Blog Archives - The Streatham Society

Peter de Wint- painter of Streatham Common

20/1/2021

On This Day 21 January 1784 the artist Peter de Wint was born.

He painted Streatham Common
1.Streatham Common. Artist's impression of an early view of the common looking west, with Streatham Common North on the right. B/W photograph of a painting by Peter de Wint, 1849

2.Annotated Streatham Common but view not verified as Streatham Common

Billy Nelson and son Billy Morris with Chuck O'Neil in Cinderella at the Streatham Hill Theatre 1961

20/1/2021

On the 20th January 1961 this appeared in the Norwood News. Chuck O"Neil, with father and son Billy Nelson and Billy Morris who lived in Leigham Court Road- all three appeared in Cinderella at the Streatham Hill Theatre

The image below is by Gilbert Sommerland ©V&A and includes the three comedians

This caricature shows Gary Webb, Sonny Dawkes, Chuck O'Neil, Billy Nelson, Billy Morris, Erica Yorke, Christine Tayler, David Nixon, Pam Beesley and Sam Woodcock, the cast of Cinderella at the Oxford New Theatre during Christmas 1958. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

Peter Yapp shoemakers of Sloane Street

19/1/2021

On This Day 50 years ago, on 19th January 1971 Peter Yapp Ltd ceased trading
George Yapp, shoemaker was a member of the Yapp family

George Yapp (1860- 1944) born in Chelsea lived at "Bramington", North Drive, Streatham Park. He lived with his wife Williamina, 4 children and 4 servants

Peter Yapp Ltd. the shoemaker was established by Samuel Yapp in 1793 in Chelsea. His son George joined him later, when the business was located at 200 Sloane Street.

In 1851 Peter, the son of George became involved with the business, and by 1870 the business had expanded to include 201 and 210 Sloane Street in London.

A Royal Warrant was awarded to Peter Yapp by Queen Victoria, which it continued to hold until its demise.

The Yapp company supplied shoes to the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret as they grew up, as the Yapp family concentrated on making shoes for the younger generation, especially those of distinguished society.

George Yapp, who died in 1944, claims that his business was the first to respond to English feet being typically long and narrow, which required narrower fittings.

Around 1944, C & J Clark Ltd. acquired Peter Yapp Ltd. via Peter Lord, but the company remained independent, as merging with Peter Lord would have meant forfeiting its Royal Warrant. Nevertheless, by this time, Yapp had ceased manufacturing footwear and concentrated solely upon retailing.
An ongoing specialisation in the provision of footwear for children meant the children’s section was refurbished and re-opened in 1949 by Julia ‘Toots’ Lockwood the eight-year-old daughter of actress, Margaret Lockwood.

On 19th February 1959, the shop was re-opened following the refurbishment of the women’s and children’s sections. At this point Yapp was selling, amongst other brands, Clarks Skyline shoes.

Sadly, on 19th January 1971, the company ceased trading after 178 years.

Dr Kevin Beurle

19/1/2021

On This Day 19 January 1953 Dr Kevin Beurle was born

A Streatham resident and astrophysicist at Queen Mary University of London, Kevin was tragically killed in a hot air ballon accident in Turkey in 2009 http://bit.ly/3qwzSgT

Former Streatham MP: Sir David Robertson

18/1/2021

On This Day 19th January 1890 Sir David Robertson was born

David Robertson (1890-1970) was an accountant and Conservative politician; MP for Streatham and Caithness & Sutherland

He lived in Prentis Road.

He was an expert in the Fishing industry and served with the BEF during WW1., He was wounded in action and returned to Britain to join the civil service. He was Sectional Accountant for the Fish, Game, Poultry and Eggs Section of the Ministry of Food or a time before being promoted to Assistant Director of Finance. Later Chief Accountant at the Ministry of Food
Image ©National Portrait Gallery reproduced under the Creative Common License

White Lion Restaurant

18/1/2021

This was advertised in the Norwood News On This Day 18th January 1924

The new Whilte Lion Restaurant in Streatham.

