrote: I have heard from KennethGrcenway that he has sent all the e .maids fromme to him. to yourselves concerning the graveof the above that lies unmarked in TowerFiorito's C.'emetery. t would like To come alongand look at this grave some time if it can bearranged. This year marks the 1:50thanniversary of the indiqn Mutiny and, as amember of the Victoria Cross Society, I wouldlike to do something about having the gravemarked in scum: way.

Also John Buckley lived at, I think either 113or 114 East India Dock Road. I am writing toF.rughh iieritage to ser if they could put a blueplaque up. if the house or even house numberis still there.

Philip replied: I would be happy to help butwhen did he live in East India Dock Road?Many roads were renumbered in the 19thcentury and the current numbers may not hean accurate locator. I have had nocommunication from Mt Grecnway sinesFebruary. 2005. Are you sure that he sent it to

and not to Diane or Doreen Kendall?

Joan's response: The names you mention don4 a bell hut f have had no reply back.there anything you can do about JohnBuckley's. grave? As you live nearer to theEast India Dock Road than 1 do. 1 live inColchester. it I give you the correct addresscould you see if his house or a building is stillthere. I am writing to English heritage to seeif a Marine could be put up. Colchester hastwo Victoria Cross holders to its name but 1was told by English Heritage that neither wereof sufficient enough merit to warrant a BluePlaque. Apparently there is a -pecking order"in Victoria Crosses.

I do nrn think that John Buckley falls into thatcaiegor' though. The only plaque to JohnBuckley is one at Sialybndge in Cheshire werehe lived. John Buckley was one of thesurvivors of the blowing up of the DelhiMagazine to stop it falling into the hands of

12

HMS Nows.lentr Autumn :1007

the Mutineers, All his family was killed inthe mutiny

I have written to English. Heritage regardingthe Blue Plaque for John Buckley,Apparently lie lived al 1'1.4 k:.a.st Irg UlockRoad. Could you Ici me have your address soas I can send you a copy of the letter toF.nelish Heritage and alin wrtim r informeitionhave received on him. if i here is anything elseyou have managed to find out Oil him 1 shouldhe pleased to receive it

213 East India Dock Road

Slightly later research showed that JohnBuck le y was first recorded at 213 in 1126H. in18661 it was Inxupied by a Mitni Buckley,possibly an unmarried sister, East India DockRoad was only sequentially numbered in 1867and the house does riot appvir havethere before 1866 although the roof lineappears to be esrlier.

John Buckley VC 18113 - 111176

John Buckley was horn in May 1813 atC'ocker Hill in Stalyhridge, Cheshire. His earlyemployment was in the textile indusq and heworked at Harrison's Mill and then Bayley'sMill. Ai the agv. of I8 Buckley, in search of amore adventurous life, joined the BengalArtillery at Manchester_ Shortly afterwards, inJune 1832 he wa_s posted to India as a gunner.

In India, Buckley now aged 22., mei andmarried fourteen year old Mary AnnBroadway in 1835_ The couple lived inCalcutta with their three children hut illnessstruck repeatedly arid by I /1-45 Mary Ann andIwo of the children had died. Buckleyremarried in 1846 but in I ti52 he Insi theslimivins child of his first marriage and in1853 two sons by his second marriage also

died.

In 1857 Buckley, his wife and three survivingchildren moved to Delhi where he becameDeputy Assistant C4,Rrmissary of Ordnance atthe Delhi Magazine (storehouse for guns andammunition). It was whilst at the Magavinethat his conduct merited the award of theVictoria Cross, The citation reads simply asfollows :'f'ar gallant defence of tin-magazine at Delhi'

In May 1857 the Indian Mutiny broke out. Theciikises of the mutin y were many and varied,bin the new ammunition that had been issuedto the Indian Sepoys has been cited as the

Caubt. Supplicd by tin: Vi'LiolwiellArsenal for use on the new Lee Enfield rifles.the cartridges had been greased with tallow,

13

EL.F1S Newskriur Aurumn 2017

made of beef and pork fat. The repays weretold they had iv bite off Mc ends of thecartridges before using them, 311 aCtICITI equallyabhorrent to both Flindu and Muslim, who sawin this order an attempt to humiliate them_

Unrest broke ow in various places in Bengalinitially. but the main revolts occurred iinorthern and central India, From t, .awn{Kanpur), itiekriow, Ambala and Meerut theuprising gathered pace. until it reached Delhi,where Conductor Buckley and his fellow eightsoldiers defending the magazine were vastlyoutnumbered. Rather than let the ammunitionfall into rebel hands they decided to blow upthe buildinm mid themselves, Five of thedefenders, along with, it is claimed, WOOrebels, were killed.

