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JOURNAL 2005

RUISLIP,NORTHWOOD

& EASTCOTELOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

RUISLIP, NORTHWOOD AND EASTCOTELOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

JOURNAL 2005

Ref. Contents Author Page

Committee Members ii

Lecture Programme 2005 - 2006 ii

05/1 ELIZABETH ROGERS OF EASTCOTE HOUSE-HER STORY Eileen M. Bowlt 1

OS/2 ENIGMA AND THE EASTCOTE CONNECTION Susan Toms 10

05/3 BELL RINGING AT RUISLIP IN THE EARLY 1960s David Rowlands 14

05/4 STARTING FROM SCRATCHScratch Dials and St. Martin's Church Valery Cowley 17

05/5 THE RISE AND FALLOF KELVIN HOUSE SCHOOL Mary Pache & Christopher Sparks 18

05/6 34 OXFORD DRIVE, EASTCOTEThe Everyday Story of a House Roger Smith 21

05/7 KATHLEEN HOAD- DANCER AND TEACHER OF EASTCOTE Mary Pache 27

05/8 RUISLIP, NORTHWOOD AND EASTCOTE- A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF LIFE IN 2000 - 2001 29

05/9 SOCIETY OUTINGS 2005 Sylvia Ladyman 30

05/10 Obituary - R. G. Edwards 1921 - 2005 Eileen M. Bowlt 31

Ruislip, Northwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

Journal 2005

Cover picture: The Sigers (Denise Shackell)

Designed and edited by Brian Grisdale

Copyright © November 2005 individual authors and RNELHS.

Membership of the Ruislip, Northwood and Eastcote Local History Society is open to all who are interested in localhistory. For further information please enquire at a meeting of the SOciety or contact the Membership Secretary.Meetings areheld on the third Monday of eachmonth from September to April and are open to visitors.

An active Research Group supports those who are enquiring into or wishing to increase our understanding of thehistory of the ancient parish of Ruislip (the present Rulsiip, Northwood and Eastcote). Its members are largelyresponsible for the papers in this Journal, and for other Society publications that areproduced from time to time.

Ruislip, Northwood and EastcoteLocal History Society

Registered Charity No. 289234www.RNELHS.flyer.co.uk

COMMITTEE 2005 - 2006

President Leonard Krause 01923836074

Chairman Eileen Bowlt 01895 6380607 Croft Gardens, Ruislip HA4 8EY

Secretary Sus an Toms 01895 6371343 Elmbridge Close, Ruislip HA4 7XA

Treasurer Iessica Eastwood 0208 621 537968 Nibthwaite Road, Harrow HA11TG

Membership Secretary Delia Montlake 01895 67666334b Eastcote Road, RUislip HA4 8DQ

Minutes Secretary Mary Pache 01895 635890

Editor Brian Grisdale 01895673299

Outings Organiser Sylvia Ladyman 01895673305

Eric Spanier 01895636026

Karen Spink 0208 866 7279

Martin Whalen 0208933 1277

LECTURE PROGRAMME 2005 - 2006

Ruis1ip, Northwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

ii Journa12005

2005

September 19

October 17

Medieval Pinner Patricia Clarke

November 21

December 19

AGM and Lost Elysium? Richard PiperMetroland and its legacy in Ruislip, Eastcote & Ickenham

The Life and Work of Sir John Soane Susan Palmer

The Gentleman's Magazine in the 18th Century Alan Ruston

2006

January 16 'Idle Women' Runnalls DavisVolunteer Boatwomen of World War 11

February 20

March 20

Around Fleet Street: a history John Garrod

Church Bellringing David Rowlands

The Art of Work: William Morris and Socialism Roger Huddle

Meetings are held on Mondays at 8.15 pm in St. Martin's Church Hall, Ruislip

April 24

ELIZABETH ROGERS OF EASTCOTE HOUSE - HER STORY

by Eileen M. Bowlt

In the 2003 edition of this journal I wrote about James Rogers of Eastcote House, ending the storywith his death in July 1738. He left behind a sixteen-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who had tocope not only with grief and loneliness, but also had to turn her hand to business and run a largeestate. This is her story.

Elizabeth Rogers was the daughter of lamesRogers and his wife, lane, granddaughter ofRalph Hawtrey 1626-1725 (See family tree,page 9). Following the deaths of her motherand elder brother who were buried at StMartin's within three weeks of each other inFebruary 1736, Elizabeth was left as herfather's sole heir to the former Hawtreyestate in Ruislip. Elizabeth's half sister,Frances, the child of lames Rogers's firstmarriage to Frances Arundell of Northolt,inherited property in Cleveland Row (by thestable yard of St lames's Palace) and adwelling called Bandon in Ansty, Herts andSt Catherine's Farm in Howletts Lanei. Shelived in King's Square, Kensington, whereshe lived with their grandmother Mrs BettyRogers. When both these women died withindays of each other in August 1739 all thatproperty also descended to Elizabeth Rogersand she became administratrix of hergrandmother's goods and chattels. In theseearly years Elizabeth herself was oftenreferred to as Miss Betty Rogers.

The relevant part of lames Rogers's will read... 'I give devise and bequeath all and every myleasehold estates held of the Provost and Fellowsof King's College in Cambridge. And also theRectory and tythes of Ruislip which I hold bylease of the Dean and Chapter of Windsor untomy daughter Elizabeth Rogers her executors,administrators and assigns. And I give andassign and bequeath all the rest of what nature orkind so ever unto my said daughter ElizabethRogers whom I make Executrix of this my lastWill and Testament. '2. Despite her youth andsex she proved the will herself at DoctorsCommons a fortnight after her father's death'and was informed I was of age sufficient to doso. '3

The Hawtrey papers at the LondonMetropolitan Archive include letters relatingto Elizabeth's brother, Ralph Rogers, duringhis childhood and show that he had been atHarrow Schools, but make no mention ofElizabeth's education. Following hermother's death she may have supervised therunning of the household, but one wondershow well versed she could have been inestate management. Her father had preparedher in some measure for futureresponsibilities, desiring her to seek helpfrom Mr Lynch near Bennet Street near Stlames's in any affairs of moment! and therewas a steward at Eastcote.

When lames Rogers's lease of the rectorialtithes from the Dean and Canons of Windsorcame up for renewal in 1740,Richard Lynchadvised her that although not yet of age shecould renew it, but that if her father hadappointed a guardian or trustee his namewould have to be joined to hers on the newlease. Elizabeth drafted a reply explaining'My father making the will so sudden as the dayon which he died its likely occasioned its nothaving all that necessary to one more deliberatelymade, he therein not having named any Guardianor Trustee for me '6. She decided to pay for thelease 'by drawing a bill on Mr Child's bank atTemple Bar.' Her grandfather, [ohn Rogershad been a goldsmith and a partner ofFrancis Child at the sign of the Marigold atTemple Bar and she continued to use thebank.

The College leases had come up the sameyear and by some mistake they had not hadseals affixed. Mr Lynch advised her not toworry as she had paid and received a receiptfor the money, but to wait for the nextCollege Seal due at Christmas.


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Marriage prospects and relatives

Elizabeth Rogers amused herself by buyinglottery tickets and her relatives in Londonsearched the books to find out whether shehad won any prizes. jl, Kentish, a connectionof the Arundells condoled with her in June1739 on her bad luck, but consoled her withthe thought that 'tho we have blanks in thelottery we won't repine but hope for better luck inbusbends'? It is clear that making a goodmarriage yourself or promoting suitablealliances among your relatives was a majorconcern of the women in Elizabeth Rogers'scircle. Most of the feminine letters in theHawtrey papers contain gossipy references toweddings - marriages where there was adiscrepancy of fortune or age, runawaymatches, or potential husbands for someoneor other. As an independent woman ofproperty and means Elizabeth Rogers was adesirable catch and many of her relatives andfriends make arch references to possiblesuitors, particularly to a 'Mr B'. 'I think it anage since I heard from you but you are so taken upplaying shuttlecock with Mr B that t'is veryexcusable' wrote a cousin Mary Needham inApril 17408.

Elizabeth needed to beware of fortunehunters and a friend to help her repel them.In this she turned to Mr Lynch, treating himvery much as a confidant in personal as wellas business matters. In June 1739he offeredfriendly advice on avoiding too intimate acontact with unwelcome visitors at Eastcote.'I am informed likewise that you have had somelate visitors which perhaps you would have beenas well without having and that you are to befurther visited by them in a short time. Methinksyou may have Mrs Sheppard in some measurewith you, as particular occasion may require,though as your guests are more than a few I seenot that you will be likely be with anyone of themalone more than you may care for.... '9 He goeson to offer her an escape route by advisingher to tell her guests that she needs to seehim on business before he goes out of townand invites her to stay at his house inLondon. He also suggests that she refer'any discourse broached to you on any subject'to him, thus stopping any importunities.

He wondered whether her 'eosin Sally' couldcome soon or whether she could seek someother person as a companion. Cousin Sallywas Sarah Needham, a relation on Elizabeth'sfather's side.

Elizabeth forwarded Mr Lynch a letter froman unnamed but tiresome suitor in April1740. 'Having recd the inclosd last Saturday Ithought it the best way to send it up to you anddesireyou to write a letter such as he deserves forhe never will a done tormenting and will alwaysbe a coming to church which will put the countryin an uptoerw.

The suggestion about a companion was takenup by October 1741 when Mr Lynch wrote'Mts Lynch and self arepretty well and hopeyourfamily are so too. Our service waits on you andMrs Needbem'u, In fact there were two MrsNeedhams, Sarah and Susannah known inthe family as Sally and Sukey who lived atEastcote House, perhaps in turn, ascompanions for the rest of their lives. Theywere rather more than twenty years olderthan Elizabeth, and therefore suitablechaperones and were buried in St Martin'swhere they are commemorated in the chancelon the south side of the altar. Sarah died in1775 aged 76 and Susannah in the followingyear aged 75. It was normal in the eighteenthcentury for unmarried women to beaddressed as Mrs, which like Miss is anabbreviation of Mistress, which accounts forthe frequent references to 'Mrs' Rogers and'Mrs' Needham.

The Needhams, five sisters and a brother,lived in Devizes, Wilts and all seem from thecorrespondence in the Hawtrey papers tohave been particularly close to ElizabethRogers. Sarah Needham purchased a close ofmeadow in Pinner called Souters fromElizabeth's uncle, George Blagrave in 1756,perhaps as an investment.t- and this piece ofmeadowland passed in turn by will toSusannah, then to another unmarried sister,Mary and to a married sister, ElizabethRichards by 1780 and was eventuallypurchased from her by Elizabeth Rogersherself. The other sister was Ellen Hope ofMarlborough and the brother was called

Ruislip, N orthwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

Journal 20052

Ioseph. Ben Richards, who executedcommissions for the ladies at Eastcote, was acousin. In March 1744 he wrote to Eastcote'agreeable to your request have procured a freshcod flsh of 7s 6d price and a Barrell of Oystersgreen Iinn'd at 3s 6d, both which were warrantedto be exceeding good. The above were deliverd tothe Devizes caravan at the White Horse, HolbornBridge yesterday evening; they were directedaccording toyour order...

