On the
Road
to
Seaford
A record of two journeys from Stamford Hill, London to Seaford, East Sussex in August and September 1877 taken from a notebook written and illustrated by members of the Crook family.
A record of two journeys from Stamford Hill, London to Seaford, East Sussex in August and September 1877 taken from a notebook written and illustrated by members of the Crook family.
Produced by Brendon
Franks for Seaford Museum & Heritage Society.
Diary transcription (March 2010) by Brendon Franks with the help of Sue Sutton, Archivist at Seaford Museum.
Copyright:
Seaford Museum & Heritage Society.
Contents
Sections:
1. On the Road to Seaford, August 1877.
2. To Seaford by Road, September 1877.
3. A Short History of the Crook Family of Seaford
- by Norman Crook.
4. Other items from the Crook Collection.
For more information about the Crook / Murray families please use this link: https://sites.google.com/site/peoplegen/crook/
4. Other items from the Crook Collection.
For more information about the Crook / Murray families please use this link: https://sites.google.com/site/peoplegen/crook/
On the Road
to Seaford
to Seaford
August 1877.
 |
| Warwick House, Stamford Hill c 1875 |
August 1st
Up at 4 o’clock, dull morning rather inclined for rain (had some in the night), very close and hot. Emma got us some Breakfast. Fred round with carriage in good time. Bank, Paine and boys helping pack the Baskets and bags. Two baskets one with provisions the other with night clothes etc. slung on behind to the back axle and we made a start from Warwick House, Stamford Hill, at 5/15. William had got the Horse ‘Philosopher’ and poney ‘Bessey’ ready which Tom and myself rode whilst Jenny, 6 chicks [children], Maria and Nurse were in Aunt Nancy’s Carriage. One horse we hired from Dyers at 8/8/- per month. Went steadily along thru Kingsland, Finsbury, over London Bridge, along Forley Street, Rotherithe, Deptford, Lewisham to Bromley arriving at the White Hart Hotel at 8/15 having travelled very slowly from Lewisham, letting the children take turns on the Horse and poney.
[Margin notes: 1. Mr. Lownds [White Hart Hotel] 2. 8/15]
The morning remained dull and threatened rain - had a good breakfast of poached eggs and Bacon, tea and Coffee including Freds’ and attendance £1. 4 s. —.
[Margin note: Bait horses]
Left at 11/30 and went on leasurely changing places the chicks [children] taking sides in turns and followed the road as sketch.
[Footnote: 3 Punnets Strawberries, Watering horses £0. 2. 6.]
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| Tunbridge Wells c 1875 - View from London Road. |
N. Pawley £4.1.0.
There we engaged 4 bedrooms No 66. 67 [blank space] and whilst we had a good wash and clean up, tea eggs etc. was got ready for us, and the dear little Chicks who had been so good although such a
long day - were all very glad to get to Bed. Mama and I soon followed after I had been to the stables to see our good horses were properly cared for, found Fred doing his duty, and the horses pretty well and so thanking Our Heavenly Father for his care of us and all the blessing we enjoy we soon fell asleep……
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| The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells c 1875. |
August 2nd
…..and awoke this morning refreshed and strengthened, glorious morning and splendid sight of the County from our Windows (2nd floor) for Miles over Sussex. Soon got the Chicks up and had a nice stroll over the pretty well kept grounds of the Hotel and had Breakfast at 8/30. Coffee room all to ourselves, being early (although the Hotel is very full). Enjoyed the garden etc. till 10/30 when we took carriages to the Toad Rock etc. £0.7.0.
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| Bell Rock, Tunbridge Wells c 1875. |
Left about four, drove past a large Camp of the 3 Administrative Kent R.N. Half mile of this road was very dusty. Came across the Volunteers in the park. Saw them march past to Camp about 4.50 looking well up to their work.
We then travelled on thru very pretty County, occasionally changing places giving the Children rides on horse or poney, had a sharp shower, stopped to give the children a drink of water, had a bottle of champagne in commemoration of Freds’ Birthday - very refreshing. On arriving at Uckfield found Sanger’s Circus performing - and all places taken, drove to the Bridge Hotel down to the Railway Station but could not be accommodated. Mr French was very obliging and although he had let his servants go to the Circus he prepared a very good tea, and having ….
