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Numbers 127 - 141 High Street, New Brentford

This section on the south side of the High Street runs from Boars Head Yard to Church Alley and includes St Lawrence's Church and Vicarage, the Magpie & Crown PH (in business by 1839 and still going) and several properties whose usage can be traced from the tithe return (1838) to a 100 years later.

In 1968 archaeological excavations took place on the site of no. 136, back to the spur of the railway to Brentford Docks. The site was described as 'the former Spanton's timber yard' and remains of a sixteenth century building fronting the High Street were found (G22/23).

Properties

Notes prepared for numbers 127, Magpie & Crown (128), 129-130, 131-132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, St Lawrence's Vicarage (139), St Lawrence's Church, Black Boys PH (140) and 141; also a list of photos, ephemera and maps

Number 127

The property on the western corner of Boars Head Yard.

John Thornton, a carpenter, probably lived here in 1841; he was recorded next to George Boxall (Magpie & Crown, no. 128) in the census. John and his wife Mary shared the property with William Wheatley, a chinaman, his wife Eliza, a female servant and an apprentice carpenter Thomas Brunsden.

'Thornton' is recorded in the 1844 Poor Rate for New Brentford in this area, occupying a house, shop, workshop and yard owned by Clarke.

In 1851 John Thornton, house agent and Thomas Brunsden, carpenter employing 2 men lived here.

Dual occupancy continued in 1861 when next to the Magpie and Crown lived John C George, tobacconist and Thomas Bevis, whitesmith.

The 1871 census records Charles Tobit, postmaster here and in 1881 there is no occupant of no. 127 but a note in the census 'the Old Post Office'.

In 1890 no. 127 was used by Arthur Overton as 'dining rooms' (In 1881 Arthur Overton and his family lived at a Market Place address, New Brentford, where he was a butcher and also ran an eating house). In the following census, 1891, number 127 was occupied by two households: Edward Notley, 40, coachbuilder born Thetford, Norfolk was recorded first then Annie Overton, 45 restaurantess born Bromfield Suffolk and her family, including George F Overton, 16, a coachbuilder's apprentice. Registration records show Annie's husband Arthur Overton died in 1885. See below for a possible photo of no. 127 dating to the late 1800s.

In the 1901 census no. 127 was 'uninhabited, not in occupation'.

In November 1911 the property was described in the 1909/10 Valuation: An old but fairly sound brick and plain tiled cellar, 3 storey and attic shop & house. Red brick dressings. Flush sash windows. Goes over Boars Head Yard on east all but about a foot. Contains:

• attic in very bad repair
• 2nd: front bedroom and dressing room; back room; back addition although in bad repair
• 1st : 2 front rooms (one over archway), kitchen in addition stairs centre
• Ground floor: shop with door to archway, back room, stairs. Old scullery in addition
• Very small yard with WC and gates to yard. Steps down to 3 dilapidated cellars under whole of building and arched vault under archway. 12' 7″ frontage and 8' 5″ over archway.

The property had been sold along with numbers 1, 3, 5 & 7 Boars Head Yard in 1903, for £735 and £277 had been spent since on repairs etc. It was sold again on 8 Dec 1920 for £2000, including numbers 340, 347, 359-363 High Street. Eastman and Reading had a 14 years lease only, from 26 July 1905.

A trade directory for 1907 does not include no. 127 (presumably it was being worked on). In 1911, 1913 and 1920Eastmans Ltd., butchers are recorded here. No reference in 1928, 1933 and 1940: the Magpie & Crown (no. 128) was rebuilt between 1920 and 1928 and took over the site of no. 127.

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Magpie & Crown (128)

This might have been called the Pye originally, but was the Magpie & Crown by 1722 (Y84). Still standing in 2008, it is now a free house. There are photos of it on pub web sites showing an exterior apparently unchanged from the 1930s.

Robert Clarke was the landlord in 1811; the census records three families living here, a total of ten people.

