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55 Tram somewhere between Brentford and Hanwell, around 1925

Thanks to Vin Miles for sending this image; notes follow on attempts to find the location.

I found a helpful document - 'London Tramways Fare Stages & some other stops' - that lists London tram routes as at October 1934.
The 55 tram was run by London United Tramways and the stops included:

• Brentford Half Acre
• Brentford Railway Station
• Boston Park Road
• Boston Manor Station
• Elthorne Park Road
• Hanwell Broadway

Another clue Vin spotted is the boot and shoe shop to the far right, proprietor 'L. Jo...'.

Possible location

Kelly's 1937 Middlesex trade directory include Lynn Jones, boot repairer, 113 Boston Road, Hanwell. This could be the L. Jo... shop.

Going back to the 1911 census, this shows a family headed by George Blackwell at 113 Boston Road: George was a furniture dealer working from home; he, his wife and four children - aged 6 to 12 - occupied four rooms. Mrs B. advertised for a 'STRONG girl' to help daily and take the children out (Middlesex County Times 12 April 1911).

The family remained at ths address in the 1921 census, with George Blackwell, a marine store dealer with a shop on Boston Road. He and his wife, Mary Ethel Blackwell, were at this address in the 1925 and 1929 electoral registers for Hanwell.

Middlesex County Times 01 December 1934:
The death occurred at his home on Wednesday week of Mr George Blackwell, aged 54, of 113, Boston Road, Hanwell. Mr Blackwell came to Hanwell in 1899 and established a marine stores at 64, Boston Road. He was formerly a member of the old Hanwell Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, who used to meet at the Victoria Hotel, and he was also at one time a member of the Hanwell Football Club.

West Middlesex Gazette, 01 December 1934, has a longer account with a list of mourners. A Mr and Mrs Clark and Mr Jones sent a wreath (as did many others): a possible link to Lynn Jones?

Following his death, the 1939 Register records Mary Blackwell, his widow, with her son George W, his wife Florence and their son Royston G, age 12 at 113 Boston Road. George W was a 'Heavy work manager scrap metal merchant'.

Months later, tragedy struck the family. George William Blackwell fell out of a window whilst sleepwalking, fracturing his skull, and he died in Ealing Hospital. West Middlesex Gazette, 30 March 1940, has an account of his funeral. He was an ARP warden of Ealing district and a body of 18 ARP wardens escorted the funeral cortege. Amongst the senders of floral tributes was 'Mr L Jones'.

Piecing together circumstantial evidence, I reckon the Blackwell business operated from 64 Boston Road and that the family lived at 113 Boston Road, which included shop premises that were let to Lynn Jones. If this is correct, Vin's postcard shows 113 Boston Road. Do get in touch if you think differently, new ideas always welcome.

Links

The site has several tram photos, for example four in New Brentford, early 1900s, or this one from Autocar 1905. Try a search for 'tram' on the home page.

'London Tramways Fare Stages & some other stops' PDF can be downloaded for free. Google on 'tram brentford hanwell 55' to find the site, or I can forward the 21-page document: just get in touch.

Published October 2022; updated December 2022