[Margin note: 11/- and 2/6 horses]
…..paid our bill and sent Telegram to Mrs Hunsley of the White Hart Hotel Lewes we started on our road a little after Nine. The Chicks getting very tired - shut up Carriage and some of them had a nice sleep. Albert and myself rode horseback found the road very dark in some places but arrived at Lewes safely at 10/30. Found all ready for us. Soon got the little Ones to Bed and all slept well….
August 3rd
….and up again in the morning at 8 o’clock. Sent Telegram to Mother saying we hoped to be with her about One O’clock. Had good Breakfast. Called on Mr Morris etc. and made a start for Seaford at 11/15.
Hotel Bill £2. 3. 6.
Horses £0.16. 0.
Servants £0. 5. 6.
Glorious Morning and passed through Cornfields. Met lots of xxxx Southdown Sheep telling us plainly we were nearing the South Downs.
We kept up a good pace and soon reached Newhaven. Spoke to Rev’d Williams. Soon after passing the Railway we spied some of our dear ones in Wagonetts coming to meet us and a happy welcome we xxxx exchanged places the Mothers together and the Chicks in the other.
Albert and I went on faster and by taking the Near Cuts arrived at Dear Mothers about One O’clock so glad to see us safe and sound. Costic threw open the stable doors and our good steeds found every attention the Carriage soon followed and then kisses and enquiries about our doings, having a good wash etc. I had a good dip in the Briney and then Dinner Call sounding, we felt we had indeed reached the well known Free Hotel - the best of all. Cuckoo said he did not want to go to another.
Came over Rough and chilly in Afternoon and Evening. Charley arrived at 6/30, having left Warwick House some hours after us, travelled to Halifax and back to Seaford, whilst we had been three days from London to Seaford, thus the great advantage for speed of Rail over Road.
August 4th
Fine Morning, Smooth Sea - Bob arrived by 1st train.
 |
| Seaford Station c 1880 |
Definitions:
Bait - A portion of drink or food, as a refreshment on a journey; also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
Provinder - Dry food for livestock as hay, corn, oats etc.
Toad Rock - Rusthall, about 1 mile to the west of Tunbridge Wells.
Bell Rock - A narrow passage leads to Bell Rock (High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells) so called as it rings when struck.
Sanger’s Circus - “Lord” George Sanger and his brother John ran a travelling circus through much of the 19th Century.
Near Cut - Term used in the 19th Century equivalent to ‘shortcut’.
September 9th
Left Stamford Hill 6.20 a.m. Fri. 9th Sep. Attracted much attention on the road evidently thought we were out for the day.
6.45 Shoreditch Church, London Bridge 7.00 where passed nr. bay caught a glimpse of his Figure head at window.
Through Kew to Lewisham, arrived at Bromley 9. 5.
Breakfasted at the White Hart Hotel rather stingy with their milk, quarrelled about the last Egg which eventually L.T.C. appropriated but complained afterwards it had disagreed with him.
Farnboro 11.45. a quaint old Place particularly the George and the Grand Parade. Our coachman here whistled for the Sun to come out.
 |
| 'Telsemaure' the Crook House on Seaford Seafront in the 1860's |
To
SeaforD
by Road
September 1877.
Left Stamford Hill 6.20 a.m. Fri. 9th Sep. Attracted much attention on the road evidently thought we were out for the day.
6.45 Shoreditch Church, London Bridge 7.00 where passed nr. bay caught a glimpse of his Figure head at window.
Through Kew to Lewisham, arrived at Bromley 9. 5.
Bill for 4 Ham & Eggs and attention. 12/-. Bait 2/6.
Farnboro 11.45. a quaint old Place particularly the George and the Grand Parade. Our coachman here whistled for the Sun to come out.
About a mile out of Farnboro County very pretty.
11.55 Coachman beginning to look thirsty.
Several remarks made about this time on the weather.
Passed Lad on Tricycle.
1.15 Stopped at the Way Side Inn about 5 miles from Seven Oaks. The Polhill - Can O’ Ale and gave old Philosopher a drink and feed from his nose bag. Ale very good, and sound. Passed a Bicycle.
Passed Rose & Crown.
Sevenocke Arms opposite Seven Oaks Railway Station and Railway & Bicycle Hotel. Lew bought a loaf of bread. Pulled up a by lane into a very nice little spot where we enjoyed a most delightful repast of Fowl, pickled pork etc. and Champagne. An inquisitive Butcher poked his nose in. Philosopher a long time over his grub. Lew gone to get him some water to help wash it down.