Your affectionatekinsman,Ben Richards'13

This was not the first time that such presentshad been sent to Devizes. In March 1741,before Sally became her companion, MissRogers had sent an exciting box, whichelicited an effusive and ill-spelt responsefrom Mary Needham, 'I return you a greatmany thanks for your kind present of the fanwhich was very acceptable to me for I don't knowanything I wanted more than a hansome fan and Ithink I never se one so pretty as this but youbestow so many favours upon us that we nevercan return thanks enuff. Mr B and my brotherwas by when we open'd the box but I wish youhad been hear to see the transport we was in to seeso flne a present but we all agreed that we neversaw any china so pretty before. . ...My brotherwent last Saturday to takepart of the fish you wasso good as to send my sister Sukey but the dinerwas so late he was obliged to come away withouttaking part of it which was a very great blow tohim. Mr John Bott and another gentleman tookpart of it and I don't doubt but thay drank yourhealth as we often do'14.The long letter continued with general gossipabout various prospective marriages andends with 'Hear was great rejoicing when MrBaynton got his election and we have heard sincehe is going to bemarried to a lady of great fortuneand I don't know whear (whether) they don'tmean you.' Could this be the mysterious 'MrB'? Ben Richards, sending her Christmas andNew Year greetings at the end of 1743continues with the hope that 'if you prove aloser in any sense.. .it may be in nothing morematerial than the exchange of your name whichwhen you do I hope will be an addition to yourfelicity. '15

Elizabeth received parcels of books, such asMrs Horwood's novels, from London,through the good offices of Ben Richards, and

a playbill for Drury Lane Theatre suggeststhat she enjoyed the usual social activitiesavailable in the capital. She also orderedwine from London, dealing with a woman,Mrs Mareon in Ludgate Street. She usedanother relation, Rowland Rogers to pay hera bill for £56 8s in 1742,sending him an orderupon Child's Bank.i!

When Elizabeth Rogers visited London shesometimes stayed with Mrs Aspin, aHawtrey connection, in Southampton Rowand had letters and packets addressed to herthere. Lucy Aspin was older than Elizabethand commented in April 1743 that 'there is sogreat a difference in your age and mine that Imust always be disagreeabletoyou, but when anybusiness call you to Town, I think my house maybe serviceable for you to come to any day anyhour ... '. 17 She signed herself your affectionatecousin ', Like the other cousins she also hintedat interesting and suitable men. She wrote inJuly 1741 'I have had a little variety lately, for acousin of ours Ralph Hawtrey is come fromIreland and has been very much with our cousinBlois who brought him to see me, he is a veryagreeableyoung man and in good circumstances.They dined with me three times. We alwaysdrank your health. I told him what a greatfortune and what a pretty lady you was. Heseemedmighty attentive at the hearing an accountof you and that he heartily wished you the bestlord in the land might be your husband. '18

In November 1742 we find her sendingthanks for 'the tlnest pig I ever saw, so I had itcollared thinking some agreeable friend mightcome to partake of it, and I am sure of one thatyou know it will relish the better being one ofyourbreed.'19

In spite of all this prompting ElizabethRogers never married, but lived verycomfortably at Eastcote with her companionsand gradually as she grew older the hintsand light banter on matrimonial affairsdisappear from the letters, but thecorrespondence and visiting between all thecousins continue. Elizabeth's aunt,Philadelphia Blagrave of Bullmarsh nearReading figures prominently and it is uponher direct descendants, the Deanes thatElizabeth Rogers' s estates finally devolved.


Journal 20053

Business Matters

Judging by the number of letters ofcomplaints from tenants, [ames Rogers hadnot been a particularly good landlord,apparently failing to keep his property ingood repatr.w Elizabeth Rogers also receivedcomplaints from tenants, the most vociferousof whom was Cat (presumably Catherine)Stevens who had lived in one of theCleveland Row houses for many years. Shewas, however, a poor payer and frequentlybehind with her rent and may have beeninclined to exaggerate her grievances aboutthe state of the house as some sort of excuse.Back in June 1736 she had just spent £100sending two daughters to Boston in NewEngland, and furnishing her house had alsoset her back. She had assured james Rogersthat after September she would 'take carenever to be behind again '.21 This proved to be avain hope. In March 1746she wrote seekinga reduction in rent of £5 per annum to bringit down to the same level as the house nextdoor, which had stood empty half the timesince the death of a long-term tenant eightyears before and claiming that rents had'vastly fallen' since she came in. Shecomplained of the darkness in the back partof the house and lack of closets which meantthat she could not sublet it, asserting that 'thehouse is what nobody likes the new is much betterand cheaper.'22· Elizabeth Rogers' s reply threemonths later does not seem to beunreasonable. She had been 'much surprisedat the reading of it when I found you was so verysolicitous to have the rent abated, when you knowhow very much you are in arrears. Madam if youwill pay them off I then will give Mr Keightleyorders to act between us. '

Some of the Cleveland Row houses wereleased rather than rented and not necessarilylived in by the lessee. Mrs Ann Twiss, awidow, of St Mary le Bow, nearing the end ofa long lease, renewed for 14 years fromMichaelmas 1783at £10 per annum. She hadto 'repair, uphold, support, sustain, maintain,amend, paint, pave, scour, glaze, lead tile, purgeand keep the said messuage and all walls,pavements, pipes, gutters and water courses'.At the end of the term she had to yield up all

fixtures and fittings. 23 Elizabeth Rogers'saccounts for 1778show that the rent of two ofthe Cleveland Row houses were £35 and £30per annum respectrvely.>

Mrs Rogers's man of business, Abel Jenkins,checked her title to the Cleveland Row estatein 1779, perhaps fearing some dispute. Thesix houses had come into her father'spossession at the time of his first marriage toFrances Arundel as part of the marriagesettlement and had been in the possession ofSir Francis Child, George [ackson and JosephRosington before 1709, the date when theMiddlesex Deeds Registry had been set up,requiring the registration of all deeds of landsin the county. The Middlesex Deeds Registrynow at the London Metropolitan Archive is agreat boon to local historians, but searchingits indices can be long and unproductive andso it proved for Mr Jenkins. He put in hisaccounts 'This search took up much time' and hefound nothing. Elizabeth Rogers eventuallyleft the Cleveland Row estate along withmuch else to Philadelphia and [ane Deane.

Managing the Ruislip estates

When King's College decided to have theirRuislip demesne surveyed in the mid-eighteenth century, they appointed JohnDoharty of Worcester to carry out themeasurements, produce a Terrier and draw amap. This was the first time that thedemesne had been mapped and it shows theland leased from the College by ElizabethRogers. She took the opportunity of havingMr Doharty produce a second map and 'ATerrier to all the Free Copy and Leasehold landsin Ruislip belonging to Ms Rogers of Eastcott'.The Terrier survives at the LondonMetropolitan Archive, and there are copies atRuislip and Uxbridge libraries, but the map ismissing. The Terrier was deposited in theMiddlesex County Records in 1958 by MrBowlby of Harrow School. No one knowshow it came to be there. There was a thirdmap for the church - also missing.

The demesne land amounted to 1460 acres,including the 335 acre Copse Wood and the


Journal 20054

407 acre Park Wood. The other 720 acrescomprised Ruislip Court (now Manor Farm)with what are now the Pinn Fields and arableland in the common fields of Ruislip: ChurchField, Great Windmill Field, Little WindmillField, Marlpit Field, Bourne Field, Roxbourneand Cognorth. [oseph Goodson from Haltonin Buckinghamshire was Elizabeth Rogers'stenant at Manor Farm. He had taken over thetenancy in 1747 for twelve years=. He andhis wife were obliged to house the CollegeSteward and his servant and stable theirhorses when they came to hold the manorcourts. They also housed John Doharty whilehe was carrying out his survey.

Elizabeth's personal estate was centred onEastcote House with its 15 acres of gardensand meadows. One of the meadows wascalled Dove house Close and may have beenthe land between the Dovecot and the RiverPinn. Attached to Eastcote House were justover 30 acres in the common fields on theEastcote side of the parish. These wereretained in hand by Mrs Rogers and wereprobably farmed by her servants.

She also owned a number of farms andcottages with 240 acres of land attached tothem which were let to tenants. The mostimportant was Field End Farm with 95 acres.(see Fig.l) There were two closes of pastureand a four acre meadow beside the houseand two other meadows called Harry Smithsand Little Harry Smiths, which are known tohave been near the corner of Field End Roadand Cheyney Street. Field End Farm can betentatively identified as the house calledSigers which was demolished in the 1930swhen the Eastcote Park estate was built. Thename of the tenant in 1750is not given in theTerrier, but William Pritchard was there inthe 1780s26• Widow Ambridge, WilliamGladman and George Barringer rented onlyland in the common fields, while Sarah King,Samuel Page and John Lott had enclosedmeadow land. John Seymour, Henry Platt,George Woods, John West, Ioseph Philipsand Richard Wetherley all had homes tailswith either a garden or an orchard and somemeadow or pasture. [ames Tilliard simplyhad a cottage and garden amounting to less

than half an acre. No name or street is givenexcept in the case of George Woods who hadSt Catherine's Farm in Howletts Lane. ParkFarm, Eastcote Cottage, Cuckoo Hill Farm,Fore Street Farm and Old Cheyne Cottage(the latter two were demolished in the 1930s)would have been among them as they areknown from earlier sources to have beenowned by Elizabeth's Hawtrey ancestors andto have remained in the estate until after theEnclosure 1804-14. Elizabeth seems not tohave increased the estate during her lifetimeand sold one property, The Old House inBury Street, to the Rev Charles Jacques ofHillingdon in 1739.27

Fig. 1 - Field End FarmThis farmhouse latterly known as Sigers,

can be tentatively identified with the chieffarm of Elizabeth Rogers's estate, known asField End Farm in the eighteenth century

She pursued debts owed her. In September1737she had desired Mr Ambridge, 'to make aseizure of the hay and other effects on themeadows rented by William Heward of me in partof one years and three quarterly rent due to mefrom him Midsummer last being the sum of £49lOs.'28

Letters from her steward, John Gregory, inthe 1780s suggest that she generally had agood relationship with her servants andtenants. When she was away from EastcoteJohn Gregory sent her a brace of hares, onepheasant and three and a half brace of birds,having put a ticket on them so that she wouldknow when they were killed and which


Journal 20055

needed eating first. The accompanying lettergives us glimpses of the every day life of theestate and its efficient running under hisstewardship. Mrs Jordan, a tenant, had givenup the keys of her house and barn andentirely quitted the premises. John Gregoryhad put a man into the barn to thresh thecorn and because some of her dung had beenleft in a heap in a field and was in the way ofploughing he had advised Mr Pritchard ofField End Farm to carry it onto his own fieldsand plough it in, providing that he paid 40shillings, the value put upon it by theappraisers. He continued 'Mt and MrsPtitcbsrd gives their love to Molly and they areall well and they both give their duty to you ... Theservants are well and join in duty to you and areall very sorry to hear that you have been ill butare in hopes that you are still getting better whichis the sincere wish of Yr very hble & obt servt tocommand, John Gregory'.29

Whenever her rights were in questionElizabeth Rogers fought vigorously, as whenshe considered that the Dean and Canons ofWindsor were granting away some of thetithes that she leased from them in the 1790s.They had agreed to allow the tithes ofcoppiced underwood (the hornbeam) to anew vicar, Mr Gibbons, who came to StMartin's in 1794 and died three years later,which would leave their lessee with only thetimber tithes, causing a reduction in herincome. She therefore threatened that shewould not renew her lease when it fell due in1798 unless she was indemnified against thevicar's right. 'I cannot help complaining that theDean and Canons have used me veryunhandsomely by making a deed to deprive me ofmy property in the tythe oi undeiwood'i» As shehad in fact been their tenant for nearly fiftyyears by that time, the Dean and Canonscapitulated and informed the next vicar,Daniel Carter Lewis, that he shouldsurrender any right in the coppice tithes sinceno confirmation that such a right had everexisted could be found. In fact the first ofElizabeth's leases in 174031 had excluded allwoods, underwood and timber trees, so thewood tithes must either have been insertedinto later leases or merely assumed by thelessee.

