History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

In 1899 George Raymond Birt was living at 58 Compayne Gardens where he had recently moved from 20 Besize Grove , Belsize Park. But when Inspector Murphy and Superintendent Holmes from the City Police called at the house on 17 February with a warrant for his arrest, he was not there: he had gone on the run. Four weeks later the police received a tip-off and arrested him in Barnsbury. The officers took him by cab to the Minories Police Station where he was charged.  George Raymond Birt was no common criminal; he was the Chairman and Managing Director of the Millwall Docks with an annual salary of £2,000 (today equivalent to about £200,000). The New Millwall Docks, 1868 The Millwall Docks After more than two years building and difficulties obtaining the finance, the Millwall Docks eventually opened in March 1868 on the Isle of Dogs. It was one of the largest docks in London. George Birt who had previously been the superintendent of the Victoria Docks for ten years, was a