1901 Census

Introduction

The 1901 Census revealed that many of the first residents of Stratford Village had moved from Essex and the Home Counties, or further afield such as Devon or Scotland, coming to Stratford to work in the transport or railway industries.

Many houses were occupied by young families, but there were also some households with three generations of family members. A number of households included young working men who were boarding in the house, and presumably working locally.

Young unmarried daughters living at home were often working in the garment industries.

The Railway industry

Many residents were working in the railway industry.  For example, David Baker (aged 37), an Engine Driver, was living at 17 Aldworth Road with his wife Elizabeth, son David (15 years) who was a GPO messenger, daughter Edith (11 years), son Charles (8 years) and baby Harold.  William Godfrey, at 135 Tennyson Road was a Railway Checker, and Albert Hubbbard, who lived at 108 Tennyson Road, was  a Railway Engine Foreman.

Transport (horsedrawn)

Stratford Village was just outside London, but in 1900 London needed some 300,000 horses to keep it moving (see  http://www.horsetrust.org.uk/history/yesterday/yesterday-londonsworkinghorses/).

The North Metropolitan Tramways Company operated horse tramways from the City to East London from 1870 until it introduced electrification in 1903 (see https://www.transporttrust.com/heritage-sites/heritage-detail/west-ham-tram-depot).

William Forryan (aged 29) was a Tram Driver.  He was born in Leicester, and in 1901 lived in 16 Aldworth Road with this wife Mary, and their five children – William Junior (aged 5), Arthur (aged 3), Ivy (aged 2) and baby twins Thomas and Lilian.

A Carman was a delivery driver, using a horse and cart to transport goods from one place to another.  William Lewish, at 9 Maiden Road, was a Carman (dairy).

Nathan Nenns, aged 46 from Buckinghamshire, was a Blacksmith who lived at 16 Faringford Road. He and his wife had three children – Lilia (19), Margaret (16) and Emmeline (15) who were Dressmakers.

Other trades

Ann Dobell, aged 44, at 13 Maiden Road was a Dressmaker, born in Bethnal Green and husband Henry was a Confectionery Worker. Alfred Gilbert, at 112 Tennyson Road was a Musician, and Police Constable Leech, from Suffolk, boarded at 12 Vernon Road.