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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: scouse_mouse_2000uk on Thursday 17 July 08 18:00 BST (UK)
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Hiya peeps, wonder if someone could help me out? I have my grandfather's death certificate, his sister was the informant and she puts her address down as the Onslow Court Hotel. When I have looked on the net, all I get is the acid bath murder. Is this Hotel still in existence and why would she be living there? If anyone can help me out I would be happy. The death occurred in 1963. Thanx for reading, Lynn x
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It looks as if this is now Jurys Kensington Hotel in Queens Gate, London.
You might try contacting them.
People did live permanently in hotels like the Onslow Court.
Or perhaps she was staying there temporarily to sort out her brother's estate, if she was from out of town.
Or perhaps she was working there?
HTH
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Hiya, thanx for that info. She definitely lived there, the address is on another family member's certificate. Can't think which one, but it was a marriage certificate. I will look their number up and see what I can find out. Thanx again, Lynn x
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Think Jury's took it over 8-10 years ago. They may not have the records of the Onslow, but hopefully know where they are deposited. The Kensington and Chelsea Archives may be able to help, especially with the hotel being so, er, notorious.
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Hiya, I gave them a call earlier, spoke to a couple of foreign people who didn't know what I was talking about lol. I will call them in the morning and see what I can find out. London is quite a distance from Liverpool, so I will have to do things via the net or the phone. Thanx for your help, Lynn x
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scouse_mouse_2000uk. You were asking about this hotel some time back. (Thursday 17 July 08) I lived there for two years on and off in the early 80's. When I moved in it was owned by a tea total family and it was dry. I think they were Salvation Army. There were a lot of elderly single people staying there on a long term basis. It was a bit like an old peoples home. They were still reasonably well off but had seen better days and were often quite demanding and thought they deserved personal service. Several were foreign nationals from South America and talked about their English and Scottish ancestors and the life they used to live. I'd been there about six months when all the long term residents were moved out to a sister hotel in Bromton Road. I came back about three months later to find the place had been sold and now had a drinks licence. It was a bit faded when I was there but had seen better times and must had been quite plush in its day.
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Interesting thread to pick up on - thanks for the info! I have just traced three antecedents - MYERS brothers - who lived and died here - between 1942 and 1964. This makes much more sense after reading the thread.
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I worked at OCH for some time and it was a wonderful place for the elderly guests who were mostly
retired from places in the Empire. They were not made to feel poor and many of them were titled and probably quite rich. Every Christmas roles were reversed and the guests served the staff(I did not attend).
The hotels were owned by North Hotels,a Quaker family concern, who will probably have the records that you want. I hope this helps.
Harry L.
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The Onslow Court Hotel had a reasonable proportion of its elderly guests with Last Wills and Testaments.
The London Gazette has 10 pages of mainly people living there with wills and using the Hotel as their last address. One page for 1963 deaths. Click on "See PDF" for all 8 items for that year.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/1963-01-01;1963-12-31/exact=Onslow+Court+Hotel/start=1
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I worked there as a night porter from 1978-1980. The majority of residents were older and permanent residents. I helped a lady move rooms. It was sad to see photographs of her in the twenties at a dance.
And now she was all alone and in her late eighties. I never judged an elderly woman by her looks again.
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That is an odd coincidence!
I was assistant night porter there under Mr.Draper a good few years before you.
I had the same respect for the older guests, a Miss Collins was the manager and I earned the princely sum
of £5.3.5d for seventy two hour night per. week.I had a
"Room"in a converted doorway.Happy days!
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Hi All
i also worked there as a Porter /switchboard operator in 1973 for a few months
the head porter was actually called Carlos (spanish) a really nice man who played classical guitar.
there were about 60% residents in the hotel mostly elderly, and the Hotel was managed
by Miss Coates and i got £11.00 a week live-in, which was plenty for me at the time..
it was part of a group (can,t quite remember the name) but a sister hotel was the Sun-Court in (i think) Marloes Road where i also worked as a Commis chef in 1974/5 (spelling?) in Earls Court and there were a few others.
The Onslow court was a very nice comfortable hotel.. and a nice place to work for a while..
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Hi All
i also worked there as a Porter /switchboard operator in 1973 for a few months
the head porter was actually called Carlos (spanish) a really nice man who played classical guitar.
there were about 60% residents in the hotel mostly elderly, and the Hotel was managed
by Miss Coates and i got £11.00 a week live-in, which was plenty for me at the time..
it was part of a group (can,t quite remember the name) but a sister hotel was the Sun-Court in (i think) Marloes Road where i also worked as a Commis chef in 1974/5 (spelling?) in Earls Court and there were a few others.
The Onslow court was a very nice comfortable hotel.. and a nice place to work for a while..
Where did you live in the hotel? I lived downstairs....
Was always on the switchboard with the Sheraton Park Hotel operator , when they had dolls eye switchboards..we used to chat all night long.. Olivia from Portugal... Sigh! :)
Mark
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Hi Olivia from Portugal
i lived in a single room at the far end of the corridor downstairs
we also had a staffroom with a tele and a phone in it.
and you are correct it was a "dolls eye" switchboard in a little room off to thhe left of the main reception near the managers office.
i worked as a hall porter first we had a little kiosk on the right as you went inside
and i had to wear one of those Hall Porter uniforms which was not comfortable..
I also live in Central Portugal and have for the last 6.5 years, we love it
but are a bit fed up with the rain currently..
thanks for replying
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Olivia from Portugal was the girl @ the Sheraton I used to talk with...
i lived in a single room at the far end of the corridor downstairs
we also had a staffroom with a tele and a phone in it.
and you are correct it was a "dolls eye" switchboard in a little room off to thhe left of the main reception near the managers office.
i worked as a hall porter first we had a little kiosk on the right as you went inside
and i had to wear one of those Hall Porter uniforms which was not comfortable..
I also live in Central Portugal and have for the last 6.5 years, we love it
but are a bit fed up with the rain currently..
thanks for replying
I lived in that same room and wore that same uniform.... :)
Send the rain my way...
Almost no rain here in California for 12 months....
Mark
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Hi Mark
sorry i misread the message i thought you were Olivia (DOH!)
we,ve been reading about the terrible Drought in California
i hope it rains for you soon..
nice to share a memory
Take care..
Paul
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Hi Mark
sorry i misread the message i thought you were Olivia (DOH!)
we,ve been reading about the terrible Drought in California
i hope it rains for you soon..
nice to share a memory
Take care..
Paul
Thanks!
My hated task? Cleaning the brass on the front door and signs....
Mark
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thats uncanny also, as i used to try and get out of it but Carlos always made me do it
using Brasso.
hated it with a vengeance.
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Hi Mark, I worked at Onslow from 1979 to 1982 so we must have known each other, in fact i think i shared one of the rooms with a night porter for awhile, I think at the time a Miss Schnell was Manager
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I worked there as a night porter from 1978-1980. The majority of residents were older and permanent residents. I helped a lady move rooms. It was sad to see photographs of her in the twenties at a dance.
And now she was all alone and in her late eighties. I never judged an elderly woman by her looks again.
Hi Mark, I worked at Onslow from 1979 to 1982 so we must have known each other, in fact i think i shared one of the rooms with a night porter for awhile, I think at the time a Miss Schnell was Manager