The new vicar seems to have been revivingan ancient dispute about the vicar's right towood for fuel which had last been seriouslyraised in 1590. The Enclosure Commissionersa few years later settled the matter bygranting the vicar of Ruislip part of ParkWood, where St. Vincent's later stood, andmore land on Haste Hill.

The Rectory lease was valuable to ElizabethRogers. In 1740 she had to pay £20 perannum rent plus £4 at Lady Day (25 March)to provide two fat boars for the Dean andCanons Hospitality Day and a further fortyshillings at Lady Day for a quarter of wheatand had to covenant to keep the chancel atSt. Martin's in repair. There was also a fine topay upon each renewal of the lease. Theadvowson of the vicarage (the right to choosethe vicar of Ruislip) was retained by the Deanand Canons.

Her 1778accounts show her paying the samerent as in 1740 in two half-yearly payments:£10 Is in November and £16 Is in Apnl.v butit rose to £60 by the end of the century. Theamount coming in from the tithes variedfrom year to year, perhaps depending uponweather and growing conditions and thestate of the market, for the tithes seem tohave been commuted to money payments.The total sum received in 1748-9was £304 10s6d, but only £143 16s6d in 1757.33 In 1803theincome was £368 4s 4d, but deductions forthe Poor Rate, the cost of the dinner providedfor the tithe payers on tithe day and varioustaxes reduced the profit to £225 19s9d.34

Elizabeth Rogers did not renew the lease in1798 after all. not because of any grievance,but 'being very old and inflrm and being deprivedof her hearing not fit to do business. '35

Philadelphia and [ane Deane, her successorscontinued the correspondence with the Deanand Canons, who seem not to have beenunduly worried about the renewal, so long asthe rent for the lease was paid. Having dealtwith the family at Eastcote House since thesixteenth century, they probably assumedthat the renewal fines would eventually bepaid, as indeed they were, by Ralph Deane,Elizabeth Rogers's residuary legatee.


Journal 20056

Elizabeth Rogers probably maintained thechancel of the church as and when necessary,but no repairs had been carried out forseveral years before her death in 1803 andwork was begun in 1807 at the expense ofPhiladelphia and lane Deane. They had alsoseen to the repair of the 'Church Bridge'across the River Pinn in Bury Street in 1805.36

Last years

Elizabeth Rogers lost her companions, theNeedhams when in her late fifties, butcorrespondence with their nieces continuedand shows a still close relationship. Theirplace at Eastcote may have been taken byPhiladelphia and lane Deane. Although notactually stated, they seem to have been livingat Eastcote in the later years of Elizabeth's lifeand probably acted as companions,particularly necessary in view of herincreasing incapacity. They were buried in1822 and 1823 respectively in St Martin's,where their commemorative plaque may beseen on the north side of the nave.

She made her will in May 1803, appointingRev George Deane (nephew of Philadelphiaand lane Deane) and Charles lames of NewInn as trustees of most of her property.Certain annuities were to be paid from theprofits and the residue was to go toPhiladelphia and lane Deane for a time withtheir nephew, Ralph Deane as residuarylegatee.

Elizabeth's closeness to various cousins andtheir children is shown in her will. Anannuity of £50 a year was to be paid toHarriet Love, daughter of her cousin AnnAckworth deceased and Susannah Hope gota life interest in St. Catherine's Farm whichincluded land in Harefield parish on thecorner of New Years Green Lane. BetsyRogers was left the tithes for a fixed term andCharles lames offered to buy them from her,but the offer he made was not thoughtadequate to the value and she determined tokeep them.v Cousin Sarah Elliot was to havetwo diamond rings 'which by the inscription onthem appear to have been bought in remembrance

of my cousins Sarah Needham and SusannahNeedbem', Sarah Needham had left Elizabethfive guineas to buy a ring in 1775and MaryNeedham had left her a diamond ring in1780.38 She left her other diamonds toElizabeth Sarah, daughter of her cousin [ohnRogers. But Philadelphia and lane Deanewere the most favoured female cousins. Inaddition to an interest in her property shegave them 'all my pictures, china and brewingutensils, chariot and horses and harness, carthorses, cattle, wagons, carts, ploughs and all otherimplements of farming and husbandI}', householdgoods, effects and furniture, plate and linen, mytwo best sets of apron ruffles and linenhandkerchiefs and books',39

Elizabeth Rogers 1722-1803- what was she like?

It is difficult to assess Elizabeth Rogers'scharacter from the largely one-sidedcorrespondence in the Hawtrey papers. Theletters are mainly written to her, withoccasionally a draft reply on the back. Twothings, however, stand out: her ability toconduct the business affairs of a large andscattered estate and the importance to her ofher extended family. Starting with theproving of her father's will at the age ofsixteen and the administration of herGrandmother Rogers's affairs two years later,both of which involved the paying ofannuities to family members, she showedherself competent. She was conscious of herduties as the leading lady in theneighbourhood and the need to continuefamily charities. When about 1740 shedesired Mr Lynch to draw up a will, shewanted the £200 that her grandfather(presumably she means her greatgrandfather, Ralph Hawtrey) had left theparish for the poor, to be mentioned. Theresult can be seen in the engraved stoneabove the North door into St. Martin's.Apart from the sale of the Old House in BuryStreet, she maintained the estate that she hadinherited, including, Bandons in Ansty, Hertsand the Cleveland Row houses and hadacquired the field Souters in Pinner. The factthat she, at the outset a very young woman,


Journal 20057

was accepted by both the Provost andScholars of King's College and the Dean &Canons of Windsor as a suitable tenant oftheir leases for the whole of her life, againtestifies to her competence in business.

She probably relied fairly heavily uponsolicitors, stewards and servants. All thesurviving letters show a friendly relationshipwith these people, especially perhaps withMr Lynch who advised her in personal aswell as business matters. She sought theadvice of Mr J. Smith, the bursar of King'sCollege, when the question of the enclosureof St. Catherlne's Manor came up in 1768. Asowner of St. Catherine's Farm she was alandowner within the little manor, as it wassometimes called, and was consulted aboutthe enclosure. Mr Smith advised that King'sCollege as neighbouring landowners wouldnot object to the enclosure of St. Catherine's,but pointed out that the cost of fencingwould have to be borne by the tenants ofSt. Catherlne's and would be considerable.wActing on this hint she strenuously opposedthe move, although it went ahead anywaybecause other tenants wanted it. It isnoticeable that there was no attempt toenclose the main manor of Ruislip during herlifetime, but that negotiations to do so wereopened up within a year of her death by hertrustees. She was probably a littleconservative in her approach to landmanagement.

The letters and other documents reveal anenormous number of 'cousins' who cannotreadily be fitted into a family tree. There arehints in the Needhams' writings that she wasregarded as the lady of fortune within thefamily and distributor of largesse, butwithout knowing more about their ownfinancial circumstances it is impossible tojudge. Elizabeth Rogers, despite the sad lossof her immediate family was not in factlonely. Relatives seem to have enjoyedvisiting Eastcote and there are severalreferences to the sweet air there. Onerespondent became quite poetic in 1742,'... Dull smoaky London not to be named withyour sweet and pleasant retirement which willbecome more so as fast as the lazy backward

spring will mend its pace at the impulse of thewarm sun ... '41.

We know little about her health. There is areference to at least one illness when she wasabout 60, and some apothecaries' bills, mainlyfor purgative draughts (some for Mrs Needham)have survived, but she lived to be 81, possiblywith no more than the defects caused byadvancing age.Elizabeth Rogers seems to have been an able girlwho developed into a formidable businesswoman, which was rather unusual in theeighteenth century. In other ways she enjoyedthe social and family life typical of the age andher station in life.

1 National Archive: Prob 11/690 f1842 !MA: Aee 249117733 !MA: Aee 249117734 !MA: Ace 249/23865 LMA: Ace 249117736 !MA: Ace 249117737 !MA: Ace 249/22798 !MA: Ace 249/26629 !MA: Ace 2491176810 !MA: Ace 249/384311 !MA: Ace 2491177612 LMA: Ace 249/2278-8113 !MA: Ace 249/266114 !MA: Ace 249/266415 LMA: Ace 249/265916 LMA: Ace 249/384717 LMA: Ace 249/2366-7118 LMA: Ace 249/236719 LAM: Ace 249/236820 'Lames Rogers of Eastcote House', Eileen M. Bowlt,RNELHS Journal 200321 LMA: Ace 249/383422 LMA: Ace 249/385223 LMA: Ace 249/387024 LMA: Acc249/3465-6625 LMA: Ace 249/868 ..26 National Archive: Prob 11 f447 Mlfilm 114527 LMA: Ace 538/2nd dep/366228 LMA: Ace 249/174929 LMA: Ace 249/385630 St George's, Windsor: XVII 4 3931 !MA: Ace 249/257032 !MA: Ace 249/3456-6633 !MA: Ace 249/3011-1434 LMA: Ace 249135 St George's, Windsor: XVII 38836lbid37 LMA: Ace 249/269838 LMA: Ace 249/2702 and 270039 LMA: Ace 249140 LMA: Ace 249/2344-5341 LMA: Ace 249/3843


Journal 20058

ENIGMA AND THE EASTCOTE CONNECTION

by Susan Toms

Many of us are aware now of the codebreaking activities at Bletchley Park, whichcontributed so much to this country's victoryin World War n. But how many of us areaware that some of this highly secret work,took place on our doorstep at the now almostempty and derelict Ministry of Defence site,situated between the Eastcote Road and LimeGrove (see below).

MoD Site Location

Originally the decoding activities were basedentirely at Bletchley Park and involved theoperation of machines called Bombes, whichhad been developed to identify and break theGerman codes. These Bombes were run toobtain the daily settings of the drums on theEnigma machine. Altogether over 200Bombes were built and to accommodate andoperate some of these machines outstationsor satellites were established. Hence theexistence of Eastcote, which along withStanmore,Wavendon,Adstockand Gayhurstwereall outstations. Originally the site at Eastcotehad been intended as a war hospital but in1943 it became an outstation and soon itexpandedinto the largestoutstationacmmmodating800Wrernwho operatedthe 110Bombesbasedthere.(See photographs page 13). Besides theWrens there was a small contingent of 100RAF technicians most of whom had beenPost Office engineers in civilian life. Theirrolewas to servirethe Bombesand repairany faul1ywiring. The final group based at Eastrotewas adetadnnent of American personnel, who

operated their own machines independentlyin one bay. They did not live on site like theothers, but were transported in each day.Consequently there was very little officialcontact but there are many mentions of jointdances where the superior food of theAmericans was much appreciated by theBritish personnel who were enduringrationing. Some Wrens can recollect thesnacks of ice cream, apple pie and chocolatefrom the Americans which mitigated thelong hours of a night watch.

