1880 Born 27/7/1880 at 1, Swan Mead, Bermondsey, Leathermarket. Parents Timothy Lyons and Elizabeth (nee Tobin) Lyons, father hide sorter. Swan Mead [ or part of?] was apparently a former leather tannery, which [ nos.1-4] has become by 2007 a home and gallery belonging to artist Kitty North. Birth Certificate.B7. -text. William John Lyons was the 2nd son of Timothy & Elizabeth Lyons, but his elder brother Stephen,1878, ( named after their grandfather) died in 1883. His grandfather David Tobin was also living at 1 Swan Mead at his birth, but died 5 months later. His uncle, 13yr old David Tobin, was also living there. .

Whimsical that he should be registered in The Leather Market sub-district as he grows up to work with furs and leather : 3 months between birth and registration is longer than the norm.

The family is continually moving 1881 -1901.
1881 He appears in census with his parents, 2 year old brother Stephen & uncle David,14, his mother's orphaned younger brother.

1881 Census at 1, Swan Mead, Bermondsey
Timothy Lyons 28 married, clerk, born St.Johns
Elizabeth 26 wife born St.Johns
Stephen 2 born Bermondsey
William John 9 mths born Bermondsey
Patrick Pheien 32
David Tobin 14 brother of Elizabeth born St.Johns
In the same household is John Allen with son John,3, who could be the John Allen who later marries William's sister, Elizabeth,1891, in 1915.

1883.Brother Stephen ,5, & sister, Margaret,1, die of scarlet fever on 2 consecutive days in October. Family living at 57, Pepler Road, Old Kent Road. Have d.cs. D6 & D5.

1891. Appears in census with his parents and sisters Ellen (6) & Mary J. (3), living 34 Kinross Street..
1891 Census
Timothy Lyons 39 married Leather Warehouseman born Bermondsey
Elizabeth 37 born Bermondsey
William 10 scholar b. Bermondsey
Ellen 6 scholar b.Southwark
Mary J. 3 b.Peckham
Living at 34, Kinross St. St.Mary Magdalen, St. Olave

1901 Appears in census with parents and sisters Helen (15), Josephine (12) & Elizabeth (9). Working as a general carman. Living at 9 Wilds Rents.

1901 Census
Timothy S. Lyons 48 married Dock Labourer
Elizabeth 45
William J. 19 General carman
Helen 15
Josephine 12
Elizabeth 9
David Tobin 30 Dock labourer
(David Tobin given as Brother in law)
Living at 9 Wilds Rents Bermondsey

1909 14/02/1909 Aged 28, married Jessie Sullivan , aged 25, in St. Philips Church, [Jessie was protestant], Bethnal Green. Marriage Certificate M5. Witnesses were Clara and William Alfred Lawrence Hayter. He is given as salesman, she as stationer. His father, Timothy Lyons, is given as Warehouseman, hers, John Sullivan,deceased, as Builder. A joint address is given of School House, Mount Street [Bethnal Green]..

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Maybe the School House, the address given on the m.c [photo from B.G. Archives]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The interior of St.Philips Church

Jessie Sullivan was a protestant and they got married in St. Philips Church (C of E).( This church was demolished in 1961. School House was alongside it, so probably the photo shown above. ). And their daughter Hilda said that her mother turned to believing in the Catholic Church later in life.

Nothing is known of School House, Mount St., where they were residing at the time of their wedding. I feel that Jessie must have been working there. And William, being catholic, would not have known any protestant church in Bermondsey. I wonder if his Catholic parents attended the ceremony! Have investigated the Hayters: they were brother & sister, station mail porter & sewing machinist tailoring, living with their parents in Victoria Grove, Stoke Newington, Hackney, aged 30 & 27 in 1911C. They were not living in Bethnal Green in 1901C either, so nothing to link them to Bethnal Green. Mount Street was renamed Swanfield Street.

