Recollections of Southend-on-Sea and Neighbourhood 1855-1912
This book is based on the memoirs of Mrs Augusta Mary Tawke, who was born around 1819 at Priors, near Brentwood, Essex, and lived, for the most of her life, by condition of marriage, at The Lawn, Rochford. She was married to Arthur Tawke of Chigwell, Essex, Magistrate of Rochford, and they had one child, Augusta Saumarez Tawke, who was born c1856. Arthur Tawke died on 11 May 1884.
The household members at The Lawn were Mary A. Stock of Hockley (Ladies Maid), Alice Stock of Hockley (Housemaid), Margaret Keeling of Danbury (Parlour Maid), Mary A. Smith of Rochford (Cook) and Adelaide Blowers of Rochford (Kitchen Maid). Details obtained from the 1881 Census of Rochford.
Augusta Mary Tawke’s memoirs had been been recorded by her daughter by 1911 as her mother, then in her 93rd year, was quite blind. She later died on 14 January 1916 at Belgrave, The Cliffs, Southend-on-Sea. Probate on 9 March 1916 settled Augusta Saumarez Tawke (who was a spinster) with effects to the value of £7,049 9s. 6d.
In her memoirs, the reader being taken on a gentle tour around Southend-on-Sea, and will meet some of the tradesmen of Prittlewell, and then stroll towards the sea via Whitegate Corner to meet some of the most interesting and, even taking into consideration today’s generations, most quirky townsfolk.
The reader is then taken to the Terrace by the Royal Hotel and the library opposite, which was frequented and favoured by royalty, and meet some of the residents, including Mrs Pilton, who ran her little shop in the depths of the Shrubbery, and then back around past the fields to where Alexandra Street would be built (this road being taken from a portion of the beautiful garden of Mr John Page). There is a front row seat too, for the visit by special train of HRH Princess Louise to Southend on 9 December 1912, who declared an extension of the Victoria Hospital in Warrior Square open. Invited guests were crowded into the reception room in the Winter Garden at the Palace Hotel for a special afternoon.
A treat is in store, too, as the reader is taken on the first steam train out of Southend -well, as far as Wickford, anyway. The return journey was delayed because of a derailment further up the line, but it is worth noting the differences in the level of interest and enthusiasm towards this new transport system as it has just reached our town! The book also takes the reader to Southchurch, Prittlewell, Rochford, Hawkwell, Hockley, Rayleigh, and Thundersley.
The final chapter includes an extraordinary List of Executions in Essex in the 100 years leading up to 1871: crimes include many highway robberies.
Kindle Edition
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QQ3F325
Recollections of Southend-on-Sea and Neighbourhood 1855-1912
This book is based on the memoirs of Mrs Augusta Mary Tawke, who was born around 1819 at Priors, near Brentwood, Essex, and lived, for the most of her life, by condition of marriage, at The Lawn, Rochford. She was married to Arthur Tawke of Chigwell, Essex, Magistrate of Rochford, and they had one child, Augusta Saumarez Tawke, who was born c1856. Arthur Tawke died on 11 May 1884.
The household members at The Lawn were Mary A. Stock of Hockley (Ladies Maid), Alice Stock of Hockley (Housemaid), Margaret Keeling of Danbury (Parlour Maid), Mary A. Smith of Rochford (Cook) and Adelaide Blowers of Rochford (Kitchen Maid). Details obtained from the 1881 Census of Rochford.
Augusta Mary Tawke’s memoirs had been been recorded by her daughter by 1911 as her mother, then in her 93rd year, was quite blind. She later died on 14 January 1916 at Belgrave, The Cliffs, Southend-on-Sea. Probate on 9 March 1916 settled Augusta Saumarez Tawke (who was a spinster) with effects to the value of £7,049 9s. 6d.
In her memoirs, the reader being taken on a gentle tour around Southend-on-Sea, and will meet some of the tradesmen of Prittlewell, and then stroll towards the sea via Whitegate Corner to meet some of the most interesting and, even taking into consideration today’s generations, most quirky townsfolk.
The reader is then taken to the Terrace by the Royal Hotel and the library opposite, which was frequented and favoured by royalty, and meet some of the residents, including Mrs Pilton, who ran her little shop in the depths of the Shrubbery, and then back around past the fields to where Alexandra Street would be built (this road being taken from a portion of the beautiful garden of Mr John Page). There is a front row seat too, for the visit by special train of HRH Princess Louise to Southend on 9 December 1912, who declared an extension of the Victoria Hospital in Warrior Square open. Invited guests were crowded into the reception room in the Winter Garden at the Palace Hotel for a special afternoon.
A treat is in store, too, as the reader is taken on the first steam train out of Southend -well, as far as Wickford, anyway. The return journey was delayed because of a derailment further up the line, but it is worth noting the differences in the level of interest and enthusiasm towards this new transport system as it has just reached our town! The book also takes the reader to Southchurch, Prittlewell, Rochford, Hawkwell, Hockley, Rayleigh, and Thundersley.
The final chapter includes an extraordinary List of Executions in Essex in the 100 years leading up to 1871: crimes include many highway robberies.
Kindle Edition
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07QQ3F325