Local History Image Library

Thought to be in Alpha Grove, originally Alpha Road, built probably in the 1860s; this is No.57. A photograph loaned by Lily Smith from her family collection and dating from the early 20th century. Donated by Mrs L. Smith

The Three Toms: The oldest Tom Clayden came from Billericay, and was a farmer, or farm worker; his son Tom (1868-1946) worked for the South Metropolitan Gas Company at East Greenwich and married Sarah Thomas from County Durham (died 07 January 1941); their son Tom, (born 1899) was a plater and married Daisy Thomas (no relation) from Millwall. The photograph was taken about 1901 outside No 1 Laura Cottages, Ingleheim Place E14. These cottages had one room, entered from the back street, a back scullery, and one room upstairs.

Lamb Gardens. Old cottages formerly occupied by Huguenot weavers, demolished in 1870. The site is now covered by Waterlow Buildings in Three Colts Lane. Includes a chicken coup and a rabbit hutch by the back door.

Mrs Alice Smith, nee Thompson, (1868-1966) of Ship Street, Poplar. Born at South Runton, Dereham, Norfolk, she married George Besant Smith, steel erector. They first lived in Poplar, and moved to Ship Street on the Isle of Dogs in 1908. This photograph was taken at 35 Whitfield Avenue, Leograves, Luton, Beds., where Alice Smith was living with her daughter Grace Bradbrook. From P.G. Elliott

The Old Chapel, Cubitt Town Primitive Methodists, Manchester Road, Isle of Dogs. Built in 1862, it was enlarged in 1878, and rebuilt in a grander style in 1905. Methodist services were first held in Cubitt Town in 1858, at No. 20, Davis Street Terrace, Manchester Road. When the chapel was first opened, there were 39 members and 90 Sunday School Children. Chapel activities included Bible Classes, Missionary work, Band of Hope. The Chapel was licensed for marriages in 1901. by Mrs G. Hubbard

Interior of the original Methodist Chapel, Cubitt Town, built in 1862 and enlarged in 1878. The organist from 1873 to 1903 was Mr C. Westwood. by Mrs G. Hubbard

The Old Chapel, Cubitt Town Primitive Methodists, Manchester Road, Isle of Dogs. Built in 1862, it was enlarged in 1878, and rebuilt in a grander style in 1905. Methodist services were first held in Cubitt Town in 1858, at No. 20, Davis Street Terrace, Manchester Road. When the chapel was first opened, there were 39 members and 90 Sunday School Children. Chapel activities included Bible Classes, Missionary work, Band of Hope. The chapel was licensed for marriages in 1901. by Mrs G. Hubbard

Michael Bradley, (1861-1912), a stevedore and Catherine Bradley, nee Heffernan, (1886-1943), who kept a shop, both from Ireland. Taken in the back garden of their home at No.327 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, with their children Tom, b.1895, Nora, b.1890, baby Michael, b.1904, May, b.1892, John, b.1897, and in the rocking chair, Catherine, b.1900. Michael Bradley came to England in the 1880s with the intention of going to America; he met Catherine Heffernan at an Irish Club and they decided to marry - but she would not go to America, so they settled in Millwall, Isle of Dogs, where she had relatives. Michael Bradley found work as a stevedore in Millwall Docks. 'He was one of the lucky ones, he was in the union and nearly always in work, if there was any work to be had'.

Picture of the work in progress of the New Dock on the Isle of Dogs in about 1867, as shown in a newspaper. Donated by newspaper

Excavation for the new Millwall Docks at the Isle of Dogs. 1867. Donated by print from Illustrated Times

The Millwall Docks being excavated on the Isle of Dogs, in 1867. These L-shaped docks were originally intended to be T-shaped, with a third arm of the dock cutting through what is now the Mudchute, and with a river entrance at what is now Millwall Wharf in Manchester Road. However, there wasn't enough money at the time to complete this plan. The docks were built to handle grain and timber imports, and it was the grain-handling facilities that helped to bring McDougalls Flour Mill to the site. Donated by Unknown