Miraculously four soldiers. Viiilloughby.Forrest, Raynor and Buckle. survived,Willoughby and Forrest joined a party ofLogi. LS at the Main Guard at Delhi, soblackened as to he almost unrecognizable.Willoughby was later killed in an encounterwith the rebels in a village on the way toKurnaul. Buckley was captured and then learntthat his entire family had been murdered bythe rebels. H is said that he begged his captorsto taut Kr; end to his Orr but they refused to killhim on account of his bravery at the magazine.Buckley later escaped arid rejoined the Britisharmy. volunteering for all kinds of dangerousmissions with a total disregard for his ownsafety.

It took more than one year before the rebellionwas brought to a close, and dreadful atrocitieswere committed by both sides, too many todetail here, The British reprisal); were harehand often extreme. Buckley himself was giventhe task of overseeing the execution of onehundred and fifty rebels who were strapped tothe muzzle of a cannon and blown apart.

In I858 Buckley was promoted to Lieutenant.5hortly afterwards fell ill 51111d 1.11131E; given

two years lease. Back Elm England he receivedhis Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria. I le

lived for a short while in Sta.lybridge, flu:51,1mbefore renaming to India as a Major in October1861.

The final years alms life were spent inLondon. A search of the London Directorieshas found John Buckley recorded as residingat 213 East India Dock Koad. Poplar. betweenP867 and 1876. hi 1877 the house is occupiedby Mrs Susan Buckley, presumably hiswidow. Ile may have been there before 1867/definitely not lu 1865 Buckley died In July1876 and he was buried in an unmarked gravein Tower I lanalets Cemetery.

In 1993 EL1-1.$ Mcnihrer Bradley Snooks,whilst researching the records of theCemetery. discovered the information thatBuckley had been buried there, but despite adetailed search, was unable to locate the graveBradley. too, was keen on getting some localrecognition for John Buckley.

The last three survivors. Raynor. Forrest andBuckley were awarded the Victoria Cross fortheir eourage. A uluitiurial tablet at the DelhiMagazine bears testimony to the bravery andcourage of the men. Buckley's Victoria Crossis a1 the Royal Army Ordnance {'oresMuseum in Camberley.

A blue plaque to conunemorate the life ofJohn Butk ley is sited at the Travellers CallPublic House, Wakefield Road, Stalybridge,

Note:The British Magazine, Delhi is situated in themiddle of the Lothian Road. The exactposition is in front of the General Post Office,Old Delhi. Tile Kashmiri Gate railway .stationcold Delhi) is very clotpc to the remains of theoriginal building which used to store theBritish arms and ammunitions

The gateways of the building has small cannonlocated on it. The Magaoine,. or ammunitionstoic imam; was blown up MI I I tit May 1857.during the hidean Mutiny, also known as thefirst war or Indian Independence, on th y: orders

14

: I. HS New5tulter A tatuann 26(117

of the officer in-I:hill icutenantWilloughby'. I le did this .lo Chc Indiantroop,i who had riser; in revolt, from using theammunition stored in the rmigazine.itorthent gatcway Fw Art original marhleplaque. which mentions the ruin g of the-Adi cr.!. N,vhi I' defended the rriagar Inc from the

i lie plaque ream,. 't• Ninetv,mitrue Eng/A:I ' d:Inca. thrirrite

(-000;10"141-

1.0erfir ff 'illiorpr fLri-nrir /Acid. Crt . firgi , Frorrenr.('Fyribicloo . G Witham S&P' Ca+Prtilicleir -AchrielHrteney, .1orfeLefor John Sub-

airclucior ;$'111,1aon ‘'.r11)101 . , Serge, B111111A1

Echi'aniv, Scrg, Prier Sielvahr, deti,ntled art.Af,agazine rrl tleari far Fpwre than fire htiftivs

riArain:a large niimberw rebris and

Imaineers, ',mil, the kvalis liehig scaled. analel l! hope Sike • our §,P r.ine, these bravr , Men

fired rite' Alag,icirg le. f& .gall,..roll bandpe•s/red in file tupiaNion. Iiihiuh al the ~cafetrine eintrOy •d mom- elk:7111V Tarry Fabler.'narking the furrzer ellfroncv gafe feJ lire