The site was known as HMS Pembroke andalways flew the ensign. It was divided intoBlock A and Block B. Block A, which wasnearest Lime Grove consisted of the livingand eating quarters and the otheradministrative areas, whereas Block B furtherback on the site was the strictly controlledwork station where the Bombes werehoused. This Block was protected by a highbrick wall and guarded by military police.The two Blocks were separated by a publicfootpath, which still divides the site today.This separation was physical and social sincenone of the cooks, stewards and other staffworking in Block A had any idea of the truenature of the work happening in Block B.The footpath also caused problems for theWrens when they were on night watch sincethey had to cross the path usually singly inpitch darkness to go for a meal break. Onegirl was attacked and consequently theWrens 'used to run across at something likeOlympic speed'.

The Bombeswere housed in separatebays eachofwhim were named afteran alliedmuntIywhile·theBombeswerenamedaftertownsin thatcountry.Thebayswere enormous with 8 to 12 Bombes ineach. The working conditions were noisy,airless, hot and smelly from the use of oil,and stressful with the Wrens being constantlyremindedthat livesdependedon what they weredoing. No wonder the arrival of the teatrolley was a keenly awaited event on each


Journal 200510

watch. The Bombes had to be loaded in acertain order using 'menus' sent over fromBletchley with the wires at the back of themachines being plugged in according to the'menu'. Each machine was operated by twoWrens. If the machine stopped the results orsettings were checked and relayed toBletchley since this could indicate they hadstruck lucky and cracked the German codefor that day. The Wrens were always told ifany of their 'stops' had been successfuL Itwas tedious work but it demanded greataccuracy and concentration while workingunder pressure. One said "it was a job forconscientious young women, we hadtweezers for tweaking wires". Another, inanswer to the question "Was it exciting?always replied "No it was a horrid job".

It was also physically demanding work sincethe machines had to be operated round theclock. Hence the Wrens were organised intofour watches or shifts, namely A, B, C and D,to work the following weekly hours. Week 1was the day watch from 8am - 4pm, followedby week 2, the evening watch, from 4pm -midnight and then week 3, the night watch,from midnight - 8am. The last week 4 wasthe relief or split watch. Each watchconsisted of 100/200 Wrens with its owncomplement of officers and petty officerswho lived and worked together as one unit.This made it easier for them to cope with theunsocial hours since everyone was on thesame shift. Each watch was staffed also byfour RAF technicians. The four week rotawas followed by four days leave which wasmuch appreciated by the Wrens. Many talkof a stream of girls racing down Lime Groveto reach Eastcote Station as quickly aspossible to make the most of their precioustime off.

The living conditions were fairly basic also.Many of the early arrivals remember beinggreeted with "a heap of angle iron, wire bedframes etc. which with a spanner and nutsand bolts,we assembledintobunks."Toadd insulttoinjt.nythefloorshadtobedearedbeforeassemblingthebunkbedssincethebuildershad onlyrerentlyfinishedtheirwork. Lateron a hallwasbuilton theleftof theentrance from Lime Grove which was used

for dances and showing films. During thesummer there was enough space betweenthe wooden accommodation cabins to relaxoutside. Any local people who saw themwould have had no idea of the highly secretwork on which they were engaged. Theymight even have thought it was a Wrens' resthome.

As was common throughout the war wholegroups of people who had never mixedbefore were thrown together. Severalmention the Wrens, who were 'posh' or'upper crust' who after their weekend leavewould appear in 'The Tatler' the followingweek. One of the Wrens was Audrey Pullen,a professional singer who used to broadcastwhen her duties permitted. There was alsoRomany Evens the daughter of 'Romany',who for many years broadcast on the BBCchildren's programme.

Despite the arduous shift work all the Wrenstalk of making the most of their precious freetime. Many have memories of travelling intoLondon to attend concerts, films and playsoften with free tickets that were issued, toservice personnel from a kiosk in TrafalgarSquare. There were also the many dancesand big band concerts. One Wrenremembers obtaining the autograph of GlennMiller while some mention dancing to LouPraeger. Many Wrens frequented thevarious service clubs in London like 'TheNuffield Club,' 'The Queensbury Club' and'The New Zealand Club' where there wouldbe music and dancing. If none of theseappealed one unusual alternative was to goto the Old Bailey to listen to the court cases.

They also enjoyed the local social amenities.There are many references to the 'The Case IsAltered', 'The Woodman' and 'The BlackHorse' and local cafes and restaurants like'Kerswalls' in Eastcote and 'The Orchard' inRuislip. Several talk of going to a cafeopposite Eastcote Station for a cup of tea anda snackbeforewalkingbacktolJmeGrove.OneWrenrecallsan ofl:irerusingthe cafeand noticinga scrapofblank paper on the floorwhich she rerognisedasmming from the sheetsof paper used in BI<XkB.Although it would not have meant anything


Journal200511

to anyone else all the Wrens were given astern warning to be extra careful. Othervenues for refreshments were the WVScanteen in Ruislip and the Toe H club whichwas used by the Polish air crews fromNortholt.

For those who were more energetic therewere mixed hockey games with the RAF staffwhich were played on the fields at RuislipManor or Eastcote. The matches usuallytook place after coming off night watch andwere followed by a late breakfast beforecollapsing into bed. Service personnel hadthe use of the tennis courts on the corner ofEastcote High Road opposite 'The BlackHorse' and the swimming pool owned byLady Anderson in the grounds of EastcotePlace. Finally they organised their ownentertainment with dances, concerts andamateur dramatics. This was when thetalents of Wrens Audrey Pullen and RomanyEvens were put to good use. One Wrenrecollects teaming up with the Americansbased a short distance away for a productionof 'CharIey's Aunt.'

Despite all the bombing of London the siteonly suffered one incident when in 1944 anincendiary bomb landed on the wing of theliving quarters. Fortunately the cabins wereempty at the time so there were no casualtiesand the only damage was some floodingfrom the fractured pipes. However someWrens mention hearing doodlebugs goingover when they were crossing the footpathfor a meal break on night watch. Onerecollects initially being told to get up andstand in the corridor for safety whendoodlebugs were heard.

In 1945 the war in Europe ended and manyof the Wrens were in London for VEcelebrations. One Wren's reminiscences aretypicaL "We climbed a lamp post inDowning Street to cheer Churchill and hiswife leaving for the Palace, then joinedthousands outside the Palace to cheer againand ended up dancing down the Mall.Cannot remember how and when we gotback to Eastcote."

But the end of the war meant the Bombeswere redundant and the Wrens spent thenext few months taking all the machinesapart so that all the metal could be recycledand more importantly no one would knowabout the operation. However in one sensethe base at Eastcote continued to play animportant role in the security of the country,since Block B became the headquarters ofGC&CS - Government Cipher and CodeSchool. It remained there for six years until1952 when it was renamed GCHQ -Government Communications Headquartersand moved to its present location inCheltenham.

In conclusion, most of the Wrens looked backon their time at Eastcote with fond memoriesdespite the danger and physical hardships.Most had volunteered with no true idea ofthe type of work they would be doing,having been told they were suitable for'Special Duties'. All kept faithfully to theOfficial Secrets Act they had signed andnever disclosed the true nature of their workeven to family and close friends. Only afterthe late 1970s when one or two books werepublished which told the story of BletchleyPark did some feel able to talk.

One Wren called Eastcote "a soulless place"while another described it as "a placedreamed up and I am sure manufacturedand delivered ready made at aninconvenient, unlit distance from the tubestation." But all agreed that their war workat Eastcote was an amazing experience,which they felt proud to have performed tothe best of their ability.

I would like to thank the many Wrens whocontacted 'The Wren Magazine' with theirreminiscences of life at Eastcote Outstation andwhose letters have formed the basis of this article.I would also like to thank Jean Dixon an ex Wrenwho first contacted 'The Wren Magazine' toprompt these memories and Karen Spink wholiaised for the Society with JeanDixon.


Joumal200512

Divisions on Base

Wings for Victory parade - Pinner 1944


13 Joumal2005

BELL RINGING AT RUISLIP IN THE EARLY 1960s

by David Rowlands

Dr. R. D. Andrews' excellent 'A History of theBells of St Martin's, Ruislip' (1992), includessome reminiscences, via Charles Poulter, ofringing in the 1920s and 1930s with suitableanecdotes. What it fails to capture or torecord is the sheer ability of the band theyhad at St Martin's Church in those years.When I was privileged to know them fromabout 1960- 1964they were no longer activepeal ringers in complex methods, but theirabilities were still remembered throughoutthe Middlesex Association and many of thenotable peals rang for the Association in the1920- 50 period contained Ruislip ringers, asconsultation of the Association's AnnualReports will show. William Bunce Sr. hadgiven up ringing due to infirmity as had theKillby family, other than George, whom I metseveral times at Ruislip; he was possibly themost experienced and knowledgeable of allthe Ruislip ringers at the time. Their familyhailed from Willesden I believe. the hometower of many of the era's most giftedringers.

Bill Bunce Charlie Poulter Tom CollinsWm. Bunce Harry Ive Bill Picthall Albert Hunter

Most of the regular Ruislip ringers of thattime were a genuine family, all related to oneanother; Collins, Bunce, Ive and Hunter.Tom Collins was Tower Captain at the time, agentle, lovable man who looked almost toofrail to hold a rope. The two Bunce boys(postmen), Jack and Bill, were his cousins,and Harry Ive (a thatcher) was their Uncle,

indeed everyone in the tower called Harry'Uncle', including me! The Hunter brotherswere also relatives, though I only met Albertwho could no longer ring because of a heartproblem. but who used to potter down to thepractices on a Wednesday, for a chinwag.(See photographs above and below). Manystories he told me of ringing in the 1920swhile we waited in the lychgate for Tom toarrive on his bicycle, to the accompanimentof savoury smells from the nearby restaurantkitchen! Another notable character, not arelative of anyone else was Bill Picthall,always known as Bill P. He was anothernotable ringer, who did most of theconducting in the more advanced ringingmethods. Elsie Savory, a stalwart of theLadies Guild, was a regular ringer. though ayoung son cut into the amount of time shecould give to ringing. This was even moretrue of Barbara Wright who had two youngdaughters and whom I only met on rareoccasions. Charlie Poulter proved to be aninteresting 'family' link of a sort for me, as heworked at King & Hutchings (the printers inUxbridge) along with four of my uncles andtwo of our Iver bellringers. Charlie was aremarkably reliable ringer. He had a slight'mal' which caused him not quite to 'blackout' occasionally, but to go into a sort oflimbo. If this happened while he wasringing, you could see his face go ratherblank and his eyes flicker, but he kept onringing (on 'auto pilot' as it were) withoutlosing his place. When his mind 'returned' hewould be exactly in the right place and all butunaware of the 'happening'.

It really was a family club, the pity being thatthey had become discouraged with teachingyoungsters who didn't stick at ringing. Frommy own fifty years experience of thisexasperating waste of effort I can sympathisemore nowadays with their unwillingness totrain any more youngsters. They could ringjust about anything. however complex, buttended to reminisce rather than ring onpractice nights. Such learners as were taken


Journal 200514

on (including some Girl Guides put forwardby Barbara I believe) were taught by Jack andBill Bunce and Bill P, with a little diffidenthelp from myself (at Bill P's request).Unfortunately once they had achieved theirRinging Badges, there were too many otherattractions for the girls and they stoppedcoming, thus confirming the gloomypredictions of the older ringers ("They'll notstay").