From research in LMA: 1908-9 No Lyons or Hayters in 6 - 48 Mount Street
Rev.W J Ferrar in St. Philips Vicarage but no mention of School House , but
In West Ward 2, Division 2 a Henry Withrington in St. Philips School House, Mount Street, and also a small lodger list for those entitled to vote, but no Lyons/Hayter/Sullivan, and could not find them anywhere in W2.
I also looked for info. or records on St.Philips Church / school , but nothing
In 1911C, at St.Philips School, Mount Street, B.G. N2 in 4 rooms... Henry Withrington 49 school caretaker LCC Educational b.B.G.
Eliza Jane wife 41 mar. 22 yrs, 1 child, 1 alive b.Maidstone
Henry James Edgar son 20 b.Walthamstow
Florence Louisa Ede 20 Bag Machinist, boarder . . . I searched for info. on St.Philips Church/School, but nothing other than 2 of the above photos. Could there be a relationship between 'Bag machinist' and the 'paper packer' that was Jessie's job in 1901, and that Florence Ede has replaced Jessie at 'this' work.

1910. First child, Jessie Hilda Josephine Lyons, born 6/02/1910, at 21, Portsmouth Buildings.

1911C.William John Lyons, 30, leather Salesman,, Leather Warehouse Worker, b. Bermondsey, Jessie,27, married 2 yrs, 1 child, 1 alive, b. Walworth, & Jessie Hilda Josephine, 1, b. Bermondsey. . They are still living at 21, Portsmouth Building, Tower Bridge Rd., Bermondsey in 2 rooms.

All their children were baptised at the Church of the English Martyrs, Walworth. I have copies of their baptism certificates - these can be viewed on their individual pages.

1910. Jessie Hilda Josephine (6/02/1910)  Baptised 27/02/1910.Godparents Compton &  Elizabeth Amos: great uncle & aunt [Timothy’s sister] . Living at 21 Portsmouth Bldgs, Tower Bridge Road .

1912. Evelyn Ellen (1/09/1912). Baptised 6/10/1912. Godparent Ellen [aunt Nellie?] Lyons. Living at 10 Darwin St.

1915 Francis William (10/01/1915). Baptised 7/02/1915. Godparent Maria O’Neill.  Living at 10 Darwin St. B13.

1917 John Leonard (19/11/1917).Baptised 9/12/1917. Godparent Elizabeth Allen:W.J.'s sister.21 Darwin Steet.B14.

1920 William (13/11/1920).Baptised19/12/1920. Godparent Henrietta Molloy[a nun]. Living at 21 Darwin St. B15

1923 Jessie Maude (23/05/1923). Baptised 10/06/1923. Living at 21 Darwin St. No godparents given B16.

1925. Dennis Compton (9/06/1925).Baptised 2/08/1925. Living at 21 Darwin St. No godparents given[ Not after Dennis Compton, cricketer, only born 1918, but after Compton Amos [died 1918] who had married his great-aunt Elizabeth on 10/04/1898 in a protestant church! I have m.c. M10.]

read Hilda and Eva the other way round in the lefthand photo.

10 Darwin Street, Southwark and a view of 21 Darwin Street and the whole street

I possess all these baptism records. Hilda said, in 2008, that the baptism was always the baby’s first outing from the house after its birth.

From searching the Electoral Roll books in Southwark Local History Library, William John’s family first appear in 10 Darwin Street 1912-1913 [not there in 1911-1912]. They had 2 rooms on the first floor, unfurnished, and paid rent to George White.[ An Edward Evans had 2 rooms on the second floor and E.A.Winson a furnished first floor room. At this time W.G.Winson lived in 21 Darwin Street.] William John is also in the 1913-1914 book living there, but not in the 1914-1915 book, & then no books exist for the War years,1915-1917. He then moved from 10 to 21 Darwin St.[ these 2 houses being exactly opposite each other] between1915 & 1918:  it is thought it was 1915-1917. And in the 1918 book he is given at 21, Darwin Street with his married sister, Elizabeth & husband, John, Allen. Here they stay through to 1932 [the Allens moving out after Spring 1924 and appearing at 3, Marcia Road in Autumn,1924].[ Jessie’s half sister, Maud White, leaves 10, Darwin St. by 1931. This is probably what prompted William John & Jessie to move out in 1932.]. . . .

