Sydenham Town Forum

Margaret, the most likely would be the Salvation Army home at 6 Sydenham Hill. It was there from before 1911 until at least the early 1970s and was demolished some years ago. It was known variously as the Salvation Army Industrial Home, Salvation Army Approved Home for Young Girls and Salvation Army...

I've sent rebelmc some information on the house. It ocurred to me that others might be interested so here is a summary: Built as two houses in 1841, converted into a single residence shortly afterwards. The left side (from the road) was substantially altered by Paxton c1855, while the right side was...

It's quite possible that the alley is a surviving remnant of the towpath of the Croydon Canal. The high pavement outside the Hob has often been claimed, with good cause, to be on the line of the towpath (with the shops and their basements along Davids Road in the canal bed). It may not be apparent o...

The CPCA, who have been quoted several times in this thread, are misleading on at least two points. Their leaflets refer to "the sale of public parkland" setting "a dangerous precedent". Illuminance is absolutely right. The sites proposed for development by the LDA were all origi...

Do you have the right house number? There is no 123 Lawrie Park Road. The highest number is (I think) 81.

Rev Frederick William Miller was head of Perry Hill House School, in Perry Hill, from about 1847 until his death, aged 63, in 1853. He was buried in St Bartholomew's churchyard. Caroline (?his wife) was buried in 1860. Although the name doesn't quite match, five different sources give this spelling,...

I am not aware of any link between the two towns. Can you say why you think there is one? This might give something to work on.

West Kent Park was actually in Forest Hill. It was a development of mainly small terraced houses and shops, built from the late 1850s. The area today is bounded by Beadnell Road, Ewart Road, Brockley Rise and Stanstead Road. You can see it here: http://tinyurl.com/6hdxj Many years ago Park Road was ...

Keith, I think your informant is mistaken. I am not aware of a Taylors Lane in Lee, and I have checked the 1841 and 1851 census returns for Taylors Lane, Sydenham. Stephen is shown at there in both returns (the younger Stephen is also there in 1841). Furthermore, the 1841 return has him at no.3 whic...

Actually Willow Way was originally called Willow Walk. It was mostly small wooden cottages, like the two which still survive round the corner in Kirkdale. Russell Street was renamed Cheseman Street, and is off Dartmouth Road, opposite the Bricklayers'Arms. That too was mostly small timber cottages. ...

Sorry, I must take it all back. It's down again. What are they playing at?

Steve

Thanks, Julsb. It's been down since Saturday, but it seems that Easyspace don't work week-ends! They finally sorted it out this afternoon.

Steve

I'm sure there are some around who can still remember him. I believe he lived in Border Road from the 1960s to the mid 1970s. He also sent his daughter to Eliot Bank School. And he was a founder member of the Sydenham Society (www.sydenhamsociety.com)

I've just spotted an article in the online Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1409237,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704 that says that Somerfield has now recieved a takeover bid from an Icelandic retailer (as in the country, not the even more dismal chain than Morrisons). If the abo...

Have you tried Lewisham Local Studies Centre? I'm sure they'll be able to help. Their website is at: http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/localStudies/index.asp

Incidentally, I do know that Rolf Harris' daughter Bindi went there in the early 1970s. He lived, I believe, in Border Road

Steve

Keith, I imagine you have most of the following information, but just in case … My records show that Stephen Fenner Cheeseman was married to Emma, and their son Alfred Wallace was baptised at St Bartholomews, Sydenham on 24 Jan 1868. Stephen was living at Taylors Lane in 1841, Rosamund Street 1869 t...

I don't think there is likely to be a link, Keith. Robert Cheseman owned an area of Sydenham near what is now called Elm Lane, Catford when he died in 1498. The present Cheseman Street was developed in the early 1830s, It was first called Skeet's Lane, then Russell Street. It didn't become Cheseman ...

I do have some information on George Hardy. He was the landlord of the Golden Lion from about 1843 until his death in 1848. He was married to Susannah, and had six children, William, Joseph, Emma, Henry, Maryann and Thomas. I'm not sure where or when the three eldest children were born, but the thre...

Chris, I have searched a variety of sources, including street directories, census returns and several genealogical websites and can find no reference to a surname spelt Fuhroye. Could it be spelt any other way, and do you have a date for the marriage of his daughter?

Steve

On a historical note, Beltwood was built in early 1851 (a couple of years before the Crystal Palace was erected here) by a London solicitor, Edward Saxton. At the time it was one of only seven houses along Sydenham Hill. Today, the only houses older than Beltwood are no.16 and no.18. Saxton died at ...