Crawley’s Park Hotel, Central Hill – site of the Virgo Fidelis Convent

Virgo Fidelis Convent on Central Hill

Bloomfield House 1895 Central Hill

Baptist Church Central Hill – on the corner of Gatestone Road

80 or 89 Central Hill

82 Central Hill 1854

80 Central Hill Lyndhurst

Central Hill 1972

John Lee Bakery 1925

Talbots Cycle and Auto Stores Central Hill

Talbot Stores Leaflet

Present Images of Central Hill Architecture and Buildings

Formerly 71 Central Hill and home of Walter Whittard founder of the tea company- now 1 Essex Mews off Central Hill – double fronted Victorian house with recessed porch, dormer roof windows, London brick with alternate colours- courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

79 Central Hill – sash windows, decorated brickwork, recessed porch and stucco work – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

73 and 75 Central Hill – the latter home of Alexander Bassano famous Victorian photographer – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

67 and 69 Central Hill cottages – stucco, chimneys, sash windows – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

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  63 Central Hill - courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

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  61 Central Hill - courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

57 Central Hill – former solicitor’s – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

57 Central Hill – former solicitor’s – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

99 Central Hill- wrought iron balustrades, balconies, metal awnings, decorated stone work, recessed porch – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

55 Central Hill – Central Lodge – sash windows, chimney pots, stucco, recessed porch

49 and 51 Central Hill – recessed porch, sash windows, dormer roof windows, London brick and stucco, chimney pots – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

41 Central Hill – recessed porch, sash windows , chimney pots, bargeboards – courtesy of R. Hibberd February 2021

A timeline for 57 to 61 Central Hill

1851 Census

Rushmore Lodge

Mr Thomas Twiddy Head 35 Cheesemonger (Born Monmouthshire, Wales)

Mrs Jane Twiddy Wife 32 (Born Newbury Berkshire)

Thomas Twiddy Son 8 (Born Southwark, London)

Mary Twiddy Daughter 5 (Born Southwark, London)

John Twiddy Son 5 (Born Southwark, London)

Henry Twiddy Son 3 (Born Southwark, London)

Emily Twiddy Daughter 1 (Born Southwark, London)

Esther Twiddy Daughter 4 months (Born Norwood, Surrey)

Charles Greenhill Servant 30 (Born Bormby, Middlesex)

Elizabeth Duke Nurse Maid 19 (Born Norwood, Surrey)

Ann Baud Head Widow 73 Refurnishing houses (Born Bray, Berkshire)

John Baud Son 31 Agent for Brandford House (Born London, England)

Martha Baud Daughter 30 (Born Carham, Buckinghamshire)

Martha Baud Half Daughter 1 (Born Croydon, Surrey)

Miss Baud Half Daughter 2 months (Born Croydon, Surrey)

Miss Cransdown 18 House Servant (Born Chertsey, Surrey)

Samuel Bell Head 44 Fish Comber and Catcher (Born St Margaret’s Hill, London)

Mary Bell Wife 47 (Born Portsea)

Mary Bell Daughter 21 (Born St Magnus, London)

Maria Bell Daughter 20 (Born St Magnus, London)

Lydia Bell Daughter 19 Scholar (Born St Magnus, London)

Eileen Bell Daughter 16 Scholar (Born St Magnus, London)

Adeline Bell Daughter 15 Scholar (Born St Magnus, London)

James Bell Son 14 Scholar (Born St Magnus, London)

Emily Bell Daughter 12 Scholar (Born St Magnus, London)

Frederick Bell Son 8 Scholar (Born Croydon, Surrey)

Sarah Gambling Servant 27 (Born Romsey, Hants)

Mary Hooker Servant 23 (Born Bishopsgate, London)

1861 Census

John Band Head 41 Communal Insurance Clerk (Born Barrington, Middlesex)

Martha Band Wife 41 (Born Cookham, Berkshire)

Martha Band Daughter 11 Scholar (Born Croydon, Surrey)

Louis Band Son 10 Scholar (Born Croydon, Surrey)

Helen Band Daughter 8 Scholar (Croydon, Surrey)

George Band Son 6 Scholar (Born Croydon, Surrey)

John Baker Hoyle Boarder 52 Share and Money Broker (Marylebone, Middlesex)

James Clark Head 52 Fun Holder (Born Middlesex, England)

Elizabeth Penny Daughter 20 (Born Middlesex)

Martha Buder Daughter 6 Scholar (Surrey, England)

Rebecca Walker Cook 21 (Cambridgeshire, England)

Elizabeth Gurney House Maid 30 (Middlesex, England)

Thomas Land Head 22 Boot Maker (Born Troston, Devon)

Eliza Land Wife 24 (Born Troston, Devon)

