In April 1898 three boys appeared at the Harlesden police court. They were Henry Wills (16) no fixed abode, Frank Griffin (16), 90 Roundwood Road, and Thomas Chinnery (14), of 9 Rucklidge Avenue. In a field at night, they had used a stolen spade to dig what they called a ‘cave’ which was five feet, by 4ft and 3ft deep. The hole was covered by a roof of corrugated iron and zinc sheets with the earth from the hole piled on top. They had stolen food valued at £1 11s 3d, from Joseph Bayley grocer’s van parked at 94 Burns Road Harlesden. The haul consisted of, condensed milk, tea, coffee, sugar, jam, tinned salmon, sardines, golden syrup, rice, cocoa, oatmeal, candles, and matches. Then they raided a dovecot in the garden of 20 Charlton Road belonging to Francis Amos Willett, and stole 20 of his pigeons. The boys lived in the cave for over a week, dining well on the stolen food and cooking pigeons in a bucket over a fire. On Saturday morning 24 March, Francis Willett confronted the boys
Stories about the history of Kilburn, Willesden, West Hampstead and other parts of London by Dick Weindling and Marianne Colloms. You can contact us using the drop down button on the right side of the page next to search. If you want to be alerted about new stories please send your email. Our companion blog has stories about Hampstead, Camden Town, Holborn and Swiss Cottage: https://historyofcamden.blogspot.com/