John Brunsden was the landlord in 1826, the Magpie and Crown was a Booking House for Stage Coaches. George Boxall was the landlord in 1839 and in 1841 his household of 9 included 3 coachmen and 2 male servants. In the 1844 Poor Rate records the occupier is G Boxall and owners J & H Sich. Confusingly the property is named the Magpie & Stump, a clerical error presumably.

Patsy Langley provides the following information about George Boxall and his family in August 2013: his wife was Jane Boxall and they had sons named George and William. George Boxall Snr's will left his estate to his two sons, but George died before his dad so it came to William upon George Snr's death in 1875. Son William was named after George Snr's father, also William Boxall. George jnr was buried in St. Lawrence's Churchyard in about 1861. I remember a very old gravestone in the front of the church with the inscription about him being the son of George and Jane Boxall. Further research into this family yielded information that George Boxall Snr (former pub landlord) and his wife Jane were living in rooms at 156 High Street Brentford in 1873. They were both buried in the same grave as their son when they died. This grave is located directly behind the Grand Junction water fountain with the inscription 'Thank God' in the front of the churchyard. Their descendant was Stephen Boxall, a school pal of mine from 1965 to 1971. He lived in Isleworth but I have been unable to track him down. He could be a son of George Boxall Jnr or his brother William Boxall.

Griffith Humphreys had taken over by the time of the 1861 census, and in 1871 George Atkins employed 14 men, 2 boys and 2 women here. George is listed in 1874 and 1881; by 1890 Alfred Lawrence was the publican, in 1901 local man Charles S Nelms, who described his occupation as 'waterman' rather than 'publican'. he was succeeded by Edward Stagg (1907), William Sherwin (1911), Joseph Howard 1913, Sidney Furmston 1920-1, Richard Henry Holt 1928 (whose great grandson, Roy England, has provided the 1920s/30s photo), William Frederick Griffiths 1933 and William Hale 1940 complete the picture to 1940.

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Yvonne Carter wrote to say her wedding reception was held here in the 1960s, at which time the Williams family ran the Magpie & Crown.

In 1914 (from 1909/10 Valuation Return records): 'A 3 storey building with cemented front (plain), lower part with wood front pilasters & windows wood & glazed. Small red tile dado. Wood cellar flaps in pavement. Fair condition.

• Ground floor: 2 bars, parlor & small scullery
• First floor: 3 rooms & box room
• Top floor: 3 small rooms

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Numbers 129 & 130

A longstanding drapers and originally two properties.

The land tax records for 1780, 1796 and 1825 show John Swapp next to the Magpie and Crown, presumably in what was later number 129 High Street, and in the 1841 census John Swapp was recorded as a haircutter at the same location. He was 60 at this point, so the 1780 John Swapp was probably his father.

At some point after 1841 the long-established drapery business at 130 High Street took over number 129 and the remainder of these notes looks at the combined properties.

Robert Paddon, woollen draper, moved to New Brentford by 1767 and was recorded in the 1793 Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce and Manufacture, volume 2 entry for Brentford (see transcript of Brentford entry) and the 1798 Land Tax Redemption records him as a tenant of property near to the Magpie and Crown (128 High Street).

Robert Paddon died in 1800 leaving a will. In the 1811 census Henry Sexton senior and junior occupied the property recorded next-but-one to the Magpie and Crown. Henry Sexton and Sons, linen drapers, New Brentford, appear in the 1826 Pigot directory (see 1811 listing)

Henry & John Sexton, linen drapers are included in Pigot's Directory of 1839 and Joseph Sexton lived here in 1841 with 3 female and 1 male servants plus 3 assistants.

The 1844 Poor Rate lists the owners as Henry & 'Jh' Sexton, occupier as Joseph Sexton, the premises being a house and shop. In 1851 Joseph employed 3 men. By 1861 Joseph B Lewis, draper (master) aged 34 employed 5 assistants, and headed a household of 10 including 4 assistants, 1 apprentice 1 servant & 1 lodger.

