History of Kilburn and West Hampstead

In November 1913 Dr Blair, a Black doctor appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court. The events leading up to the case tell a sad story. In September 23-year old Annie Horton from Wales, was employed as a maid and companion for Dr Blair’s wife at 194 Fordwych Road, (which is at the Cricklewood end of the road). She became pregnant by the doctor and was so distressed that she attempted to kill herself by taking salts of lemon. This was easily available, being used in photography and to remove ink stains, but was poisonous because it contained oxalic acid. Annie wrote a note to her landlady Mrs Penfold at 15 Canterbury Road Kilburn saying she was very sorry for doing it in her home and signed it A.E. Horton. The landlady called the police, and Annie survived but was then charged for attempting to commit suicide. In fact, this remained a crime until the 1961 Suicide Act. Detective Inspector Burrell told the Willesden court that Dr Blair had ruined Annie. DS Squires said the girl’s sister wh...

The evening of Monday 24 April 1893 was pleasantly warm. Around 9pm, the moon was rising over the working-class neighbourhood around Canterbury Road, South Kilburn, where the streets and pavements were busy with friends exchanging gossip and children playing. Indoor space here was at a premium; the eight or nine roomed terrace houses were generally shared between two or three large families. The 1891 census shows over 20 residents was the norm for the houses in Peel Road. So, if the weather permitted, they preferred to spend time outdoors. 1950's OS Map showing the Sir Robert Peel pub The Sir Robert Peel public house at the junction of Canterbury and Peel Roads was known familiarly as ‘The Peel’, a popular place for locals to socialise. As usual the landlord, Edward Pattenden was busy serving his regulars with drinks. He later told reporters, ‘We did not hear the crash as plainly as those outside.’ Sir Robert Peel (Historic England)   What had happened? The crash was likened by obs...

Following our last story about a magician in Willesden (see below), Jim Steinmeyer the Los Angeles expert on magicians, asked me if I could look for information about Campbell Gray Ltd who photographed the magicians Harry Houdini and David Devant. Houdini, about 1913, by Campbell Gray (Library of Congress) This proved very interesting, and I was surprised to find the man who ran the company lived in West Hampstead at one time.  The firm of Campbell Gray was begun in 1902 by A.J. Campbell and C.E. Gray. The first advert I could find by Campbell & Gray was in the paper ‘Cycling’ of 14 June 1902. On the 1 January 1904 they amalgamated to form Campbell-Gray and Edwards-Duncan Ltd with four named directors: A.J. Campbell, C.E. Gray, P.T. Edwards and C.W.W. Duncan. The company was registered with £3,000 in £1 shares to carry out a photographic business by A.J. Campbell and C.E. Gray at 17 Cheapside in the City, and by P.T. Edwards and C.W.W. Duncan at 173 Fleet Street. I found that C...