However this state of affairs was extremelylucky for me! I had learned to ring at Iver(my home tower) and was loyal to them onSundays and Mondays (practice night) butthey only rang rounds and call-changes and Iwanted to learn change-ringing. I washelped in this by the ringers of St Margaret's,Uxbridge, who were training a new band andI learned my elementary change-ringingunder their guidance. One Wednesday Iwent over to the practice at Ruislip; itinvolved a two mile walk to the train andthence out to Ruisllp with a walk the entirelength of the long high street to St Martin's.Reversed on the return journey of course.However the Ruislip 'old boys' were verywelcoming and exerted themselves to ringfor me, in fact BillP remarked that they'd notrung as much for years! They invited me toreturn on practice nights, whenever I felt likeit, which I did. This was too good to miss!Shortly I passed my driving test and was ableto borrow my Dad's car to attend onWednesdays. They taught me everythingthey knew and I progressed from Stedman(which I'd wanted to learn) to Treble Bob (notwildly interesting) to Double Norwich(wonderful bell-music!) and to SuperlativeSurprise, which they considered to be thequeen of bell methods. I was very luckyindeed, quite spoiled in fact, because I thinkmy learning gave them a 'focus'.

Ruislip bells were not easy to ring in thosedays. Operating from the ground floor therewas a 20ft rope drop from the ceiling abovewhich made them extremely difficult tohandle. Rope guides to eliminate thisproblem were not installed until much later(as Ron details in his history). So it was withsome trepidation that I took my part inhelping to train the Girl Guides, having nevertaught anyone before. However Bill P

pushed me into it and it gave me a goodbeginning. They always said that if youcould teach someone to handle a bell atRuislip, they'd be able to ring anywhere andthat was true, I think. My biggestdisappointment at Ruislip was in losing athree hour peal on these difficult ropes afterringing for 2 hrs 50 minutes. We were in thelast part when the tenor rope broke, and thatwas that!

My most treasured 'ring' after that was beinginvited to ring in the quarter-peal rung by thelocal band for Tom and Mrs Collins' GoldenWedding anniversary, which Bill Picthallconducted. {Seelater commemoration record)Another joyous occasion was being asked tohelp with ringing for a Confirmation servicetaken by the Bishop of Kensington. Thecurrent Ruisllp clergy were not anti-ringing,but they were disinterested and so it wasamusing to us when the Bishop appeared,with the clergy in tow, as we were about tostart ringing for the service. He was himselfa ringer and asked if he might ring with us.Naturally we were delighted and even moreso when he asked to ring 'Double Norwich'.He turned to the clergy and said "Youneedn'twait, I'll come and find you when I'm ready".I think he enjoyed it, because he rang right upto the time we stopped, five minutes beforethe service, and the clergy were hoveringaround by this time, desperate to get him torobe! It was a bit naughty of him to cut it sofine but even then he insisted on shakinghands with every member of the band.Harry Ive was a small man, bubbling overwith humour. He usually rang the treble(lightest) bell and was an expert at loweringit in peal, leading the other bells down, whichhe did faster than I've ever encountered inany other tower. He lived in Ladygate Laneand I used to drop him off in the car, after thepractice. I was surprised when he told methat as a thatcher he had more work in theRuislip area than he could cope with! I don'tthink he was pulling my leg though he mighthave been.

There was a nationally famous ringer, WilfridWilson, who lived in Ruislip but rang atEaling. He was well versed in ringing theoryand had a gift for written explanations of thecomplexities of composition. .He had


Journal 200515

contributed to several books on ringing andlater published his own excellent book'Change Ringing'. Unfortunately he had nosense of humour (essential at Ruislip) andtook himself very seriously. This did notendear him to the Ruislip ringers of the 60sand they gossiped more than ever (Le. littleringing was done). If he turned up to apractice, and was conducting, they used tocleverly switch courses on him, so that hiscompositions would go wrong. He wasclever enough to spot the mistakes andrebuked them but never seemed to grasp thatthey didn't go wrong when anyone else wasconducting. He also disliked their fastlowering of the bells and would try to takethe treble from Harry Ive to lead down at asedate pace. If he did this, Harry would takethe second and proceed to lead down at hisusual breakneck speed, leaving the treble

Back Row

Bill Bunceunknown

Wm. Bunce Sr.Tom CollinsBill Picthall

Charlie Poulter

toiling far behind. I sometimes felt a bitguilty at enjoying this misbehaviour, since Iwas using Wilfrid's articles in 'The RingingWorld' to supply the theory to my learning'Surprise' methods (very complex) with theRuislip band.

The years 1960 - 64 were very wonderful tome and I regretted that my studies forced meto give up attending. I was very glad whenElsie Savory asked me circa 1980to help lanRees and Graham Ivory train the new ringers(who included Ron and Audrey Andrewsand Patricia Grisdale). Although all the 'oldboys' were gone, except for Charlie, Jack andBill Bunce, it gave me the opportunity torepay just little of the trouble they had takenwith my education!, and how pleasing it wasthat so many of those taught continued withtheir ringing.

RUISLIP, MIDDLESEXMIDDLESEX COUNTY ASSN. & LONDON DIOCESAN GUILD

On Friday 24 May 1963, in 47 minutesAT THE CHURCH OF ST. MARTIN

A QUARTER PEAL OF 1264 PLAIN BOB MAJORTenor 12Ih ewt.

HARRY lYE Treble JOHN BUNCE 5ELSIE SAVORY 2 WlLLIAM BUNCE 6DAYID ROWLANDS 3 RUSSEL G01HAM 7CHARLES POULTER 4 WlLLIAM PlCTHALL Tenor

Conducted by WILLIAM PlCTHALLRung in honour of the Golden Wedding ofMr. And Mrs. Tom Collins.

with the best wishes of the band and A. Hunter.


16

Front Row

Norman Genna(Pinner)

Reg KillbyGeorge KillbyElsie Savory

Miss BraybrookeFrank Corke(Uxbridge)

Journal 2005

STARTING FROM SCRATCHScratch Dials and St. Martin's Church

by Valery Cowley

In St. Martin's Church, Ruislip, beneath theSouth Aisle window second from the east, setone inch deep into the plaster, is a stoneapproximately nine and a half by twelve anda half inches. Beneath an overlay of verticalridges can be detected a horizontal indentedline which has six radiating scratched linesabove it and four or five below with a halfinch diameter hole in the centre. This isprobably a scratch dial, one of about twothousand that survive in Britain.

A circle about five and a half inches indiameter was scratched in stone, probably bythe sexton or priest. Their great varietydefies classification but their commonfeatures are a central hole (average half aninch in diameter) for the wooden or metalgnomon or style, originally a stick inserted atright angles to the face. This would have casta shadow onto a surface divided intosegments by scratched radiating lines. Nooriginal gnomon survives, for metal or woodbroken off at the wall face may be a plug for ametal style. Like early sundials scratch dialswere inaccurate for the whole year.

Unlike sundials scratch dials do not markdaylight hours but indicate times of churchservices, for example 9am Mass, 2 or 3pmVespers, with occasionally a noon line(Angelus?) and other significant times.

Scratch dials were used in England from theNorman Conquest to the Reformation (whenMass and Vespers were no longer usual) andalso found in Normandy. In rebuilding andrestoring churches old dials may be reused inodd places, as is evidenced by the mortaradhering to the ridges in the St Martin'sexample. As there are no noticeabledifferences between early and late dials,dating by design is impossible.

Scratch dials were Originally located wherethe sun shone and the priest and publicwalked, usually near south entrances or on acorner near an approaching footpath. Onchurches with north doors, dials are usuallyon the nearest south face. Occasionally theyare on porches built later. They should berecorded as part of the church fabric lest theybe forgotten. It is curious that the radiatinglines in the St Martin's example continue onto the cill above.

Below the westernmost window on the SouthAisle wall, set half an inch into the plaster is astone offering a face seven by seven by sevenby five and three-quarter inches, towards thebottom of which is inscribed a circle threeinches in diameter. There is a shallow hole inthe centre from which wavering lines radiatewhich suggests an attempt to copy a Massdial or maybe a mason's mark.

On the cill on the easternmost window of theNorth Aisle wall is cut a shield with a circleat its centre surrounded by a triangularformation of three crosses. No heraldicinterpretation fits. Symbolically a circledenotes perfection and three crosses the HolyTrinity: thus Three in One. Who carved thisand when is a mystery. Perhaps it dates from18or 19Cuse as a school.

References

Christopher St. ]. H. Daniel,Sundials, Shire Album 176(available from the Priory Bookshop, Ruislip)

Robert 1.E. Haynes,Scratch Dials in A Book ofKeevil, Vol. 1, 1990

17Ruislip, Northwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

Journal 2005

THE RISE AND FALL OF KELVIN HOUSE SCHOOL

by Mary Pache and Christopher Sparks

Kelvin House was one of the more successfulprivate schools which flourished in thedistrict in the first half of the 20th Century.Successful that is, in popularity with parents.There was a 'well-equipped gymnasium'which doubled as a hall for various uses anda rented playing field ten minutes walkaway, but inspectors refused officialrecognition. They found that instruction inEnglish, French and Latin was less thanperfect, and unearthed an undercovermanipulation of Physiology to serve as sexinstruction. They advised the Head to stickto Nature Study, no doubt forgetting thepossibilities of the birds and the bees.

The school was founded circa 1914 in KingEdward's Road, Ruislip by Canon lamesCameron Todd and his wife, Aileen, aqualified Froebel-trained teacher. The Canonwas influenced by the personality and

. learning of his professor at EdinburghUniversity, Lord Kelvin, and paid him thecompliment of naming the school in hishonour. When Emily Wilding Davis, adedicated suffragette, threw herself in thepath of the King's horse it is believed thatCanon Todd agreed to conduct the funeralservice as other clerics were reluctant to beassociated with the perceived suicide. Canonand Mrs. Todd's daughter, lean, wrote thechildren's page in the Middlesex Chronicleand was a contributory writer to the RupertBear series.

Richard and Patricia Ewer, grandchildren oflames Ewer, were pupils at Kelvin House.Richard's daughter recollects that her father'senjoyment of school life may have beentempered by the presence of Ewer aunts wholived in the house opposite and kept a closeeye. She has a postcard from Aileen Todd toPatricia dated 1934, an indication that theteacher-pupil relationship became an adultfriendship. The next Head, Charis Brophy,was married to [ohn Brophy, the author of astring of popular novels in the 'thirties.

His daughter, Brigid, born in 1929, meritsan entry in Margaret Drabble's OxfordCompanion to English Literature as author offive novels and two biographies, but herfather does not. I found no entries for fatheror daughter in biographical dictionaries andno evidence that Charis Brophy was hermother.

Most of the pupils were evacuated at thebeginning of the Second World War but theGateway School was founded by Miss Panterto cater for the ones who stayed in Ruislip.After using the Methodist Church Hall inIckenham Road and St. Martin's ChurchRooms in Bury Street the Gateway settledin the former Kelvin House premises inKing Edward's Road. After two changes ofownership it closed in 1977.