By 1881 the household consisted of 21, including 12 servants and both 129 and 130 were used (in earlier years it appears just one property was used by the business; there were 5 houses and shops owned by Sexton in 1844 giving them scope for expansion). Joseph Bridges Lewis was a local councillor as well as a draper.

In 1888 an advert was placed in the County of Middlesex Independent for Pierce & Lewis (established 150 years), General and Fancy Drapers of 129 & 130 High Street, with a list of departments: Linens, Woollens, Flannels, Blankets, Calicoes, Sheetings, Dresses, Hosiery, Gloves, Haberdashery, Millinery, Mantles and Dressmaking;'Charities & Clubs Supplied'. The shop closed on Thursdays at five o'clock (suggesting it was normally open longer hours). (Thanks to Janet McNamara for the scan of the advert).

Miss Emma Lewis was running the business 'draper, milliner & dressmaker' in 1890 and in the 1891 census was living in the premises with four female assistants. In 1901 the premises were occupied by a housekeeper, 12 drapers and 2 housemaids.

There was a change of tenancy in the years that followed: Kelly's 1907 street directory records W McIlroy Limited at numbers 129 and 130, 129 being a clothiers and 130 a drapers. The large household recorded in 1901 may have also moved out when Mc Ilroys took over, the living space being given over to stock. The 1911 census shows numbers 129 and 130 were no longer occupied and were recorded in the census as Drapery Establishment. W McIlroys Ltd continued to run a clothiers at 129 and drapers at 130 until at least 1940.

In 1915 the property was 'extensive 3 storey brick built and slated shop premises upper floors cement faced with stone surrounds to windows. Ground floor: modern shop fronts wood & glazed, terrazzo flooring to entrances ... Premises occupied on long lease by drapers' The lease term was 80 years from 1878 and the frontage to the High Street : 50'. The owner was A J Farrington.

In 2003 the 'McIlroy' was still visible in mosaic on the front steps and the building was to be incorporated into the south side of the High Street redevelopment. The local Brown Owl remembers buying her school uniform here. (L, 2003). See below for a link to several images of this property.

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Numbers 131 & 132

In 1915 described as 'a terrace of four 3 storey stock brick built shop premises, shallow sites' and condition as 'poor'. Each had a frontage of 11'. In the 1844 Poor Rate 'Sexton' possibly Joseph Sexton, draper who owned 5 houses/shops in this area.

No. 131/132 was a drapers / clothiers occupied by Thomas Henry Taverner and his family in the 1871 (census). 1878 trade directory entry: Thomas Henry Taverner, pawnbroker and clothier 131, 132 and 134 High Street.

The Taverner family was living at 131/2 in 1881. Thomas died in 1890 and his wife Susannah moved to Enfield Road by the time of the 1901 census.

When the 1909/10 Valuation took place in 1915 numbers 131 and 132 were described as 'Shops with common wood fronts, each contains on the

• Ground Floor: shop, kitchen, washhouse, WC
• First Floor: 2 rooms
• Top: Attic'

The two properties were sold on 11 Oct 1905 for £437 10s 0d. At the time of the Valuation both 131 and 132 were owned by Geo. Gentry, 11 Princes Road Kennington. He was also the occupier.

Later in the 1900s numbers 131/132 continued to be used as a pawnbrokers run by Hannah Gentry, a widow from Braintree Essex. George Gentry, pawnbroker, possibly Hannah's son, is listed in trade directories at 131/132 in 1913, 1921 and 1928. By 1940 McIlroys at numbers 129 & 130 had expanded their business into 131/132.

David Taverner wrote in 2006: 'The shop at 131 is in a sorry state now and I suspect it may not survive much longer (but then it was poor in 1915 so maybe it will just carry on!). The shop itself is boarded up and as the plot next door is empty I suspect somebody may buy it all up and build something bigger in its place as the development from the dock area is very close by.'