An early Streatham Society?

18/1/2021

Streatham in former days- the Streatham Antiquarian and Natural Histrory Society
Norwood News 18th January 1935

Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

"Steptoe" Wilfred Bramble

18/1/2021

On This Day 18th January 1985 Wilfred Bramble died

Henry Wilfrid Brambell (22 March, 1912 – 18 January, 1985) was an Irish television and film actor and comedian, best remembered for his role in the television series Steptoe and Son . He also performed alongside The Beatles in their debut film A Hard Day's Night

He died of cancer at his home in Westminster, London, aged 72 on 18 January, 1985. He was cremated on 25 January, 1985 at Streatham Park cemetery where his ashes were scattered

Music Hall owner Thomas Dickie- 15 Streatham High Road

17/1/2021

On This Day 17 January 1933 Thomas Dickie a music hall proprietor died

Thomas Samuel Dickie-born 1855 lived at 15, Streatham High Road with his wife Elizabeth, daughters Gertrude, Ethel, Blanch and sons Albert and Ernest. (Source Census 1901)

Dickie was a Music Hall proprietor and he owned the Royal Standard Music Hall which originally stood on the site of the Victoria Palace Theatre. (Image 1 Courtesy John Culme of Footlight Notes)
Dickie was the last owner of the Royal Standard Music Hall who bought it in 1896. Two years later he had the place renovated and improved, reopening it on Monday October the 3rd 1898.

The Stage Newspaper reported on the reopening in their 6th of October edition saying:- 'After being closed for some time this popular music hall was reopened on Monday night, under, as before, the proprietorship of Mr. T. S. Dickie, and the management of Mr. Fred Law. Some alterations which have been effected in the hall are to its improvement.

Dickie sold the Music Hall in 1910 to Alfred Butt and this was the year that the Royal Standard, with the longest record of uninterrupted Music Hall and Variety performances in London, was demolished to make way for a brand new building called the Victoria Palace Theatre (Image 3)

The Stage Newspaper mentioned the closure and imminent rebuilding in their October 20th 1910 edition saying:-
..The Royal Standard, Pimlico, finally closed its doors on Saturday, and almost immediately builders will start pulling down and re-building the house, as Mr. Alfred Butt is anxious that the Victoria Palace shall rise up on the old site with as little delay as possible. On Tuesday, October 25, a sale will take place on the premises of the whole of the contents, which include seating, scenery, and a large quantity of bar fittings, lounges, and miscellaneous furniture. (Source The Stage, October 20th, 1910)

Birdie Bowers on Scott's Terra Nova South Pole expedition

17/1/2021

On This Day 17 January 1912 This picture of the Polar Party to the South Pole was taken. The party included Henry Robertson Bowers from Streatham.

Lieutenant Henry Robertson "Birdie" Bowers (29 July 1883 – 29 March 1912) was one of Robert Falcon Scott's polar party on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition (1910–1913), all of whom died during their return from the South Pole.

The Terra Nova expedition included Eddie Wilson who was the Doctor in the party (St George''s Hospital Medical School- now in Tooting)

Whilst living in Streatham, Bowers attended Streatham High School for Boys in Pinfold Road in 1896-7. The building survives today as the Computer Centre behind Streatham Library, on which a plaque was placed by The Streatham Society on 29 March 2012 to commemorate the centenary of his death.
In honour of his heroism, The Streatham Society and Lambeth Living paid tribute to this legendary Polar explorer with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at 19a-23c Pathfield Road - the site of Lt Bowers’ boyhood home which was destroyed by a V1 flying bomb that fell on Pathfield Road on 18 June 1944 during the Second World War.

'The Polar Party at the South Pole' (Lawrence Oates; Birdie Bowers; Robert Falcon Scott; Edward Adrian Wilson; Edgar Evans) © National Portrait Gallery, London