Some history on Westminster in London

London | Westminster

Column-2

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

A fine inter-war view of The Strand with St. Clement Danes Church. This is a much different building in the 21st century. Erected at a cost of £8,787 and opened in 1688, it is one of Sir Christopher Wren's designs carried out by the masons, Edward Pearce and John Shorthose. On the widening of the two thoroughfares around the church in 1813-14, by Alderman Pickett, the south portico, with six Ionic columns, was removed.¹ The church was badly damaged by aerial bombing during World War 2 and was not restored until a decade later. It was rededicated in October 1958 and became the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.² This is said to be the "Oranges and Lemons" church, the bells also being restored after WW2. The photographer would have been stood outside the bank next to the East Strand Post Office. A sign next to this advertises Coombes, The Old Picture Shop at No.175 The Strand, almost midway between Surrey Street and Norfolk Street.

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

Five women are posing for a photograph with a male member of staff, possibly the station supervisor or stationmaster. This is an important social history item as the women had just been appointed as ticket collectors due to a shortage of men in the First World War. This presented women with a foothold into the transport sector. A short article in the Daily News, published in June 1915, remarked that "The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway station at Victoria is the latest to adopt the woman ticket collector, 13 having been put on duty at the barriers during the last two days. They had completed a month's training at the company's main station at London Bridge." One of the women, daughter of a railwayman, said: "I like the work very much because I am out in the open air all day. It is much better than working in a stuffy office." The women at Victoria Railway Station were on duty 10 hours a day, including two for meals and leisure. It was reported that "the company is treating them generously in the way of pay." ³

Column-3

© Photo taken by author on October 31st, 2008. DO NOT COPY

Column-4

"At Westminster Court on Wednesday, Daniel Peter Cronin, builder and contractor, of 1 Mount Villas, Chiswick, was charged on a summons with assaulting George Edwards, a ticket collector in the service of the District Railway Company at their Victoria Station. Mr. J. Hix Osborn appeared to support the summons, and Mr. Paul Taylor was counsel for the defendant. On the night of the 28th ult. it appeared that defendant wished to obtain access to the departure platform by going down the wrong staircase. Complainant pointed out the mistake, and stepped in front, when defendant threw him down seven stairs, hurting him. Complainant got up, and a struggle took place, and they both fell to the bottom of a flight of 21 steps, defendant being uppermost. Mr. Taylor said his client was not served with a summons till after he had written to the manager of the company demanding an apology. Mr. D'Eyncourt said he, the defendant, was the aggressor, either from hasty temper or drink, and imposed a fine of 40s. and costs, or 10 days, or 10 days. The money was paid."
"Assault At Victoria Station"
Chelsea News & General Advertiser : September 15th 1888 Page 6

"Patrick O'Brien, a private in the East Yorkshire Regiment, on furlough from Sheffield, was finally examined, at the Westminster Police Court yesterday, on a charge of wounding Margaret Price, a servant out of place, at Carlisle Place, Westminster, on the night of the 19th ult. The prosecutrix alleged that the prisoner knocked her down and kicked her till she became insensible. He assaulted a man who attempted to detain him, but was taken into custody about two hours afterwards the worse for drink in the same locality. Mr. John L. Haig, house physician at Westminster Hospital, said that the prosecutrix was brought to the hospital on the night of the 19th ult. She was badly knocked about, having several wounds about the scalp and face. One semicircular cut round the right eye was the most serious, and it had not yet healed. The injuries might have been occasioned with a blunt instrument or falling on stones. Prosecutrix had been drinking when she was admitted to the hospital, but she could not be described as drunk. Prosecutrix, recalled and cross-examined by Mr. Dutton, who defended the prisoner for the first time, said she was a respectable servant, waiting for her sweetheart on the night in question. She had left her place four weeks when this happened, and was doing nothing for her living. She had been twice convicted for drunkenness, once charged with attempted suicide, and once with felony at the instance of her mother. She could not now remember whether she was drinking in public-houses with the prisoner on the night in question, but she recollected drinking with three Scots Guardsmen whom she saw in the court. Mr. D. Eyncourt said that after these admissions he should not send the prisoner for trial, as he originally intended. He was satisfied that the prosecutrix was in company with the prisoner, and that she did not tell the whole truth. Under all the circumstances he would deal with him, and sentence him to two months' hard labour."
"The Westminster Assault Case"
Morning Post : January 9th 1890 Page 2

"A murderous attack by a supposed burglar was committed last night at the curiosity shop known as Vieweg's in Westminster Bridge Road. A little after nine o'clock Charles Linke, a partner in the firm, quitted the shop for a short time. leaving a servant girl in charge. On returning he found a man inside the shop, the door of which had been left ajar, although the premises had been closed for the night. The supposed burglar closed with Mr. Linke, who, in a desperate struggle that followed, received several blows on the head with a life-preserver. After felling his victim the intruder escaped, and has not yet been arrested. Mr. Linke was conveyed to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he now lies in a serious condition."
"Murderous Assault"
Daily News [London] : December 18th 1913 Page 2

---

References
1. "St. Clement Danes Church" : St James's Gazette; August 5th, 1898. p.12.
2. "The R.A.F. Church" : The Sphere; September 13th, 1958. p.31.
3. "Women Ticket Collectors" : London Daily News; June 26th, 1915. p.8.

---