The mystery building of Barnwell Road, Brixton

[editor]

OK, granted it's not exactly a mystery to anyone but myself, but I always thought that the building to the left (by the junction with Rattray Road) was an old pub.



But looking at the old OS maps of the era, there's no sign of a pub - or indeed any shops. So what was this building? It certainly looks like a pub, although the big Bovril sign takes away some of the 'pubishness.


As an aside, I'm digging this casual milk dude.



And in the course of writing this post, I've found that part of the building was used as a bakery

William Henry Tythacott's Bakery, No 91 Barnwell Road, seen here with the smart bakery delivery carts in the foreground.

Old urban article here - Barnwell Road, Brixton. Historical Brixton - old and new photos of Brixton, Lambeth, London, SW9 and SW2

 

[Puddy_Tat]

1914 London County Suburbs Trades and Professional Directory lists

Randall, Mrs. Henrietta, 60 Barnwell rd. Brixton SW under 'linen drapers / fancy drapers'

(W H Tythacott also listed as baker at No. 91)

No mention in 1911 London Post Office directory.

(ETA - these are public domain / downloadable courtesy of Leicester University. Presume only issues 100+ years old are out of copyright)

 

[Puddy_Tat]

1914 directory also has

Beel Robt. 56 Barnwell rd. Brixton SW (confectioner, retail)

Roder, Miss Elizh. 69 Barnwell rd. (dressmaker)

Sherman Aug. 93 Barnwell rd. Brixton SW (stationer, retail)

chunk of 1911 directory -

 

[Pickman's model]

1914 London County Suburbs Trades and Professional Directory lists

Randall, Mrs. Henrietta, 60 Barnwell rd. Brixton SW under 'linen drapers / fancy drapers'

(W H Tythacott also listed as baker at No. 91)

No mention in 1911 London Post Office directory.

(ETA - these are public domain / downloadable courtesy of Leicester University. Presume only issues 100+ years old are out of copyright)

You'll likely have more joy with local directories which you won't find online. Post office London directories good for your lawyers or doctors who were always well represented but bakers, drapers, butchers far less likely to fork out to be included and the publishers didn't make so much effort to include them. Working classes largely excluded from po directories as e.g. they'd only tend to give one name if that per address, not much good if an hmo. For use try goad maps over time which can be found on bl site and a trip to Lambeth archives (or lma) for local directories should fill in some gaps.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

search on 60 Barnwell Road also shows some mention of "Woodgates James, 60 Barnwell-road, Brixton" in 1893 Commercial Gazette, but can't quite fathom why - possible insolvency proceedings?

Also a more recent entry for B K Marwaha, Knitwear & Textiles (Other) (here) - keeping a link to Mrs Randall's drapery business...

 

[Pickman's model]

Oh editor not sure if you looked at os maps from national library of Scotland - Google nls maps - which give you 1893 60" maps and postwar (c1947-1960s) 1:1250 maps.

 

[Pickman's model]

search on 60 Barnwell Road also shows some mention of "Woodgates James, 60 Barnwell-road, Brixton" in 1893 Commercial Gazette, but can't quite fathom why - possible insolvency proceedings?

Also a more recent entry for B K Marwaha, Knitwear & Textiles (Other) (here) - keeping a link to Mrs Randall's drapery business...

Try London gazette if looking for insolvency

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Try London gazette if looking for insolvency

This has

NOTICE is hereby given that the Partnership
heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned
Laurence Roland Elliot, Charles Nicholas
Iveson and Maurice Geddes Parsons, carrying on
business as Manufacturers of Gowns, Blouses and
Skirts, at 1, Tulse Hill, Brixton, London, S.W.2,
and previously at 60, Barnwell Road, Brixton
aforesaid, under the style or firm of PHILLIPS
AND COMPANY, 'has been dissolved by mutual
consent as from the fifteenth day of April, one
thousand nine hundred and thirtv-two, so far as
regards the said Laurence Roland Elliot, who
retires from the firm.—Dated this 24th day of
August, 1932.

 

[editor]

Oh editor not sure if you looked at os maps from national library of Scotland - Google nls maps - which give you 1893 60" maps and postwar (c1947-1960s) 1:1250 maps.

Yeah - I'm always rummaging through them (that's where the top screen grab is from!).

 

[Gramsci]

View attachment 124939

OK, granted it's not exactly a mystery to anyone but myself, but I always thought that the building to the left (by the junction with Rattray Road) was an old pub.

View attachment 124940

But looking at the old OS maps of the era, there's no sign of a pub - or indeed any shops. So what was this building? It certainly looks like a pub, although the big Bovril sign takes away some of the 'pubishness.
View attachment 124941

As an aside, I'm digging this casual milk dude.

View attachment 124942

And in the course of writing this post, I've found that part of the building was used as a bakery

View attachment 124943



Old urban article here - Barnwell Road, Brixton. Historical Brixton - old and new photos of Brixton, Lambeth, London, SW9 and SW2

The delivery carts have no horses in the photos. A lot of work to push them around the streets.

 

[Fez909]

The delivery carts have no horses in the photos. A lot of work to push them around the streets.

Bread's proper light, though. It's mostly air.

At least London doesn't have many hills like this for your bread cart deliveries...