There was a pub quite close by, the Globe, at 20 Darwin Street:- up to 1915 at least, and no. 21 itself was a pub in 1881C.. . .. . . . . .. . http://deadpubs.co.uk/LondonPubs/SouthwarkStGeorgeMartyr/index.shtml - for these details .

Jessie's children said that she was always working, from the moment she got up until she went to bed. Her mother, Hannah, lived with them until her death in 1922.

In their later lives, only daughter Jessie Maude(until her tragic death in 1944) & son Len (over in South Africa) adhered strongly to the Catholic faith. The other 5 seem to have lapsed when they got married. But Bill baptised his son ,John, a catholic?

According to Eva’s daughter, Audrey,(who is the only grandchild old enough to remember her granddad, her beloved ”Nannie” and her Aunt Jessie), William used to say: No wonder I have no luck, as my children don’t go to church.

William John Lyons went into the Army during the World War I.[Maybe the 1916 photos of his wife and the 3 children were taken for him to have with him in the army] .

The children went to the Paragon School in Searles Road in their early years and then on to different secondary schools. Hilda to the Mina Road Central School.

Eva to Monnow Road School, Bermondsey Central School for Girls.

He obviously believed in education as he enabled Francis to make full use of his scholarship, to gain entrance to the Mercers school (even though Latin had to be mastered by the 11 year old in 6 months)

Len to
Bill to ......and,probably, to Priestmead School in Kenton

It will probably not be possible to ascertain where Jessie attended secondary school. Dennis went to Priestmead School in Kenton.

According to Hilda, each child had their own chore to do in the household. Hilda ‘s job was the stairs , whilst Len’s was scrubbing the kitchen table and Bill's was cleaning the shoes. They had to change out of their uniforms on their return from school. Washing occupied all day on Mondays. (As it seemed to do a generation later in the 1950s in my childhood in Wanstead Park & Woodford, albeit for a much smaller family unit). Mother Jessie made all the children’s clothes using McCalls patterns and material from the market. (These patterns were still in existence up to the 1980s at least & certainly Joan & Eva also made their children’s clothes.) A photo of William’s eldest 3 children, aged ~ 6,4 & 1, shows most elaborate clothes – no doubt for very special occasions. With each new birth, the first outing for the baby was to church to be baptised.

1922 Mother-in-law Hannah Sullivan[Andrews] dies10/02/1922 at 21,Darwin Street,[Southwark], aged 71. d.c.. DS1 .

1923 6/12/1923. Father, Timothy Lyons, dies, aged 71.Death Certificate .D3. Buried in Leytonstone Cemetery, 13/12/1923. Have English Martyrs’ record.

1924. 5/03/1924. Mother, Elizabeth Lyons, dies, aged 69..Death Certificate .D4 . Buried in Leytonstone Cemetery, 10 /03/1924. Have English Martyrs’ record. She left a will and £27.

Late 1920s & Early 1930s. They were the only family in Darwin Street in which the children had proper, measured, shoes. Also William had a car before they left there. [ Info. passed on from son Bill]

1932.  Moved to 9,Kenton Gardens, Harrow. The purchasing of 9, Kenton Gardens must have been a very big step for William & family. And it was bought with cash! Jessie's sister, Maud White, had moved from Darwin Street to Brockley Gardens on 14/11/1930, and this made William to consider moving. Initially he had thought of Surbiton where he had a friend, but obviously found this repossessed house in Kenton an attractive prospect. He had a telephone here by 1933,[Wordsworth 1218] unusual for those times, but perhaps William could justify it for his work. They used to go to Belgium & France for their holidays; by boat to Ostend, and  then by land along the coast to Blankenberghe & Heist: the photo of them at the start of this page was taken on such a holiday.  One or more of their children would accompany them on these holidays: certainly known that both Hilda & Eva did. . A new passport was obtained in 1937, but this was never used.  

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. .William in Blankenberghe ~ 1936 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .Blankenberghe Belgium

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.Jessie & William Blankenberghe ~1936 . . . . . . . .Jessie, William , Jessie & 'not Joan White' c. 1943, south coast?