Mrs Sarah Jane Moyse (c1867-1939), lived in No. 385 Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs. She had three children by her first marriage, and one by her second marriage. She was a 'grand old lady'. She had two sisters in Birmingham and may have come from there herself. by S. Moyse

Charlie Austin (1867-1941), on an Island allotment, about 1920. Charlie worked as a general labourer and lived at No. 51 Newcastle Street with his wife Sarah (nee Darby). Charles and Sarah had eleven children of whom eight grew up to be adults. Charlie's parents, William and Phyllis Austin, had arrived in the Isle of Dogs in 1867, having previously been market gardeners in Kent. Their descendents lived in Newcastle Street until the Second World War. by Mrs I. Burford

Sophie Roberts (nee Kemp), her sister Jenny Kemp (later Shaw) and their mother Daisy Kemp (nee Still). Mrs Kemp was born in Havannah Street, Millwall, in 1865, and she was said to have been the only girl in a family of twenty boys. Here she is seen with her two daughters in the back yard of their shared home at No.38 Newcastle Street, Isle of Dogs, now Glenafric Avenue. Photo taken in 1927. Donated by Daisy Woodard

Frederick Dawson was (6 April 1863-31 August 1911) at No. 33 Devonshire Street, Lambeth Surrey. His father was Matthew Dawson and his mother was Emma Tunningly (nee Goodwin). The family trade was barge building which had been carried on from the late eighteenth century at Lambeth and Vauxhall but Frederick went into apprenticeship as a Waterman - Lighterman when he was fourteen. He was bound on 10th April 1877 to a seven year apprenticeship at Wapping and freed on 13th May 1884. His master was his step-brother Matthew Manning Dawson. He married Emma Harbin Hodges (b. 3rd April 1861) in Portsea) in the Parish church of Poplar on 18th February 1883, and they had three children. They lived at various addresses on the Island but their last house was at No. 36 Mellish Street. He won several cups and medals, including Veterans in 1904. Among his effects were two silver 3d pieces from the reign of Queen Victoria. These coins were put between his front teeth when rowing and have many indentations. After his death his wife Emma continued to live at this address and the house still continued to bear a well polished brass plaque into the 1930s. by Mr Dawson

An old lady known as Grandma Body, who lived on the top floor of a house on the corner of Seysell Street and Manchester Road. Probably born 1860's. Donated by R. Bradbrook

Elizabeth Towler (1867-1933) and her son, Sidney (1906-1979) at No. 133 Stebondale Street. 1930. Donated by Joy Perez

Warwick Woodhall (1868-1945) of No. 9 Davis Street, Isle of Dogs. Warwick worked as a boiler-maker in a local graving dock (ship repair yard). Donated by Mrs E. Hasley

Clara Harriet Tidbury, later LeFort, (1863-1943). When she married Arthur LeFort, Clara came to live on the Island in Billson Street. Previously she had lived in Staines, where she been in service. She had three children and when her husband retired from his job on a mud dredger, they took a boot and shoe shop in Manchester Road. From here she also worked as a midwife, going out on call to help at births; with her earnings from this (a few shillings a time), she saved up enough to buy a piano for her youngest daughter. When they gave up the shop, she and her husband moved into No. 210 East Ferry Road, taking the bottom floor flat, where her married daughter had the top. Donated by Mrs Dawson

Albert LeFort, (1863-1942), of No.101 Manchester Road Isle of Dogs. He came to the Isle of Dogs from Kew, probably about 1890. He worked on a mud dredger based at a wharf at the top of Ferry Street. Owing to an accident at work he lost two fingers and part of the thumb of his right hand. This did not prevent him from being champion billiards player. He played at the Isle of Dogs Progressive Club, in Pier Street, and won many prizes, such as marble clocks. ( the club was a radical working men's and wome's club, founded in 1897 as a branch of Poplar Labour League, the forerunner of the local Labour party). When Arthur retired from working on the mud dredger, he and his wife, Clara, kept a boot and shoe shop in Manchester Road, selling leather, rubber, rivets, etc., for mending. Later they moved to East Ferry Road. Donated by Mrs Dawson