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Number 133

Part of a terrace, see 131/2 for description.

In 1881 George Gye, lighterman lived here. In 1890 and 1891 Richard Butcher, a greengrocer lived and ran his shop from no. 133.

By 1901 the property was shared by two households, using 2 rooms each: Henry Griffin (occupation 'Travel with organ') with his wife, daughter and mother-in-law; Arthur Furness, general labourer, born Windsor and his wife Elizabeth, locally born, a dressmaker.

The 1909/10 Valuation shows both 133 and 134 owned by Sophia Turpin, Isle of Wight. 133 was occupied by the Pier House Laundry Co. Ltd, a 1913 directory shows no. 133 used by Amalgamated Laundries Ltd. By 1920 no. 133 was a china & glass warehouse run by Mrs Alice Combly, who remained here in 1928. In 1933 and 1940 Victor Combly is recorded in trade directories at this address, no occupation given. Victor and three other Comblys were still at this address in 1952 (electoral register).

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Number 134

Part of a terrace, see 131/2 for description.

This property was used by Thomas Henry Taverner (see 131/2) in 1878 (perhaps for storage″) and in 1881 was occupied by Harry Cocking, pawnbrokers assistant.

In 1890 John Nalder, leather seller & grindery dealer is recorded here, the property was occupied by William Nalder, leather seller in 1891, then Albert Butler, leather merchant in 1901.

The Brentford Division Liberal & Radical Association used number 134 in 1913. In 1920-1933 directories this property was not listed.

The magnificently named Athelstane Da Costa Stoute MD MRCP MRCS DOMS, physician & surgeon used no. 134 for his surgery in 1940. According to his obituary (1968) in the British Medical Journal he was born in Barbados in 1895 and played cricket for Turnham Green Cricket Club in the 1920s and 30s.

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Number 135

A property difficult to pin down in censuses, but possibly owned by Christopher Glover when the tithe apportionment took place in 1838, a house & shop occupied by 'Barratt'. Apparently empty in the 1841 census, perhaps still drying out after the floods. In 1861 James Wright, the sexton, lived here, or nearby.

In 1881 William J Pocock, greengrocer lived here with his wife and three children under 5, plus a brother who was a hawker. He was followed by Mrs Eliza Spruce, confectioner (1890).

Adverts were placed in the Islington Gazette in September and October 1890:
To Let, Confectionery, Tobacconist's, Refreshment house; shop well stocked; doing well; £19; good reasons for letting. 135, High Street, New Brentford.

This may have led to the arrival of Mrs Arabella Hopkins, confectioner & tobacconist, who was living here at the time of the 1891 census. She was 25, a widow, born Clerkenwell, and living with her were her son Henry L(eopold) Hopkins, age 1, born Brentford , her mother Sarah Moris, widow, 72, living on her own means, born Paddington, Edith E Barton, a servant, 15, born Islington, who presumably helped around the house and may be the shop, and a lodger, Sidney Hodgman, unmarried 25, a watchmaker born in Ramsgate Kent.

Another advertisement appeared in the West London Observer 2 Sep 1893:
TOBACCONIST.- For disposal shop, six rooms, rent £30, genuine; satisfactory reasons for leaving. 135 High Street New Brentford, Middlesex.

Joseph Heusch is the next known occupant and was recorded in directories and census as confectioner & tobacconist (1894, 1898, 1901, 1907). In 1899 he advertised in the Middlesex Independent on the 16 and 20 December:
A LARGE ASSORTMENT of Rowntree's fancy chocolate in boxes and baskets suitable for Christmas presents, also Rowntree's Queen's chocolate, the same as has been sent to our troops, bonbons and Christmas stockings a speciality. To be had at Joseph Heusch's Confectionery Stores, 135, High Street, Brentford.