'41(0w:inc.. a PlidiCeal him kr Pin . verpirm..711

NI India

Later another platioe was added that points outthat these 'criernics' were actually freedom

gbiers who fought for [ndia's independence.Now, the pre-sent day building alsocommi•morates the Indian soldien who losttheir lives al the explosion.

(Compilud by Rosemary Ta ylor .iromi fiftorrmarapr2 jr_promled on Joan 5014e

various Inierner webslies on the Indiantftainy. and the 0.0.Prd Hislory of hrdia byInrwerg I S.ritith0

Fast Londoraehocils Athletics 5,T4,i..ostat ion

On 27 May Peter Carr askedCan you help?A friend of mine, Mr John Miller attendedschool in How during klic 1950's he recentlydiscovered a school jacket bearmg a breastpocket badge. John was awarded the badge- forrepresent ing East London at football. Can youSupply details ;Is it the background to thebadge and the significance of the emblems,

The Nudge is divided into four quarters.Top left: a turret type tower with an archwayentrance. the turret appears to be part of a wall

1:ould be a gateway-Top right: a two misted sailing, ship upon

water.Bottom left: a "hump hack bridge' with

single arch beneath.Bottom right: . Two trees behind a 3 bar gateand fence_Tim sclifit on the scroll at the t►Ottemil of thebadge reads EAST LONDON S.A.A.Your help would he much appreciated.

Philip repliedDear PeterI haven't seen a cloth badge but I have scat anumber of silver badges with that designissued in connection with various least Londonschool sports activities_ The initials stand forEast London Schools Athletic Association.The irkdividual panels represent different partsof East London. The tower with enrrd.nce is theold dock eittranee into The West India Docksand was part of tile arm of Poplar_ The sailingship was also part of the Poplar arms but mayalso represent Stepney (through the maritimeconnections of SE Dunstan's parish church).The bridge is Bow Bridge again part of thePoplar Borough coat of arras and the trees andfence arc from Tile .Borough of BethnalGreen's arms, which depict the blind beggarof BG by a field gate.

AUTUMN COACH TRIPSaturday 2911 September 2007

liWe woc Eikt to reseme

NAME'S

ADDRESS

Ticket's for the .I.N)arh trip,

TEL NO.

iCheques to b1 m:thdi; pii.y.ahIe in the. E.0.( A p i-rdnii Sociary,)

Would rt u tse inicregicd in a Nave visit to;The (iii hodril

YES I NO'The CLI rl [e rhury Tales"

YES / NO

AUTUMN COACH TRIPSATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29th

CANTERBURY

There ;ITC 111.11114.7111US plaf;cs to visit, apart inrni the niarveloini ukitikedral. They incl.ude theCanterbury Talcs Visium- Auraciion. a reconstruainn of Chauczes Eneland and the

pilgrimage to Canterbury_ There are also several museums, other historic buildings_ 4.ittraetive-itre.em And pairt Ilhe city wad's tin walk-

Entrance v) the catheciral i E5.00 or so. and to the Canterbury Tales about .E6.001. I will enquipe

about party racK: Aee the. question on the booking form_ On the trip will prepare a guide to themain attractions.

There are numerous places tcx pct reireshnicrits, Nt3 I Will leave this to persona] choice.

The coach I= will be £9.75 per pawn.

The pick-up will he at the bus pull-in in Grove Road, round [he corner from Mile End Sulk.%ac 9.30 am_

E ikkase fill in !he hook lag Niip brilaw mid wind to Ines Ann St' insorri. I Fl Hawictierie. London EiTel_ 020 M524 -1506 Fur I.Phintocupy it ir you don't IA Iht to kpipfl your ricuoilettcr.)