Thomas Land Son 1 month (Norwood, Surrey)

1871 Census

1 Rushmore Lodge

Elizabeth Sampson Lodger 69 (Born Bruton, Somerset, England)

Philip Gibson Head 31 Estate Agent (Ongar, Essex, England)

Edith Gibson Wife 30 (Born Colchester, Essex, England)

Edith H Gibson Daughter Scholar 6 (Born Chelmsford, Essex)

Mabel Gibson Daughter Scholar 4 (Born Blackheath, Kent)

Annie E Gruber Housemaid  22 (Born Soho Square, London)

Charlotte Hitchcock Servant 17 (Born Sudbury, Suffolk)

2 Rushmore Lodge

John Anderson Head 42 Russian Wine Merchant  and General Agent (Born Clapham, Surrey)

Emma Anderson Wife 33 (Born Hackney, Middlesex)

Isabella Anderson Daughter 11 Scholar (Born Forest Hill, Kent)

John Anderson Son 10 Scholar (Born Forest Hill, Kent)

Vincent Anderson Son 8 Scholar (Born Forest Hill, Kent)

Frederick Anderson Son 6 Scholar (Born, Sydenham, Kent)

Henry Anderson Son 4 (Born Sydenham, Kent)

Hugh Anderson Son 2 (Born Norwood, Surrey)

Ann Lightfoot Servant 20 (Born Market Street, Luton, Bedfordshire)

1881 Census

Frederick Smithers Head 40 Fishmonger (Born St Olave’s, Surrey)

Caroline Smithers Wife 48 (Born Newington, Surrey)

Nina Smithers Daughter 24 (Born Lambeth, Surrey)

Lucy Smithers Daughter 22 (Born Lambeth, Surrey)

Walter Smithers Son 14 Clerk to Cabinet Maker (Born Lambeth, Surrey)

Richard Stapf Boarder 24 Clerk to Merchant (Born Norwood, Surrey)

1882 Street Directory

John Marshall Confectioner

Smither and Co Fishmongers

1884 Street Directory

H E Leader Confectioner

1. Lines Grocer

1886 Street Directory

H E Leader Confectioner

Charles Davies Baker and Confectioner

1887 Croydon Street Renumbering

49 2 Rushmore

51 1 Rushmore Charles Davies Baker and Confectioner

53 H E Leader Confectioner

1889 Street Directory

51 George Davies Baker

49 A F and J M Davy Builders

1891 Census

49 Arthur Facey Davy Head 42 Builder (Born Reading, Berkshire)

49 Letitia Davy Wife 45 (Born London)

49 Beatrice Graves Servant 16  (Born Tavistock, Devon)

49 William Adam Boarder 23 Carpenter (Born England)

51 George Davies Head 39 Baker and Confectioner (Born Carwather, Camarthenshire)

51Ellen Davies Wife 51(Born London)

51Charles Davies Father Widower 79 Superior Officer of Inland Revenue (Born Pimlico,

Middlesex)

51 Louise Eatwell Assistant 19 (Born Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire)

51 Fred Reever Foreman Baker 26 (Born Great Waltham, Essex)

51 Garner Rasher Journeyman Baker 23 (Born East Rudham, Norfolk)

51 mary Crossley Lodger Post Office Clerk 39 (Born St John’s Wood, London)