In the 1901 census Joseph Heusch was recorded as age 57 born Germany and a German Subject. His wife Ellen was born in Butleigh, Somerset and their 7 year old son Walter was born in Brentford. Perhaps Heusch took over the shop following the 1893 advertisement. He and his small family had moved to 107 High Street by the time of the 1911 census. Number 135 was not in good order, as the next record reveals.

The 1909/10 Valuation describes 135 and 136 as being owned by Miss Edith and G Goddard. The main description was recorded for no. 136 but there are some additional notes for no. 135:
This is in same building and contains:
Attics: 2 rooms;
2nd (floor): 2 rooms;
1st (floor): 2 rooms;
Ground: small shop with housed? window. Parlor, yard.
Ruinous washhouse with yard beyond and WC. Door to cartway. Empty and dilapidated.
Condemned, Value as land only.

As to the demise of number 135 and number 136, see notes below for no. 136.

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Number 136

In 1844 the poor rate described the premises as house shop stable garden melting house & appurtenances; in the 1845 directory Christopher & John Glover, 'tallow chandlers and melters' are listed. Charles E Goddard a toy merchant was here in 1871 and 1881 by which time he employed 5 men and 5 boys. The 1890 trade directory lists a Charles Evan Goddard, wholesale confectioners at numbers 136 & 137 and in the census in 1891 Charles E Goddard, toy merchant lived at 137 (136 was uninhabited). He was recorded as a wholesale confectioner in Kelly's 1894 trade directory at 136 and 137 High Street.

The Middlesex Independent of 20 December 1899 carried an advertisement:
OUR STOCK is now COMPLETE with all the NOVELTIES for the CHRISTMAS SEASON bonbons, somebody's luggage, toys, games, dolls, etc, are cheaper than ever, a large stock of playing cards, dominoes, draft boards, etc., wholesale and retail. - Charles Evan Goddard, 136 High Street, Brentford.

A book of Goddard family history has been deposited in Chiswick Library (L).

In the 1909/10 Valuation Returns dated 27 April 1911 numbers 135 and 136 were owned by Miss Edith and G. Goddard of 19 Somerset Road, Brentford, joint executors under the will of Mr C E Goddard. The bulk of the description is recorded under no, 136, which was the larger building and recorded first. There is a note of former sales dated 30 Dec 1921 conveyance for £:500. (Presume I either did not get the date right or the record was updated later)

Number 135 and 136 form 2 shops and premises under one roof ... on south side next but one to church, Old and dilapidated, red brick and tiled ... 2 storeys and attics high with castways near centre of from ? premises in rear. Main cornice in wood, 2 dormers, 5 windows each upper floor. Fair position. In bad repair outside and ... dilapidated inside. Am informed premises are condemned as also out buildings - only shops usable. All empty. Contains 3 ruinous attics; 2nd (floor) 2 front rooms (1st other) & 2 back rooms; 1st (floor) 2 front rooms 1 back room. 2 back addition rooms (1 ex other & 3 steps down); Ground: good shop under nearly whole depth of main building, cellar and vault under. Back additions - parlor, kitchen and scullery with WC in corner. Back land say 1040 square yards. ... value as land only ...

Kensington News and West London Times 08 January 1915 carried an advert placed by Messrs C Rawley Cross of Uxbridge Road Station listing properties they had disposed of, including numbers 135 and 136 High Street, Brentford. Later in the year, 18 August, the Middlesex County Times advertised:
OLD BRICKS FOR SALE; 40/50,000 hard, cleaned, at 135, High Street, Brentford. Apply W. Parker, 70 High Street, Brentford.
Presumably this followed demolition. There are later advertisements for sales by auction of timber and building materials at no. 135 from 1917 to 1919.

In 1928, 1933 and 1937 were G E Turk & Co, timber merchants, then in 1940 Charles Spanton, timber merchants. Margaret Masters (Feb 2010): My husband's Spanton ancestors established a timberyard on the Basingstoke Canal in Woking, Surrey - C. Spanton & Co. - in about 1890, but ... I had no knowledge of this business in Brentford.
Mike Blightman (March 2016): My father worked for C. Spanton & co in Woking and Brentford from just before WWII until it finally closed circa 1970. Indeed, I often had cause to come to Brentford with him. Furthermore, my father actually bought the business of C Spanton circa 1970 and incorporated it into another timber merchant that he owned.