Mary Pache

Sources:

Cherry Bowen, daughter of Richard EwerThe Oxford Companion toEnglish Literature.Ed. Margaret Drabble OUP 1995The Three Rs in RUislip and DistrictRNELHS 1992

Christopher Sparks was a pupil at KelvinHouse School and has written the followingaccount of his impressions of the school.

THE LIFE OF A BOY AT A GIRLS SCHOOL

My education started in the early thirties atKelvin House, King Edward' s Road, Ruislip.This was principally a girls' school but inthose days it had a class of mixed infants.I, being a boy, was, of course, a mixed infant.

If you'd asked me at the time whether I likedbeing a boy at a girls' school, I don't knowhow I'd have answered. My memories ofwhat went on are very minimal and relateonly to the bad things I didn't like. The majorone being that the school had a large gardenat the back round which there was a runningtrack. The first 'chore' of the day was to take


Journal 200518

off our jackets and run round it. This I foundvery hard going and didn't enjoy it at all.Then there was an incident which sticks outvery clearly in my memory. It was a musiclesson which was held in a large hall,possibly a gymnasium. I recall I was notallowed to have a decent instrument like adrum or a trumpet, but only a triangle.I suspect that one day I must have created abit of a scene over this because I was made tosit out the lesson in an adjacent cloakroom.The punishment was aggravated by pupilsfrom other classes coming to taunt me.

Something that rather puzzles me is themeans by which I got to school. I recallcycling there from Elm Avenue with mymother, a long way for a four or five-year-old. There was however some reason why Iwas not allowed to leave my cycle at schoolwhile I was there. This is apparently becausemy mother arranged a deal with the UnitedDairies shop at the corner of Ickenham Road,the premises now occupied by an estateagent. In the morning she would drop me offat school and then walk the bike to the shop.After school I would have to walk to the shopand retrieve the bike from behind thecounter. I don't remember how long thiswent on for, but think it probably stopped atthe first Christmas. I remember we cycledwhen there were snow flurries coming downand being told on arrival that I looked like asnowman. But when the snow was on theground I was definitely walking because Irecall that one day we passed a horse-drawnmilk cart. The horse was having greatdifficulty in pulling the cart through thesnow so the driver was hitting it with a stick.My mother told the man off for being cruel.

Something about which my memory is a bitvague is the school games. I believe that itwas while I was at this school that on certainafternoons we decamped and went to a fieldoff Bury Street behind where the YouthCentre is now. I have a suspicion that ourclass was only there to watch as I don't recalltaking part in any games, but just sitting by alarge fallen tree stump, sometimes doinghandstands to relieve the boredom. It alwaysseemed to be very hot, so it must have onlyhappened in the summer terms. After being

released from the school's jurisdiction, lifewas made more exciting because on the wayhome we used to go and watch the farrierhammering out horseshoes and if we werelucky there'd be a horse there. The farrier'sworkshop was where the duck pond is now.

I have been able to locate the six reportscovering my time at Kelvin House(September 1932-Augllst 1934, see below).The only additional memories reading thesebring back is a short flash of a reading lessonand time spent winding raffia round a pieceof cardboard. (Hardly momentous events?)The reports do, however, reveal someinteresting facts.

Mrs. A. M. Cameron Todd was the Principalthroughout this period and she took the classfor writing and reading. In my case I suspectshe got some help with the reading from theDaily Mail. I was an ardent reader of theTeddy Tail cartoons and annuals and was amember of the Bear's Club. The othersubjects -Scripture, Arithmetic, History,Nature Study, Brushwork and Handworkwere taught by various teachers who had theinitials H.R./G.B.lD.E.M, but I am unable toput a name, face, or sex to any of them.

Another thing the reports show is that thepupils' health was high on the agenda.At the beginning and end of each term wewere duly weighed and measured.Apparently when I started school inSeptember '32 I was 3ft. 9114inches tall andweighed 3stone 7lbs. And by the time I leftin December '34 I had grown to be 4ft. 2114inches tall and weighed 4stone 31/ 4lbs. Theschool reports also had a tear-off strip at thebottom which had to be signed by the parentsto certify that their little darling 'has not beenexposed to any infection at any time duringthe Term.' Does this reflect the fact that thereweren't any MMRjabs or equivalent in thosedays?

Were these the 'happiest days of my life'?Well, I don't remember not wanting to go toschool and my conduct was alwaysreported to be good or excellent, so perhapsmy time as a boy in a girls' school might nothave been too bad.


Journal 200519

34 OXFORD DRIVE, EASTCOTE

The Everyday Story of a House

by Roger Smith

Introduction

After my father died in 1984I was given anenvelope that contained all the letters anddocuments appertaining to my parents home.This is the story of the house as gleaned fromthe letters and documents! found in thatenvelope, and is in part a personalpilgrimage as I learnt so much about thehouse and my parents and the age in whichthey lived. Number 34 Oxford Drive,Eastcote was my parents' first and onlymarital home and where my brother and Iwere born and grew up.

Background

The original centre of Eastcote was about onemile north of the present site of EastcoteStation. It was part of the parish and manorof Ruislip and was situated on the road fromthere to Pinner. The area in Victorian timeswas dominated by three large houses,Hayden Hall, Eastcote House and HighgroveHouse. Following the opening of EastcoteHalt in 1906, suburban developmentgradually started. By the early 1930shousingboth sides of Field End Road had beencompleted as had the development of theshopping centre to the north of the Station.

The development known as Oxford Drivetook place in 1939in the open space betweenWhitby Road and the Yeading Brook. It wasto this green field site, in an area that hadchanged from a rural economy to adeveloping urban conurbation, that StellaWalsh and Arthur Smith came on 29 April1940looking for their first home together.

The walk down from Eastcote Station wasthrough an avenue of trees, past open spaces,and modern family houses set back from theroad with wide pavements and frontgardens. Despite now being an urban area, itmust have retained a great deal of its originalrural character.

For them Eastcote must have represented avast improvement when compared to theircurrent homes at either end of WembleyHigh Road.

Stella lived in a ground floor flat with herparents in Wembley backing onto thecemetery of Wembley Parish Church. Herparents were working class; her father bornin Gateshead had served in the ColdstreamGuards during the 1914-18war; outside hisarmy service he worked as a labourer invarious industries. Stella's mother, Ellen,was born in a small village in Bedfordshireand had various kinds of domestic work.The houses in Wembley were probably builtin the 1860swith a small front yard of aboutfour feet width, the front door leadingstraight into a passageway with a door on theleft. After this room, which was mymother's, came the staircase which gaveaccess to the flat upstairs. Further down thepassageway there was another bedroom,followed by a toilet with a hand basin, but nobath or hot water. Under the stairs was thecoalhole. The scullery followed with a doorgiving access to the rear garden. In it was astone sink, large in area but shallow, withonly a cold water tap. A large copper gasboiler alongside the sink provided all the hotwater in the flat and a draining boardcompleted the scullery. The back room wentacross the house with a window overlookingthe garden. In here there was a gas cooker,dining table and chairs and two small 'easy'chairs, it was in this room where theycooked, ate and generally lived. The weeklybath was in the tin bath, brought in from thegarden and put in front of the fire, the hotwater coming from the copper boiler in thescullery. The only entertainment was a radiopowered by accumulators, as there was noelectricity in the flat. Gas, from a penny prepayment meter, remained the sole source ofheating, lighting and cooking whilst mygrandparents lived there, my grandmother

Ruislip. Northwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

Journal 200521

leaving in 1956. The family that lived in theupstairs flat used the same front door andhad to walk past Stella's bedroom door to getto the staircase. If they wanted to hang theirwashing out in the garden they had to walkalong the passageway and through thescullery. It was a good job that the twofamilies where friends and not theneighbours from hell!

Arthur lived at Wembley Hill in a house builtin the early 1920s. Although it was terracedit was relatively modern with all the normalconveniences. The front and back gardenswere small, the rear one being overlooked byhouses in the parallel road; I remember it wasvery mature with plenty of trees. Across therear of the house, supported on three ironcolumns, was a sloping glass roof; on theground underneath was an area of black andwhite tiles laid in a diamond formation, thisstyle of tiling was reflected in the kitchen andhall. Arthur's mother had died when he wasvery young. During the 1914-18war, whilsthis father was away serving in the RFC as adriver, Arthur and his two elder sisters werein a children's home at Wheathampstead.Arthur's aunt, whenever circumstancesallowed, acted as a mother to Arthur and hissisters. After the war Arthur's father starteda taxi business with his older brother.

The House

It was from Wembley that Stella and Arthurcame on that April day. From Field EndRoad it was a short walk along Whitby Roadpast more open spaces to Oxford Drive. Theoriginal development was, as far as I know,eight pairs of three bedroom semi-detachedhouses. The road was bounded on the southby Yeading Brook with strips of open landeither side making a very pleasant walkwayalong both sides of the water. At the timethey visited, or shortly after, it would havebeen growing crops as part of the 'Dig forVictory' campaign.

It would appear thatStella and Arthur wereoriginally inspecting No. 28 Oxford Drive butprobably this was the plot number. Theyeventually moved into No. 30, which at an

unknown date was changed to 34. The housemust have impressed them, for a letter fromW. C. Estates, the developers, to Arthur thenext day, 30 April, informed him of theresearch they had already conducted withbuilding societies.It seems that Arthur'swages at this timewere insufficient to repay a mortgage of thenormal size for a house of this price, £595.He could afford the repayments of £3 2s 6dper month on an advance of £500repaid overa period of 22 years 8 months. Having adeposit of £95 or around 15%, and meetingthe other costs involved shows that Arthurand Stella had, for that era, considerablesavings. On 29 April Arthur sent a moneyorder to W. C. Estates for £5 as a deposit,which was acknowledged on 1 May withtheir official receipt. From all thecorrespondence it is apparent that theiroriginal intention was to purchase and notrent the property.

34 Oxford Drive in 1989,as built in 1940except for the uPVC windows and door.The garage belongs to the neighbour.


Journal 200522

However, two days later W. G. Estates wroteto Arthur giving him 14 days to make up hismind about proceeding with the purchase, asthey could not retain the house indefinitely.It is not clear why W. G. Estates should, afteronly two days, resort to such strongmeasures, although a subsequent letterpoints out it was the last property to bedisposed of in that development. Arthur'sreply, of which a pencil draft exists,expressed surprise at the 14day deadline andsaid that there would be a delay of a fewweeks for a report from the Army MedicalBoard. Arthur had some years previouslysuffered an industrial accident in which helost 3Y2 fingers on his left hand, and it was forthis reason that the Board was reviewing hiscase. Presumably the Board concluded thatArthur was unfit for active service, as he didnot serve in the armed forces during the war,but as a firewatcher in the in City.

By 7 June 1940the negotiations for the housepurchase were back on, but by 18 June thishad been replaced by a proposal to rent thehouse with an option to purchase in sixmonths. Why did they change their minds,having agreed a mortgage with monthlyrepayments that were less than the rentalfigure agreed?

