History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

Leonard Rosoman was born at 15 Dene Mansions, Dennington Park Road in West Hampstead on 27 October 1913. His parents were Henry Griffith Rosman a removal contactor and job master, and Lilian Blanche Spencer the daughter of a tailor. They soon separated and following their divorce, both remarried. From the age of five Leonard lived with his Spencer uncles and aunts at No.2 Priory Road. His father’s sister Bessie Bryne was a commercial artist who encouraged Leonard’s interest in drawing and took him to the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition and other galleries. Leonard went to Kingsgate infant school Kilburn, and then to Deacon’s School in Peterborough where he lived with his mother and an unsympathetic stepfather.   Leonard Rosoman, by Baron 1955 (NPG) Leonard began training as an artist in Newcastle, then at the Royal Academy Schools and two years at the Central School of Arts and Crafts (1936-37). Influenced by Paul Gauguin and Paul Nash, his work began to be recogniz...

Fred Russell was born about 1882 in Bromley Kent and for some years like his father, he worked as a bricklayer. Then in 1900 Fred joined the Royal Engineers and rose through the ranks. He received his commission as Second Lieutenant in 1917, for meritorious service on the field of battle. Russell said he commanded the first wireless signal park in Baghdad. He was promoted to Captain and commanded 3,000 Turkish troops in 1919. He spoke several languages including Arabic and Hindustani and retired as a Captain from the Army in 1921.  Newspaper photo of Captain Fred Russell in 1934 We don’t know why or exactly when Russell became a domestic servant employment agent. In 1929 he advertised ‘The Home for Maids’ at ‘Holmdale Lodge’, No.18 Holmdale Road West Hampstead and an employment agency for domestic servants at 122 Kilburn High Road, above Alexander The Tailors, near the corner with Quex Road. Russell also offered, in return for a fee, training to operate an employment ag...

In the early morning of Thursday 23 May 1935, a fire broke out in Salusbury Road in West Kilburn near the junction with Lonsdale Road. Leopold Rabbitts, who the press wrongly call Mr Rabbit, was woken up by the frantic barking of Jock, his little wire-haired terrier. He found the room full of smoke and realising there was a fire, he quickly got his wife Gertrude and his teenage children Kathleen and John out to safety. He shouted to neighbours to raise the alarm. Then he went back to get Jock, but the flames forced him back and he fell down the stairs. The fire had started in Samuel Sidders and Son, a printing company where Leopold Rabbits was the caretaker, living above the works at No.115 Salusbury Road. The strong wind spread the fire quickly and soon several buildings were ablaze. In addition to the printing works, these were; Deacour Bros, briar pipe makers at No.107-109, Avery-Hardoll, who made garage petrol pumps at No.111, Harvey Nichols, the major Knightsbridge shop, w...