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Number 137

In 1844 (Poor Rate) this was a house and shop owned by Jno Ronalds and Robert Ronalds, seedsman, headed a household here in 1861.

When no. 138 was demolished in 1889, no. 137 became adjacent to the vicarage for St Lawrence's church. The electoral register for 1904 shows Frank Graham Wakefield was living at no. 137, having previously lived at 24 High Street Ealing (1903) when his qualifying property was a studio at 1 High Street Ealing. He must have established his photography studio at 137 High Street during 1903 as The National Archives at Kew has a photograph taken by Frank Graham Wakefield of 137 High Street Brentford: the King opening the new Kew Bridge on 20th May 1903.

Frank Wakefield produced many postcards showing local scenes and also studio portraits, such as that of the Dorrington family and Daniel Weathers - search on the home page for more examples of his work. In 1911 no one lived at no. 137: in the census summary it was described as a lock-up shop. Frank Wakefield, the tenant of the premises, was living nearby at 66 Uxbridge Road, West Ealing. He was a widower, aged 66, and had 9 children, seven surviving. He and his daughter, Bessie Violet, 36, were born in Hackney; his son Edward Arthur, 27, was born in Stoke Newington. It seems both worked for their father, Edward as a photographer, Bessie 'assists in business'. They lived in a seven-roomed house.

In 1915 the property was described as a '3 storey stock brick built & flat-roofed shop & premises with a 2 storey rear addition', occupied by Frank Wakefield, owned by the Stracey Clitherow family. The photographers' studio was in the converted stables to the rear. There was an entrance to the property from The Ham and the plan shows the property with the Great Western Railway running at the rear.

The Wakefield photography business was still based at this address in 1920. In 1996 - 2003 the site was empty, part of the redevelopment area (L).

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Number 138

Originally thought to be Noy's House, home of Sir William Noy, attorney general to King Charles I (A68) but more recently disputed (Q79), Noy now thought to have lived in Brentford End, Isleworth parish. The house had a prominent gable-end facing High Street and was set a little nearer the pavement than the adjoining vicarage. The building was probably Tudor (A68) and was demolished in 1889.

The tithe map prepared in 1838 shows an L-shaped property with extensive grounds to the rear; the tithe apportionment notes Messrs Ronalds owned and occupied three plots extending behind this property and to the west, running behind St Lawrence's churchyard and further west towards The Ham. The plots, described as 'Nursery Grounds etc' totalled 2 acres 18 perches and incurred a rent charge of £4 4s payable to the vicar of New Brentford.

Jno Ronalds owned and occupied the two houses next to the Vicarage at the time of the 1844 Poor Rates, numbers 137 & 138. Censuses list John (seedsman) 1841 to 1851; Robert (seedsman) 1861 to 1871; in 1861 there is a note in the census for no. 138 'Miss Ronalds at sea side'. There are three PCC Wills for the family: Hugh Ronalds 1834; John Ronalds 1850; Elizabeth Ronalds 1854; the house was uninhabited in 1881. The site has more information about the Ronalds family.

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St Lawrence's Vicarage (139)

The house adjoining the church was leased to the parish in 1646; vicarage rebuilt in 1696, demolished in 1889, replaced by a new vicarage in the Gothic style which in 2003 was a block of flats (Q49); occupants of the vicarage include John Stoddart (1841); Francis B Briggs (1861 to 1881); Alfred W Rowe (1891); Thomas Eland (1901); Arthur Ernest Edwards (1913).

There are late 19th-century images of the vicarage, see links below: a handsome Georgian-style brick house on two floors with rooms in the attic revealed by three dormer windows, five windows on the first floor and two either side of the front door. The house is shown set back a little from the High Street with iron railings topping a low brick wall and a central gate. Later a porch was added.