June 1940 'was a very unsettling anddangerous time, the threat of a Germaninvasion, the start of the Battle of Britain, andthe ever-present threat of bombing. The RAFStation at Northolt was only two miles awayand any raid on Northolt could have beendangerous, bomb aiming was an imprecisescience. In addition to the war situation theGeneral Depression of the 1930s wasprobably still fresh in their memories.Although never spoken about in my presenceI would have thought the depression wouldhave affected Stella far more than Arthur.However, their change of mind cannot betotally explained by the war situation ormemories of the depression, as it would nothave been so very different two weeks earlierwhen they were going to purchase the house.Perhaps it was natural prudence or caution.

The rental negotiations proceeded quickly.In a letter of 18 June, W. G. Estates detailedthe rent, the proposed cost of purchasing thehouse in six months time (which had risen to£795)and the cost and details of alterations tothe kitchen and lounge that Arthur and Stellawanted. Arthur and Stella accepted thisagreement. but did not buy the house untilover 30years later. There is no paperwork onfile to explain why the property was not soldafter six months or why the tenancy 'rolledon' after the stipulated 12months.

The changes they specified, which cost £20,were to move the rear door of the house fromopening onto the shared driveway to openinginto the enclosed rear garden, and to brick upthe arch between the dining room and loungeto give two separate rooms. Whether thesechange were their idea or not I cannot say,but I do not remember any house on thatdevelopment having a door opening onto theshared driveway, so other properties mayhave already had this alteration.

Renting

The Rental Agreement commenced on the 1August 1940,and stipulated that for the firstfour weeks the weekly rental will be 32s 6d,'provided that after the expiration of the first fourweeks of the said term and so long thereafter asthe present state of war between Gt. Britain andGermany shall continue or after the first fourweeks of the said term and during the remainderof the first 12 months thereof (whichever periodwill be the longer) the landlord will accept insatisfaction of the said weekly rent twenty sevenshillings and sixpence.' The exception to theforegoing would be any increase in Generalrates, Poor Rates or Water Rates. It came as asurprise to see that in 1940 there was areference to The Poor Rate and thathouseholders were expected to pay via theirrates.

Stella and Arthur were married on the 31August 1940 at the Parish Church inWembley. The Rev. Silvester the father of theDance Band Leader Victor Silvesterconducted the ceremony.


Journal 200523

Stella and Arthur c1938

The house in Oxford Drive was a semi-detached property, one of eight pairs built.Between each pair of houses was a shareddriveway, wide enough for one car, but therewere no garages. There was a comparativelylarge front garden and a 65 feet rear garden,which backed onto the banks of the YeadingBrook. Upstairs there were two large andone small bedroom, a bathroom and separatetoilet. On the ground floor there was an areafor cloaks, a cupboard under the stairs,separate lounge and dining room and a'galley' kitchen with a large walk-in larder.A built-in cupboard unit in the kitchenincorporated a fold-down table, which couldaccommodate three people, but when in useprevented people from getting into or out ofthe room. As the kitchen had a small boilerused for heating the hot water it was a 'snug'room and I used it for homework inpreference to any other room in the house.

The kitchen was the only room in the housethat would look outdated in the modernhouse.

Subsequent years saw several rent increases,the first being in April 1945and later anothergoverned by the 1957 Rent Act. This Actdetermined the weekly rent at £1-14s-7d plusrates. This rent remained unchanged until1971 when the Rent Officer of the LondonBorough of Hillingdon set a new Fair Rent of£5.75, arising out of section 45(2) of theHousing Act 1969, after consulting bothparties.

Throughout the rental period there wereongoing discussions with regard tomaintenance problems. Some of theanimosity that is apparent in the letters isundoubtedly due to the ambiguity of therental agreement regarding who wasresponsible for maintenance. Thecorrespondence relates to the garden fence,rainwater gutters, the common driveway andkitchen taps, among other matters.

Buying

Throughout the rental period there wereseveral offers from the landlord for Arthur tobuy the property. The rent was presumablynot giving a sufficient return on the capitaltied up in the property. In 1956, W. G.Investment Trust appeared to be consideringselling their whole portfolio, certainly allproperties in the Eastcote area. Arthur wasprobably not able to consider purchasing hishome for financial reasons. Around this timeStella started work as a home help, and mybrother and I were aware that money was notplentiful but we certainly do not recall goingwithout. We had a television by that date,bought like many for the Coronation in 1953,and a Dansette auto-change record player,bought as a family Christmas present. Wealso had holidays in Jersey every two yearsbut this was only made possible by the factthat we paid only 10% of the airfare, asArthur by this date worked for BritishEuropean Airways.


Journal 200524

On the 21 November 1964W.G. Investmentswrote a letter to all their tenants in Eastcoteinforming them they wanted to sell theirproperties in the area, preferably to theexisting tenants. This proposal met withArthur's approval and the next letter on fileis dated 15 December 1964 from theBEA Welfare Officer, secretary to theHouse Mortgage Committee. The proposedpurchase price of £3000was later reduced to£2750 less an allowance of £150 forrenovations and repairs, but on 10April 1965Arthur wrote to his solicitor telling them thathe was reluctantly having to pull out of thedeal. This was necessary because Stella hadbeen admitted to Mount Vernon Hospital on15 February with what was thought to be a'nervous breakdown'. I hope it was only acoincidence that on that Monday, I hadannounced to my parents that I was gettingmarried, to Jean, whom I had met theprevious Christmas morning.

Although Stella was home by the 10 April,Arthur felt he could not take on the extrafinancial commitment of a mortgage as wellas engaging domestic help to ensure Stellamade a proper recovery. Financially Arthurwas probably better off than in previousyears as one of his sons had left home, andthe other was working and making a smallcontribution to the household budget. As aresult of the failure to sell the house toArthur, W. G. Estates sold the property toSeru Investments who became the newlandlord in January 1966. The agent actingon behalf of Seru was Douglas Lansdown &Company.

Arthur finally bought the property in 1975without the complication of a mortgage. Hehad recently been made redundant from BEAor British Airways as it was by then. Part ofhis redundancy payment was used to meetthe purchase price of £6500.

The first alteration they made ashomeowners was to replace the existingwooden front door with a new plasticversion. A great deal of work was thencarried out inside 34 Oxford Drive includingre-wiring, providing hot water to the kitchen

sink and replacing the metal Crittallwindows with plastic double glazing.

Other changes were made in the house up tomy father's death in 1984, but nothing of astructural nature. My parents were contentto enjoy their retirement and savings in thecomfort of their home, with an annualforeign holiday made possible by the verycheap airfares available to Arthur as a BApensioner. In 1989,after a struggle against illhealth, my mother decided she could nolonger look after herself and went to livetemporarily with my brother and his wife attheir home in North Wales, but within aweek of arriving there she had died.

The house was sold in September 1990 for£92,000, after going on the market inNovember 1989 for £103,500.This sum stillseems vast when compared to the 1940asking price of £595, the 1964asking price of£2600and the 1975purchase price of £6500.

Conclusions

In writing this story it was my only intentionto record the facts about 34 Oxford Drive asshown by the correspondence that had beenretained. I realised that the paperwork wasnot unique but unusual for a property of thistype. I hope I have achieved the telling of astory about a suburban semi from being builtin such a historic period through to its sale in1989. What I have learnt about Arthur andStella in telling this story re-enforces what Ialways thought of them. They were acautious couple not prone to taking quickdecisions. Always leaning towards cautionrather than rashness but with a quietdetermination to do right for themselves andtheir family. Although it does not show inthe records Stella was the stronger of the twowith a clear picture of the direction theywanted to travel. Arthur was not a weakcharacter: he was quiet but resolute andcould always see clearly what he should bedoing for the family's benefit.

The house was, when built, a modern familyhome in a quiet road, ideal for raising afamily. It was not designed for every home


Journal 200525

having a car let alone multiple car ownership.As children we could safely play on the streetonly occasionally getting out of the way of amotor vehicle, most of which were used bytradesmen and delivery drivers. On a visit Imade to Oxford Drive in 2003, cars wereparked down both sides of the road and therewas barely enough room for a car to passthrough, let alone enough room for a game offootball. The shared driveway is now a

hindrance. My mother's front garden hadbeen concreted over for car parking! On thatvisit there was no yearning to have a lookinside, as I had no desire to have mychildhood memories shattered by seeingsomebody else's changes - the front gardenwas enough! The estate agents' particulars of1989called the house a 'golden opportunity';was it the same in 19407 - I think so!

26

1 All documents pertaining to the article are being placed in the local history collection of the Ruislip,Northwood and Eastcote Local History Society, currently stored at Manor Farm Library, Ruislip.


Journal 2005

KATHLEEN HOAD - DANCER AND TEACHER OF EASTCOTE

by Mary Pache

Over the years there have been variousdancing schools in the neighbourhood forgirls, and boys if they could be persuaded tojoin up. One school in particular wasbrought to the attention of our Society by thelate [im Golland of the Pinner group. He hadbeen approached by an Eastcote resident todiscuss a collection of photographs andmemorabilia that had come into hispossession. It had reached him through hisfriendship with his recently deceasedneighbour, Kathleen Hoad, who had been theproprietor of a dancing school at theLowlands club for forty years or more. Thecollection consists of fourteen enlargementson heavy card each measuring 20 x 16inches, five albums, loose items, showprogrammes and qualification certificates.The photographs are mostly of pupils in theirshow costumes but with no identification.There are also a few of Kathleen and herparents. Her brother, William, was thephotographer so he is the unseen member ofthe family.

Come with me to Eastcote in the earlynineteen thirties, in spirit, if you havememories of your own, or in imagination ifyour acquaintance with the neighbourhood ismore recent. The schoolboy reminiscences ofthe late Ron Edwards present a differentpicture from the one we see today. Heenjoyed the freedom of roaming in the fieldswhere The Chase now stands, andremembers being startled by the suddenflight of a covey of partridges rising from theBoldmere Avenue that was still in the future.He and his friends made the most of theponds in the rural scene, especially the one atthe corner of Cheney Street where theywatched frogs and newts, and built rafts.The safety culture had not yet developed andthe boys made adventure playgrounds of thebuilding sites that were springing up allaround the area, and made use of therunning boards on the sides of the trains

when the vehicle had begun to move off andthey were late for school.

Ron Edward's parents like Kathleen Hoad'sand many others came to live in this demi-paradise in the nineteen-twenties. By 1934when she was twelve Kathleen was a starpupil at Miss Merle Delamere's PinnerDancing School, and appeared in the localpaper with her teacher and a fellow pupil, allgracefully posed. Both girls were highachievers and had just passed examinationsthat entitled them to put the letters MAOD,Member of the Association of OperaticDancers, after their names. Kathleen'scertificates are part of the source materialand show that this Association became theRoyal Academy of Dancing in 1935 withQueen Mary as patron.

Kathleen opened her own school in 1940 atthe beginning of the war, not a propitioustime for such a venture. Bombs were falling;one fell too close for comfort at the corner ofField End Road and Deane Avenue and waspowerful enough to demolish a big house.Wartime rationing of clothes and fabricsmade it difficult to produce costumes forshows; unrationed blackout material wasused with whatever coloured trimmingswere available, and even paper, but that wasin short supply too. However, the schoolsurvived and became prosperous after 1945.An undated business card with a pre 1960airabout it states that class lessons cost tenshillings for ten while the same term ofprivate ones was twenty-five shillings. Italso adds that Kathleen was, I quote, 'late ofthe Sokolova School'*. Lydia Sokolovastarted life as Hilda Munnings of Wansteadbut took on Russian identity sowholeheartedly that it was said she couldcurse in that language. After a brilliant andsuccessful, but often gruelling, life as aninternational dancer with legendary namessuch as Pavlova, Nijinsky, Diaghilev and


Journal 200527

Massine she became a teacher in her latteryears.