Audrey's recollections of her grandparents: Number 9 cat called Noodle, also a dog. Nannie took her to the Odeon cinema in Kenton a few times.Despite his fearful reputation, WJL was very kind to his little granddaughter.

Audrey still has no recollection of the Loudwater temporary home, a real mystery this one. I definitely recall Dad mentioning the place and my "Aunt CIS" (Eileen's cousin), now aged 90, -2011- says Eileen used to stay there at weekends to escape the blitz.

Occupation.  From being a salesman in 1920 he worked tremendously hard and became a successful Fur and Skin Trader. I cannot find him listed in any Trade Directories as such and JL has confirmation that he was never a member of the Leathersellers Guild.. He appears to have worked by himself and used to say that his diary was his office. He worked in the Fur industry, his passport stating that he was a fur and skin broker. This included buying furs from the Hudson Bay Company, whose auctions were held at Garlick Hill, EC4. From Joan White I have learnt that 'William had bought up the entire stock of a particular fur which was not popular at the time. He stored it and later when it was in demand sold the lot at a good profit . Because of his association with the fur trade it had been felt that WJL was Jewish'. Family lore, from son William/Bill 1920 through to his son John 1946, says that he used to socialize at the pub with a cousin Stephie, who had son[s] working for this company. I think that this would have been Stephen Patrick Lyons[bottom of Michael Lyons page] 1882, who indeed had 3 sons. Some of these sons are thought to have emigrated to Canada. I have failed to find any Canada immigration for any of these 3 through to 1935.[ these records being on Ancestry] .Dec2009. I contacted the HBC in Canada, and they replied they had no such Lyons records ,Jan 2010. And in Jan2011, I discovered the eldest son, Stephen James Lyons 1906 emigrated to Melbourne in 1955

1939. Appears on the Electoral Roll at 9 Kenton Gardens, with wife Jessie and son, Francis William. Children Bill 1920, Jessie 1923 & Dennis 1925 too young to appear, but also no mention of Len 1917. Neighbours the same as in 1944 when the fateful V1 struck.

During the war, they rented a cottage at Loudwater, near High Wycombe, to escape from the bombs. It is thought this cottage/bungalow belonged to a friend. But they had returned to Harrow from there by summer 1944, thinking that the danger from attacks had died down. Jessie had indeed tried to persuade her sister, Maud, to stay with them at Kenton, feeling this was a safer place than Brockley.

Once war broke out in Sept. 1939, he soon decided to make a will, and this ,dated 6/10/1940, states he was a temporary Government clerk, and he left everything to Jessie, his wife. His children, Eva & Frank, were the administrators of this. A copy of the probate can be seen lower down. Eva and husband, Harry, were the witnesses for the will.
William was still working [ almost certainly still as a government clerk, for the UNRRA - see later] in 1944 when a doodlebug(German V1) flattened 9, Kenton Gardens soon after 8a.m.on 28 June – Jessie’s 61st birthday. Daughter Jess had returned from Cheltenham, where she was seconded to the American Air Force, the previous night to be with her mother on her birthday. William was taken to Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital but was declared dead before any of his relatives arrived there.The two Jessies were killed outright, Eva’s husband, Harry, having to identify young Jessie who was unrecognisable. Brother-in-law, George White, was called upon to identify bodies. Son Bill,1920, was informed by War Office telegram whilst serving with the RAF in Ceylon.

Poignantly, Jessie must have written a postcard to her daughter, Eva, the night before the bomb, this being postmarked ~2 hours after they were killed - it was probably posted that morning by Dennis on his way to work.

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Died 28/06/44 Killed by a doodlebug at 9 Kenton Gardens. D.C 7.

UNRRA stands for United Nations Relief & Rehabilitation Ass.: somewhat curious, as UN only established in 1945!!