Google Street View shows the former vicarage was demolished between September 2020 and May 2021 as part of The Brentford Project.

St Lawrence's Church

St Lawrence's Church has C15 tower, body of church is C18 and there are Victorian additions (see Q49-50 for fuller details); rebuilt between 1762-4 by Thomas Hardwick, designed by Boulton Mainwaring on same site (Q49); south aisle built 1874 (Q49); burial ground extended 1884 (Q50); closed 1961 (Q49).

The Stage, 9 February 1978, reported the building was on the market for £8,000 and outline planning permission had been granted to convert the church into a theatre complex. However the sale was subject to official deconsecration which 'can only be done after a period of "redundancy".' £50,000 was needed for a new roof, sanitation and other immediate work with a further £150,000 expenditure for extensions and 'more complicated repairs.'

Middlesex Chronicle, 22 August 1980, reported work had begun on the church at the end of 1979, but extensive dry rot in the roof timbers required £14,000 to fix. The church was in use for 'thriving children's workshops' and news pieces mention 'keep fit to music' in 1982. Pamela Mandell was the driving force in this period, founding The St Lawrence Brentford Trust to co-ordinate fundraising. In 1986 she announced 'we have saved the church and most of the interior restoration is complete', but work was needed for repairs to the tower, landscaping and installation of the theatre, bar and restaurant. Hounslow & Chiswick Informer, 04 July 1986.

Deconsecration must have happened (but no report found) as exhumation of the 'new' 1884-1973 burial ground with around 845 to 918 burials (numbers vary) started on 26 August 2021, part of Phase 1 of the Ballymore development.

In August 2023 Janet McNamara described progress on the new development:
The St Lawrence Church building is just a shell but the graveyard has been landscaped with grave stones dotted around but not, I think in the correct places and a gym next door with an open air swimming pool for members. I suspect they'll have trouble with falling leaves in the autumn.

David Shailes (September 2024)
Originally, all the bodies from the Victorian Cemetery were to be dug up and re-interned at Brookwood, but a London Plane Tree with a Tree Preservation Order on it, thwarted that and some graves have been left undisturbed.

See links below to view photos from 1910-2022.

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Black Boys PH (140)

Below is a brief history of this pub, for a much fuller picture read Vic Rosewarne's meticulously researched account.

The LMA holds records from Fuller Smith & Turner, Brewers, originating from the Chiswick Brewery, about the Black Boys: assignment of leaseholds (1816) and particulars and conditions of sale in 1844, where it is noted the property adjoins the cemetery (I).

Land Tax records for this property, next to the parsonage, show occupants between 1820 and 1829: in 1820 Mr Thompson owner and Mr Ottaway occupier; in 1825 Dr Mason owner, Mr Barnes occupier; and in 1829 Dr Mason owner, S Trimmer occupier.

The 1836 Poor Rate shows S. Trimmer as occupier.

In the 1839 Pigot directory James Swithin Trimmer was the landlord of the Black Boys. He was paid £20 from the fund collected for those whose businesses were affected by the flooding in January 1841 and was living in the premises in the 1841 census. His parents may have been John Swithin Trimmer (or Swithin John Trimmer) who baptised a number of children at the nearby church of St Lawrence in the 1814 - 1829 period. So far no link has been found to the Trimmer family who were established in Brentford by the early 1700s. The 1844 poor rate and and 1845 directory name George Rogers as the landlord.

The Black Boys continued to change hands: 1851: John Carter; 1861: Thomas T Sanders; 1871: Michael Harty; 1874: James Nash; 1878: David Cawdrey; 1881: Charles Hunt, at which point apparently 24 people lived here; 1882: Charles Pavett (The Black Boys was recorded at no. 141in this directory). No. 140 is not recorded in the 1891 census and presumably had been taken over by no. 141 or was lost when the burial ground for the church was extended in 1884.

