51. Henry and Fanny Larard of South London

Henry Larard was born in 1841 in Vauxhall, Lambeth. His parents were James and Harriett Larard. In 1861, Henry was at home in Kennington, and a watchmaker.

Frances (Fanny) Mousley was born in 1847 in Ellesmere, Shropshire. Her parents were Thomas and Rebecca Mousley. Her mother was from South London, and, although she was brought up in Shropshire, one of her sisters was born in Lambeth, indicating a continued connexion with the area.

Henry and Fanny married at St John's Church, Croydon in 1870. I was brought up in Croydon in the 1970s. We moved there from the English Midlands, with no idea that our ancestor had made the same move. At this time, plenty of people liked to refer to Croydon as being in Surrey. The reality was that it had become part of London in 1965 but that it still has a different feel to neighbouring Boroughs closer to the river, such as Lambeth and Sutton. Croydon's main claim to fame was that Britain's only international airport had been based there. It was founded in 1915 and served London through the interwar years, finally closing in 1959.

St John's Church, Croydon - where James and Fanny married (my photo)

Until 1890, London (strictly speaking) meant only the square mile of the City. The area which was Surrey until this time had been conquered by Saxons in the C5 and C6. Surrey may have formed part of a larger Middle Saxon confederacy, also including areas north of the Thames. Surrey is derived from Sūþrīge (Suthrige), meaning "southern region", and this probably refers directly to the River Thames. Surely, the eight London Boroughs once in Surrey could be allowed to be in the ceremonial county?

The arrival in Croydon of the railways and in the C19 led to a 23-fold increase in population between 1801 and 1901. This led to considerable health problems, especially in the damp and overcrowded working class district of Old Town. In response to this, in 1849 Croydon became one of the first towns in the country to acquire a Local board of health. The Board constructed public health infrastructure including a reservoir, water supply network, sewers, a pumping station and sewage disposal works. The pumping station still stands, near Surrey St Market, where they still use the same four-wheeled hand trolleys which they did when I were a lad.

Croydon Pumping Station (my photo)

Surrey Street Market (my photo)

My other photos of the town are here.

In 1871, Henry was a watchmaker at 284 Clapham Road, Kennington. It seems unlikely that he would recognise the place as it is now. As well as his wife, and a servant, his brother Sidney was staying with him.

This was also the year that Henry and Fanny had their only child:

• 58.1.1 - Ernest James Larard (1871)

More on this individual in Chapter 58.

Two years later, Henry was dead, at age 31. Henry, we understand, had inherited a successful business from his father. But now Fanny was left needing to support herself and her infant son. So, our understanding is that she sold the business, in exchange for an annuity. She lived for another 40 years on this income but, of course, there was nothing to leave to her son.

In 1881, Fanny - now 'Frances' - was visiting a widowed artist and designer, James Marples, and his daughter in Seacombe, Wallasey, Cheshire. Seacombe is one of the terminals of the Mersey Ferry. In 1891, she is living with her son and his wife in Kings Norton. In 1911, she is living on her own at 'Rookby', Park Road, Sutton Coldfield. She died in (or near) Tamworth in 1922, a coincidence with John Wheaver's similar move at the end of his life in the previous chapter.

Next (Henry's siblings)