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Messages - Bob Cowper

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London and Middlesex / West London Schools

« on: Thursday 19 September 19 17:54 BST (UK) »

Hiya, I'm trying to establish what school my grandfather, Alfred Edward Cowper, might have attended. He lived in Lower Marsh, Lambeth and later at 266 Wandsworth in the 1870s and '80s and would have attended St Georges School Thessaly Road, SW8, in use from 1857, or Wandsworth Road School, in use from 1813, or the New Board School in Battersea about which I know nothing. I've checked records at the LMA, London Schools Admissions 1840 - 1911, and Lambeth archives and have made no progress. Anybody got any ideas as to where I might find the info I'm looking for? I'd be very grateful for any help. Thank you Bob Cowper

Census and Resource Discussion / Re: Empire Variety Theatre, Leicester Square, London

« on: Friday 19 July 19 17:51 BST (UK) »

Thank you Girl Guide, that is brilliant! I'm deep into more research based on your recommendations and have already picked up some significant information. Thanks again, Bob Cowper

Census and Resource Discussion / Empire Variety Theatre, Leicester Square, London

« on: Monday 04 March 19 18:40 GMT (UK) »

From the 1901 UK census, it appears that two of my ancestors, Lucy Cowper and her daughter Violet, worked as Needlewomen for the Empire, when it was a Variety Theatre between the years !884 to 1915. This was at a time when Music Hall and Variety was really taking off in London and other major UK cities, and at the Empire, the famous Wilhelm, or C. Wilhelm, Artist, Scenery and Costume Designer, was in charge and responsible for designs for 'Ballets, Pantomimes, Comic Operas and Edwardian Musical Comedies'. Has anyone done any early London theatre research and could help me to find out what part my great grandmother Lucy and her daughter might have played in the production of costumes and maybe even costume design at that time. I wonder if historical accounts are accessible which might show that they actually worked for, and were paid by, the Theatre? Any leads on this research would be gratefully received. Thank you

Lincolnshire / Re: Pepper and Barson families

« on: Monday 25 February 19 17:39 GMT (UK) »

Thanks Louisa Maud and Rosie99. It's Lucy Cowper, nee Barson who interests me. Yes, she was the daughter of William and Laura (who was a Pepper) William was born in Kingstone, Notts in 1859 and kept a Boarding House in Hythe and I think had served in the RA. No idea how he met Laura. Their eldest daughter was Lucy (known as Doodie for some reason) and two more daughters followed, Edith Victoria, born in Gravesend in 1886, who married Benjamin Herbert Hodgson, who had an Ironmongery business in New Romney I think, and Winifred Betty, born in Hythe in 1902 (when her Mum was 45 yrs old!) who married Charles Callen, a Wireless Inspector and they spent a lot of time as a family (2 children, Jean Laura and Diana Mary) on ships following Dad around. Charles also served in the RN in WW1, 1915-1918 I think. Anything you can add to that I wonder? Just to say, I know all about Lucy's husband, my grandfather; basically, trying to get more info on the immediate family. Thanks

Lincolnshire / Pepper and Barson families

« on: Monday 25 February 19 13:33 GMT (UK) »

Hi, I'd be interested in any information anyone has on the Pepper or Barson families. Several generations were born and/or lived in South Kent, particularly Dover, Dymchurch, Hythe, Gravesend, Sheerness; my Grandmother, Lucy Alice Barson was born in 1880 in Sheerness, and died in 1969 in Folkestone. She was married to my grandfather, Alfred Edward Cowper.

Family History Beginners Board / Re: Lucy Cowper and Quinn Square Buildings, Southwark 1882 to 1926

« on: Thursday 21 February 19 12:25 GMT (UK) »

Thanks stanmapstone and avm28, that's brilliant!

Family History Beginners Board / Lucy Cowper and Quinn Square Buildings, Southwark 1882 to 1926

« on: Thursday 21 February 19 11:32 GMT (UK) »

My Great grandmother, Lucy Cowper, was widowed in 1882 and moved soon afterwards into 61 Quinn Square Buildings, Southwark with four children under the age of 11. Later, in about 1906, she moved into 64 QSB and lived alone there until she died in 1926. I believe QSB was a privately developed tenement block(s), built in the 1870s and demolished in 1971; Does anyone know anything about Quinn Square Buildings, I wonder - anyone who lived there, what the Landlord was like, the quality of the accommodation, how well the buildings were maintained, any anecdotes? My great grandfather had a butchers business at 97 Lower Marsh until he died in 1882. I believe Lower Marsh was much the same then as it is now; a bustling commercial street full of all manner of traders, and some good pubs! Again, if anyone knows what it was like then, I'd welcome hearing from you. Many thanks.

Family History Beginners Board / Quinn Square, Parish of St George the Martyr, Southwark

« on: Wednesday 06 February 19 12:37 GMT (UK) »

Hi, I'm researching family history and have discovered that my great grandparents had a business in Lower Marsh, Waterloo and initially lived over the shop but, when he died, my grandmother later moved into 61 Quinn Square, Southwark. I'm keen to find out a bit more about both Lower Marsh at that time (1870s/80s) and about Quinn Square, from 1880 to when she died in 1926; if anyone has any recollections of living/working there, or has researched the area, I'd be really pleased to hear from them. Thanks.