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Number 141

Described as a Workman's House from 1913 - 1940 and remembered by Harry Langley as a 'Large house on the corner of Church Alley & at the rear a men's lodging house'.

Previously it was a curriers run by Alexander Wood in 1839 & 1841: in the census he headed a household of 12 including 4 female servants. In 1851 brothers Samuel Thomas Wood and Alexander Wood lived here and ran the curriers business, employing 3 men, 2 apprentices and 1 boy.

Alexander's will dated 14 May 1864 bequeathed the premises to Taylor & Curtis and refers to a son Alexander Wood. He requested that his estate be converted into money and an auction at the Castle Inn took place, where his two premises were sold to David Rice for £605 (I)

The 1909/10 Valuation Records describe the property in April 1915 as '3 storey stock brick built & slated corner property ... from the main building extending to the end of Church Alley are three 2 storey buildings used as lodging house ... in all containing 92 beds'. It had a 26' frontage to the High Street. At the time George Dawson was the owner and occupier.

The 1911 census records George Dawson and his wife Mary Ann, age 69 and 70 respectively, both born in Pancras, London at this adress. They had been married for 49 years, all eight of their children surviving, and their unmarried daughter Alice, 23, born Islington was at home. George recorded his occupation as house decorator but he added a note to the census form 'This House is a Common Lodging House For Men and I had 35 Men Lodgers on Sunday Night'. The census enumerator has added '35 Cards for men lodgers to be punched'. The property had 14 rooms to accommodate the Dawsons and their lodgers; unfortunately the 35 lodgers may not have been recorded in the census.

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Photos/Ephemera/Maps

References such as '1899 (A11)' indicate the date of a photo (1899) and where it is published (A11). Details of 'A' are available: see Mainly paper sources page; '11' refers to the page no, or photo no. in the publication.

Photos

An 1880 sketch by Auguste Ballin shows both sides of High Street from St Lawrence's church eastwards (Q5).

The London Picture Archive (link works August 2024) has several views of St Lawrence's church, two or three of which include the vicarage and the Ronalds' property to the left of the church.

127 This photo MAY show number 127 in the late 1800s

128 1905 photo from Autocar; Magpie & Crown 1920s/early 1930s (Roy England); 1969 (Y85)

129/130 A collection of images from 1911 to 2002 from Janet McNamara; Wm McIlroy Ltd, clothiers & drapers ca1900 (A66); Motorwise, a car hire and repair firm in 1996 (A66)

131 Above link includes a glimpse of 131 in 2002

133, 134 1980 photo

135 1905 view also (A67) & (K121); view of Spanton's entrance ca 1971, see 136

136 Hornes Bros shoes 1905 also (A67) & (K121); Spanton's timberyard entrance ca 1971

137 Wakefield's photographers 1905 also (A67) & (K121)

138 Pre 1889 (A68)

139 St Lawrence Vicarage - pre 1889 (A68); around 1910, also (A69)

St Lawrence Church 1809 (Q48); 1892 (D5); pre 1901 (A68); around 1910, also (A69); around 1913; 2002 (L); photos of New Brentford, 2008, including St Lawrence's Church (Dave Stoneleigh); photos from the new development work, April 2021 (Janet McNamara): this has other handy links; here is a real gem: inside views, February 2022, with commentary from local historians (Selby Whittingham)

141 Pre 1901 (A68); a glimpse of 141 is visible in a 1904/9 postcard

Maps

1838 Tithe map: modern numbers 127 to 137 are tithe property refs 32 to 23; the tithe shows the original plan of St Lawrence's Church and vicarage

1838 Tithe map: modern numbers 139 to 141 are tithe property refs 21 to 19 (22 is the church)

1894 Ordnance Survey Map annotated with house numbers

Roads Off

Boars Head Yard between numbers 126 & 127

Church Alley between numbers 141 & 142

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Originally published 2005, last updated September 2024