Left Camping ground 4.15. After a deal of manoeuvring discovered the Crupper went round the tail and not over the head and at last left our camping ground and got on to the high road. Crew and all agreed that we were spending a very jolly time and that the life of an itinerant and tinker could not be a bad one particularly if he got Fowl and Champagne for dinner.
Passed through 7Oaks a fine old town. The surroundings very beautiful and could not help feeling that life might be very endurable here with a few thousand a year.
A lovely bit of road with a very fine plantation of Firs on the left side of the road. Now are passing along a road quite overhung with trees. A very long hill running down from 7Oaks beautifully bordered each side about 3/4 mile long.
The Game Cock Inn on left.
Old Cock Inn on right.
Flight of sparrows in Telegraph wires.
Fine Ancestral Hall with very pretty Lodge 1 & 3/4 miles from Tonbridge.
TONBRIDGE
Quaint old Market House, Chequers Inn and Fish Shop on right. Tonbridge Railway Station 5.35.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Arrived at the Castle 6.45. Private Letting Room very comfortable. Good wash and meal, Tea.
L.T.C. recognised as having been here before (hope we shall come here again - make a note of it).
L.T.C. still suffering from the effects of last Egg at Breakfast. It has interfered with his meal. T. although we agreed that he should have the point-end of Steak, he has to give it up as a bad job (Note: Keep the hot water jug away from him).
11.55 Coachman beginning to look thirsty.
Several remarks made about this time on the weather.
Passed Lad on Tricycle.
1.15 Stopped at the Way Side Inn about 5 miles from Seven Oaks. The Polhill - Can O’ Ale and gave old Philosopher a drink and feed from his nose bag. Ale very good, and sound. Passed a Bicycle.
Passed Rose & Crown.
Sevenocke Arms opposite Seven Oaks Railway Station and Railway & Bicycle Hotel. Lew bought a loaf of bread. Pulled up a by lane into a very nice little spot where we enjoyed a most delightful repast of Fowl, pickled pork etc. and Champagne. An inquisitive Butcher poked his nose in. Philosopher a long time over his grub. Lew gone to get him some water to help wash it down.
Left Camping ground 4.15. After a deal of manoeuvring discovered the Crupper went round the tail and not over the head and at last left our camping ground and got on to the high road. Crew and all agreed that we were spending a very jolly time and that the life of an itinerant and tinker could not be a bad one particularly if he got Fowl and Champagne for dinner.
Passed through 7Oaks a fine old town. The surroundings very beautiful and could not help feeling that life might be very endurable here with a few thousand a year.
A lovely bit of road with a very fine plantation of Firs on the left side of the road. Now are passing along a road quite overhung with trees. A very long hill running down from 7Oaks beautifully bordered each side about 3/4 mile long.
The Game Cock Inn on left.
Old Cock Inn on right.
Flight of sparrows in Telegraph wires.
Fine Ancestral Hall with very pretty Lodge 1 & 3/4 miles from Tonbridge.
TONBRIDGE
Quaint old Market House, Chequers Inn and Fish Shop on right. Tonbridge Railway Station 5.35.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Arrived at the Castle 6.45. Private Letting Room very comfortable. Good wash and meal, Tea.
L.T.C. recognised as having been here before (hope we shall come here again - make a note of it).
Osler 1/-.
L.T.C. still suffering from the effects of last Egg at Breakfast. It has interfered with his meal. T. although we agreed that he should have the point-end of Steak, he has to give it up as a bad job (Note: Keep the hot water jug away from him).
Had a walk thru the Parade and round by rocks.
R.T.C. & L.T.C. had a dispute in the middle of the road as to where Mrs Denham had lodged but as there appeared to be no chance of settling this important question to the satisfaction of both parties they adjourned the matter by mutual consent till day light (it was quite dark at the time).
Back to Hotel at 1/4 to 10.00. Whiskies - Jenny and Ruthie both sound asleep, Ruthie with one eye open. Lew making frantic efforts to draw the Old Game Cock from memory. Expect we shall have to go back again to look at Sign Board as the neck won’t come right.
September 10th
Heard good band playing last night whilst out for walk. Lew suggested standing still so that we could hear the music plainer.
To bed at 10.00, slept well. L.T.C. complained at being disturbed by folks using W.C. back of his bed (always avoid getting too near to W.C. in Hotel). Out at 7 o’clock.