1892

51 Central Hill Bakery

49 Arthur Facey Davy Builder

1901 Census

49 Arthur Facey Davey Head Widower Builder (Born Maristow, Devon)

49 J Cowley Boarder Widower 67 Living on own means (Born Newcastle Upon Tyne)

49 E Kinswell Housekeeper  Widow 54 (Born Keyston, Surrey)

49 N Blackman Servant 46 (Born Wandsworth, Surrey)

51 John Lee Head Bread Baker 39 (Born Sheerness, Kent)

51 Jessie Lee Wife 41 (Born Pimlico, London)

51 Mercie Farrell Baker’s Assistant 26 (Born Westminster, London)

51 Ada Moxley Servant 15 (Born Kensington, London)

51 George Harvey Journeyman Baker 20 (Born Croydon, Surrey)

53 George Mead Head 29 Shopkeeper and Confectioner (Born Croydon, Surrey)

53 Emma Mead Wife 24 (Born Cranleigh, Surrey)

53 Annie Mead Sister 20 Confectioner’s Shop Assistant (Born Croydon, Surrey)

1904 Street Directory

51 John Lee Baker

1908 Street Directory

51 John Lee Baker

49 Excelsior Boot Company

1911 Census

49 Arthur Monday Head 25 Boot Repairer (Born Southampton, Hants)

49 Ellen Monday Wife 24 Baker (Born Cardiff, Wales)

51 John Lee Head 48 Baker (Born Sheerness, Kent)

51 Jessie Lee Wife 50 (Born Pimlico, London)

51 Ada Moxey Niece 25 Assisting in business (Born Kensington, London)

51 Emma Hundley Assistant in shop 20 (Born Lambeth, London)

53 George Mead Head 39 Painter (Born Croydon, Surrey)

53 Emma Mead Wife 36 (Cranleigh, Surrey)

53 Dorothy Mead Daughter 8 (Born Norwood, Surrey)

53 Marjorie Mead Daughter 6 (Born Norwood, Surrey0

53 May Mead Daughter 4 (Norwood, Surrey)

53 Beatrice Young Niece Shop Assistant Confectionary 18 (Born Paddington, London)

1914 Street Directory

59 John Lee Baker

1916 Street Directory

59 John Lee Baker

1921 Census

57 John Page Head 41Assurance Agent for Prudential Assurance (Born Teddington, London)

57 Sarah Page 46 (Born Bermondsey, London)

57 John Page Son 14 (Born Bow, London)

57 Charles Page 14 (Born Bow, London)

59 John Lee Head Baker 57 (Born Sheerness, Kent)

59 Georgina Rodgers Widowed Servant 76 (Born Marylebone, London)

59 George Thompson Head 27 Schoolmaster at Dulwich College (Born Middlesex, England)

59 Heather Thompson Wife 24 (Born India)

59 Sheila Thompson Daughter 1 (Born Capel St Mary, Suffolk)

59 Olive Downie Servant 31 (Born Lambeth, London)

59 Margaret Broad 29 (Born Toxteth, Liverpool, Lancs)

59 Blanche Wells 19 (Thornton Heath, London)

1922 Street Directory

59 John Lee Baker

57 C. T Wyatt Boot Repairer

1871 Electoral Register

Corwn lane, Norwood. Joah Bates

113/123 Central Hill

1881 Census

Westwood, Central Hill  Mr Joah Edward Bates 41 Clerk of Special Commerces Department, Somerset House W C, Mary Augusta Bates 42 Wife, Margaret Bertha Bates Daughter 17 Scholar, Annie Ada Fanny Bates Daughter 16 Scholar, Joah Edward Lionel Bates 13 Scholar, Florence Gertrude Wakefield Bates Daughter 11 Scholar, Gertrude Bates Daughter 11 Scholar, Sarah Alexander Servant 40.

1891 Census

113 Central Hill. Joah E Bates 52 Upper Division Clerk of the Inland Revenue, Mary A Bates Wife 52, Joah E L Bates Son 23 Medical Student,  Florence G W Bates Daughter 21, Jane Kent Servant  Widow 59

1904 Street Directory

113 Central Hill.  Joah Edward Lionel Bates. Physician and Surgeon.

1911 Census

11 Central Hill.  Joah Bates 43 Medical Surgeon.  Edith Bates Wife 36, Joah Lyon Bates Son 2.  Alice King Servant 24.  Louisa Gardener Servant 36.

1916 Street Directory

123 Central Hill.  Joah Edward Lionel Bates. Physician and Surgeon.

1922 Street Directory

123 Central Hill.  Joah Edward Lionel Bates.  Physician and Surgeon and medical officer.  No 1A district, Croydon Union.

The Convent of the Faithful Virgin, Upper Norwood

The Convent, with its Presbytery, schools and Orphanage, had an adventurous experience. We gather from notes of the diary of Father Larkin, who has kindly allowed us to use them, that:September, 1939, the children were evacuated and an  A.R.P. post was established at the school, but the usual return came and, a month later in 1940, the A.R.P. post was given up and the school re-opened; but the orphanage was occupied by N.A.A.F.I.

In September, 1940, a bomb fell in the Convent quadrangle, doing no damage, but as a result the old and infirm nuns were evacuated. In November the Chapel windows were badly shaken. In May, 1941, bombs on both sides of the Church  did no serious damage. The Parish members now went down steadily, ” all young people gone-army or W.A.A.F.”

In 1942 the school was itself again, with 232 children, but on one occasion there was minor damage to Church and school. In 1944, after minor damage from bombs on Central Hill and Crown Dale on June 29th a Spitfire turned a flying bomb and caused it to fall between the Presbytery and the Convent, destroying the Presbytery and doing much damage to windows, doors, roof-timbers and slates, and in the Convent leaving only the walls of the east wing intact. But by the Sunday the Church interior had been sufficiently cleaned to allow Mass to be said; in fact Mass was said daily in spite of conditions; parishioners made the Church secure, with continuance of lighting, and window spaces filled; they” ,stuck it even when umbrellas had to be raised in Church.” At the worst time the numbers fell to 145, but the year’s average was 33.