An earlier local school, based in theforerunner of St. Martin's Hall, opened in1931. We know no more about the success orotherwise of this enterprise but there is asnippet of information about the proprietor,Miss Nora Fenwick. She also had prestigiousconnections as a pupil of Madame [udithEspinosa who was on the council of theRoyal Academy of Dancing, mentionedabove, along with Ninette de Valois andAnton Dolin.

Kathleen's shows were a shop window forher school, and various charities benefitedfrom the proceeds -RAF Benevolent Funds,the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the OldContemptibles' Association and RuislipManor Residents. They were held in variousplaces -RAFWest Ruislip, the Station Cinemaat RAF Uxbridge, the Stationery Officecanteen at Harrow and local school halls.Apart from the pantomime, 'Babes in theWood', the shows followed the Palace ofVariety pattern with a series of acts byindividual performers. One programmeindicates that by 1955 Kathleen had openedanother school venue at Rayners Lane.

Former pupils have spoken of theiraffectionate memories of a gentle lady whodrew out the talent of her pupils. Most ofthem enjoyed dancing as a recreationalhobby but some won certificates from theImperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, onewas a Tiller Girl for fourteen years, onebecame a Bluebell with the famous troupe oftall dancers and another was Petula Clark'sunderstudy. Although talented, Kathleendid not attempt to dance professionallyherself. It was suggested to me that she wastoo tall, although this would have fulfilledthe requirement of the Bluebells. One formerpupil spoke of Kathleen's reservedpersonality, which was perhaps the mainreason why the prospect of leaving thebosom of the close-knit family for thehazards of professional life did not appeal toher.

Her mother supported the schoolwholeheartedly and involved herself in theback up activities of playing the piano andhelping the mothers in making complicatedcostumes for the shows. There is a generoustribute to the needlework skill of the motherson one of the programmes. Mrs. Wallis co-operated with the musical side of thebusiness, she and her orchestra supportedthe dancers at shows.

Kathleen' s brother, William, was a dedicatedand skilled amateur photographer. He isresponsible for the photographs that werepassed to [lm Golland through neighbourswho, with a former pupil, cared for herin her last years. The pupil relates howWilliam was a self-taught expert intrick photography. He could transposebackgrounds and faces long beforecomputers made such feats simple. Sheremembers in particular the merging of aphoto of herself with one of a cup and saucerso that she appeared to be sitting in the cup.Unfortunately we do not have that one in thecollection.

Mother, father and brother died leavingKathleen on her own from 1989, and therewere no relatives. I have tried to identify thedancers in the photographs, with the help offour former pupils who recognizedthemselves and some others, but mostremain anonymous. The selection Idisplayed at a Society meeting did not revealany further identities, but the photographsare in the possession of the Society so we canonly hope for more information about themand Kathleen Hoad's school.

*Information from Balletomania (Circa 1933)andBa11etomania - Then and NowArnold Haskell (1977)(supplied by Valery Cowley)


Journal 200528

RUISLIP, NORTHWOOD & EASTCOTE

A PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF LIFE IN 2000 - 2001

In order to mark the Millennium, ColleenCox, Sylvia Ladyman, Denise Shackell andKaren Spink decided to produce aphotographic record of life at this period.Consequently, photographs were taken ofplaces of worship, shops, housing, children atschool, leisure activities, different methods oftransport and communication, and thegeneral environment.

A careful selection was made and theresulting collection contained in twophotograph albums with a short descriptionnext to each photograph. The two albumsare presently available for reference in theLocal History Room at Ruislip Library toRNELHS Members producing a currentmembership card.

S.L.

29Ruis1ip, Northwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

10urna12005

SOCIETY OUTINGS 2005

Organised and reported by Sylvia Ladyman

Docklands walk - 21 May

On a very windy day, 25 members met at theMuseum in Docklands for a most interestingtour of the area led by Nick Tallentyre, a BlueBadge guide. The museum itself is in theNo. 1 Warehouse in the West India Docksthat once held vast quantities of rum, sugar,molasses, coffee and cotton from West Indianslave plantations. This building and No. 2Warehouse are the sole surviving Georgiandock warehouses in any British seaport.Around them huge skyscrapers pierce theskyline. Amazingly some are already due fordemolition as they are not high enough!Land is so precious that their footprintsbecome more and more valuable. We weretold of the immense care in choice ofmaterials and design of the buildings thattook place during the development of thearea.

Abbey of Bee churches tour -18June

In the 11C Ernulf de Hesdin gave the Manorof Ruislip to the Norman Abbey of Bec. Itwas not the only English property owned bythe Abbey, there were 26 manors, 17 with achurch and seven other churches. Most ofthe manors were administered by thepriories, one at Ruislip, the other atOgbourne. Later, Ruislip became the onlyadministrative headquarters, so it was notunusual for Ruislip residents to be sent toother properties. The coach outing to six ofthese was so successful in 1987 that it wasdecided to organise this similar trip in 2005.

We were welcomed at Swyncombe with awonderful spread of home made cakes andcoffee. The church is small and situated onthe Ridgeway surrounded by fields and justone house. It is well worth a visit, especiallyat Snowdrop Weekend when the churchyardis a carpet of snowdrops. After lunch inNewbury, a quick walk on the heritage trailand a rushed tour of the museum we went toCombe. This is a tiny hamlet in a bowl

shaped valley. Here St. Swithin's church wasbuilt in 1160of local flint with a timber tower.We travelled through country lanes, withdelightful views on all sides to Shalbourne.After a short walk along a grassy path wereached the church for an explanatory talk.Finally we arrived at the Ogbournes.Ogbourne St. Andrew church dates from theearly 12Cbut has later additions. On the wallis a tablet to Samuel Canning who laid thefirst transatlantic cable in 1857-8. The dayended with tea in the church at Ogbourne St.George. Again the church is of flint andlimestone construction, the interior is simpleand unadorned for the most part, but thereare 20C mosaics in the chanceL

Peterborough Cathedral/Flag Fen - 16July

In July we travelled to Peterborough for aguided tour of the 13C Cathedral, with itsmagnificent west front. Inside we admiredthe unique painted wooden ceiling and sawthe place where Mary Queen of Scots wasfirst buried. In the afternoon, with theassistance of a guided talk, we explored FlagFen, a 3000year old Bronze Age Site, said tobe one of the finest in Europe. We sawreconstructed Bronze Age and Iron Agehouses, and in the Preservation Hall aportion of the original timbers of the BronzeAge walkway. As an added bonus we saw aflint knapping group making knives andsome of us tasted biscuits made according tomedieval recipes. A most enjoyable day.

City of London Walk -10 August

Our final outing was in the city of Londonwith a City of London Guide, YashaBeresiner. He was a most informativeenthusiastic and amusing guide. He led u~around narrow cobbled lanes to seeLeadenhall Market built by Horace [ones in1881, the first coffee house, the new StockExchange and many other landmarks, largeand small, including notable churches.


Journal 200530

R. G. EDWARDS 1921 - 2005

With the death of Ron Edwards on 5 March2005, the Society lost one of its foundermembers. He was born in Ilford and movedto Hillingdon with his family in 1929and toEastcote in 1931, where, apart from warservice, he remained for the rest of his life.From Ickenham Elementary School he wentto Frays College in 1930 and later toWestbourne School in Westbourne Park.After leaving school he worked at Tyresolesand at the Constitutional Club, but war soonbroke out and he enlisted in the RoyalWarwickshire Regiment in 1940. Havingmoved to the Royal Corps of Signals he spentfour years in India, where he was a radiooperator and came back to England in 1945.

He married Doreen Crane, who lived withher parents in Cheney Street, in 1946, andbegan working at Unilever the followingyear. In the late 1960s, with two sonsgrowing up, he decided to study for a degreein Sociology at Regent Street Polytechnic,and having obtained it, started lecturing inHistory and Sociology at Harrow College ofFurther Education in 1970.

The 1960swas a very bad time for the historicenvironment in this area and Eastcotesuffered in particular with such importantand interesting houses as Eastcote House andHaydon Hall being demolished by the localcounciL The Ruislip-Northwood UrbanDistrict Council had woefully neglected themand the new Borough of Hillingdon set up in1964 carried out the destruction. RonEdwards and Cliff Morell were concernedthat such buildings were disappearingwithout record and discussed setting up alocal history society to discover and preserveas much of the history of the area as possible.

Ron approached representatives of variouslocal organizations and sent an open letter toThe Advertiser and Gazette, which elicitedone response from Sir Christopher Cowan ofKiln Farm, Northwood, a former chairman ofthe Middlesex County Council, who was infavour of the idea. L.E. Morris and D.F.K.

Kiddle who were already engaged in localhistory research had been publishing papersin the Journal of the Ruislip and DistrictNatural History Society for some years. Ronattended a R&DNHS committee meeting andLawrence Morris in particular encouragedhim to start a society devoted entirely toLocal History.

An initial meeting was held at 24 CheneyStreet, the home of Ron's parents-in-law, on6 April 1964 with SirChristopher Cowan,W.A.G. Kemp, Cliff Morrell and MissPollard, the head librarian at Manor FarmLibrary present, as well as the Cranes andDoreen and Ron Edwards. Mr. Kemp hadpublished 'The Story of Northwood andNorthwood Hills, Middlesex' in 1955and 'AHistory of Eastcote' in 1963and L.E.Morris's'History of Ruislip' had been printed in 1956.

The group decided to form a society to coverthe whole RNUDC area (the old manor andparish of Ruislip) and a public meeting heldat Manor Farm Library on 22 May 1964attracted more than 50 people, 45 of whomjoined immediately. Ron and Doreen bothplayed a very large part in the developmentof the Society. He was Secretary from 1964to1970 and Doreen edited the thrice yearlyBulletins and later the more substantialannual journal until 1977. Ron served on thecommittee until 1978.

From the outset Ron tried to involve all thesociety members in recording the currentstate of the area, instigating a photographicsurvey and suggesting one of St. Martin'sgraveyard. He was also keen to get localhistorians to exchange ideas on research andto cooperate on major projects. To this endhe organized meetings of representatives ofthe many local history societies of north-westMiddlesex and in 1975 ran the first LocalHistory Conference at the College of FurtherEducation at Hatch End. This event provedso popular that it continued to be held for 25years, being held at Winston Churchill Hallafter Ron had retired from the College.


Journal 200531

He continued to teach extra-mural classesand to write articles and books. Theseincluded one on the Royal CommercialTravellers' School at Hatch End, another onSt Andrew's Presbyterian Church of whichhe was a member and 'Eastcote - from Villageto Suburb' for Hillingdon Borough Librariesin 1987. He wrote articles for our Bulletinand Journal until 2001.

Six years after Doreen's death in 1989, Ronmarried Pauline, whom he had known fromhis early years in Eastcote and they enjoyednearly ten years of happiness together. Localhistorians, many of whom receivedencouragement from him, owe him a greatdebt.

Eileen M. Bowlt

32Ruislip, Northwood & EastcoteLocal History Society

Journal 2005

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