Possess probate document-see below, record of deaths in Civilian War Dead, [giving the 3 Lyons , Ann Littleton, 9, at no.11 and Emma Mason, 57, at no. 13 on the same page] ,newspaper article from 1985 on Kenton Garden fly bomb and an eyewitness account of the bomb and its aftermath from Newton Myers,aged 12 at the time, who lived two houses away in 5 Kenton Gardens. CWGC site also lists 9 of the dead.

Neighbours and those who died in June 1944:

5 Kenton Gardens. Myers, father( mother had died at start of 1944), Barbara daughter aged about 22, died c.2003, (married in 1942 to Lou) & Newton (12).
7 Kenton Gardens. Delport( Suzanne & Vincent, in publishing).
9 Kenton Gardens. Lyons( William, Jessie, Jessie(21) & Dennis(19, & not in house that morning).
11 Kenton Gardens. Littleton( Mr & Mrs G.S., & 3 children, only 1 of whom, Ann, aged 9 ,seems to have died).Also Brian Fosbrook Purdy, aged 8, and his mother Ivy Ellen Purdy, aged 38, of 11 Kenton Gardens, died.[ Father & husband was Harold Fosbrook Purdy, RAF]. Were the Littletons & Purdys related? : the Purdys were not on the 1939 Electoral Roll
13 Kenton Gardens. Mason , Emma, 57, died. Husband was William Louis.

15 Kenton Gardens . Amelia Alice Emily Rohrs, 58, died. She was wife of Herman John Fletcher Rohrs.

3 Kenton Lane[ this is at the bottom of the gardens of the above Kenton Gardens houses] . Alan John Michaelis, aged 7 hours, was injured here and died at Harrow & Wealdstone Hospital

A total of 13[ of who only the 9 mentioned above found on CWGC site] people were killed by this V1. All 3 Lyonses are recorded on the CWGC site[ no extra details]; another 6 of the dead from this doodlebug also listed .

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Destruction of Kenton Gardens.

Probate was granted on 14/12/44 .William left £5,366.7.4.gross and £3,462.7.6.net.

Only one of their 8 grandchildren can remember them and they never knew of the existence of the last four of them. They were buried in Wealdstone cemetery on 1/7/1944 in a private grave; I have never seen their grave but hope to see it within the next year.

 

Grave owner in 1944 Francis Lyon (singular), 2 Parkway, Woodford Green, Essex (Eva's address at the time).

 

Transferred to "Son & Brother" 63 Marshworth Ave Pinner, meaning Marsworth - Dennis's address although he is not named. No details recorded as to the circumstances or date. From this JL imagines 'that between them they reckoned that Dennis (as the youngest) plus with your Dad moving to Northants, a transfer would make sense'.

 

Also had it confirmed that burial rights were granted for 100 years, although it was pointed out that with 3 of them in there the grave was deemed full. At the end of the 100 year term the grave will be left untouched, the council do not re-use graves or remove headstones.

 

You will see from the record that Ann Littleton is also buried there = Wealdstone cemetery?. JL has images with these details from Wealstone cemetery .

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The church that they attended, All Saints, has no record of their funeral: maybe the Chapel that then existed in Wealdstone cemetery was used. It is thought a wake might have taken place at the Rest Hotel, which still stands.??Funeral at Kenton Catholic Church -priest(MauriceT Beckett)??

Map showing the St.Mary the Virgen Church, but this was not the one they attended , rather All Saints, further away,

Places he lived. Photos of houses 1880-1932 .

• 1880-1.   1 Swan Mead
• 1883    57, Pepler Road
• 1885     41 Stamford Street
• 1888     11 Goldsmith Terrace Peckham
• 1891.    34, Kinross Street
• 1891 . . 10 Block D, Peabody Buildings, Bermondsey
• 1898-1908. 9, Wilds Rents
• 1909 Mount Street, Bethnal Green. -address on m.c.
• 1910-11. 21, Portsmouth Building, Tower Bridge Rd., Bermondsey.
• 1912-1932 Darwin Street ,first at no.10 until 1915, then at no.21.
• 1933-1944 9, Kenton Gardens

 

Children of William John Lyons: Hilda. . Eva. Frank . Len. . Bill. . Dennis . Jessie

 

Timothy Lyons, his father

Lyons family front page