Lew and I went for a walk to see Toad Rock. back to Breakfast at 8.00. Eggs & Bacon & Coffee. Bill £2. 2. 0. and 5/- horse.
 |
| Toad Rock, Tunbridge Wells c. 1877 |
[Margin note: Waiter 2/6, Cook 2/- - crossed through].
Left Tunbridge Wells at 9.10 a.m. making for Mayfield.
Sun shining gloriously - a few spots of rain 10.25. Notice the difference between Sussex and Kent as Lewis graphically puts it “The trees are much more “Squattier”.
Rain in a most serious manner.
Mayfield 11.20. Can o’ Ale not up to much.
Can Ale & Bait. 1?
Cross in Hand Village. Lew went into Hop Garden to get some Hops - very nearly took root.
Thought we should have had to dry him out.
Here we are at the Black Boys . Remark made by Capt’n “pon my word we seem to fall on our feet somehow.”
Fowl, pickled pork and champagne.
Left Black Boy at 3.50.
Room 2/6.
Horse 1/-.
Beer 1/-.
The record of the journey ends at this point!
At the end of the notebook an account of the expenses for the trip are recorded as follows:
Bromley 12/ -. White Hart Hotel Bromley.
Bromley 2/6. Bait. [i.e. refreshments on journey]
? 0/8.
Tun Wells 2/6. Castle - Waiter.
Tun Wells 2/ -. Castle - Cook.
Tun Wells 2. 2. 0. Castle - Hotel Bill.
Tun Wells 5/ -. Horse.
Tun Wells 1/ -. Osler.
Black Boys 4/6. Black Boy.
3.12.2.
Between 2 1.16.1.
It appears then that the rest of the trip was made from Blackboys to Seaford without further expense it being completed on the same day. Maybe the rest of the journey was well known and was not worth further comment?
The bill was split between L.T.C. and R.T.C.
Definitions:
Crupper - A piece of horse tack with one end round the tail to stop the harness, or saddle, from moving forward.
A Short History of
the Crook Family of Seaford.
By Norman Crook
My grandfather [Thomas 1815-1873] and father [Lewis 1839-1919] first got to know Seaford by coming down with the Honourable Artillery Co. of London about 1858/9.
They were so impressed with the little town that they decided to buy a plot of land on the seashore and in 1860 work was commenced on a house and it was named Telsemaure; each letter in the name represented one of the family Christian names such as Thomas, Elizabeth, Lewis, etc. Whilst Telsemaure was being built grandfather, grandmother and their children lived in a house next to the New Inn, now the Wellington Hotel; the children, my father and aunts, used to go for their baths to the Assembly rooms and baths on the front, and the old bath woman used to call my aunts the little silver fish.
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| Major Crook and wife with Edwin Cosstick c 1870 |
Telsemaure was a fine house; the outer walls were double, 8 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, a large playroom and 2 kitchens. The garden was enclosed by battlements and two towers. Adjoining the house was a long room called the schoolroom and grandmother had a large boiler built one end for making soup for the poor people of Seaford during the cold Winter months. The garden was well laid out with a fountain on the top lawn and then dividing the two lawns was a lake and 3 figure heads of ships; 5 greenhouses and a museum at the end of the garden, the life sized figures of Burke, Wills and King, the Australian explorers, a 75 gun model of a frigate, coral shells, armour, model yachts, fossils, etc.
The stables were large and roomy and over the entrance was a house in which C. Banks and family lived; he was grandmother's man of all works. The coachman and groom were C. Costick and his son Phillip, who drove a pair of horses; they used to drive grandmother to the Congregational Church and we used to be driven to Alfriston, Litlington, etc. in a wagonette. Grandmother laid the stone of the new church 1877. The old one was at the top of High Street. After the removal my father had the old church turned into a hall, called the Albert Hall. He let the hall out for concerts, plays and dancing; we used to have lovely family dances there. Grandfather had to drive to Newhaven to catch the train to London before the railway was extended to Seaford. Grandfather had the Seaford Gas Co. built and bought a large farm, Pidgeon House; this ground was marked out for building and was called Sutton Park estate - this ground is now covered with houses.
Grandfather died 1873, a very able man and deeply missed. Grandmother carried on, always having father and family or some of our aunts and family to stay from time to time. Grandmother was a very kind and beloved woman and was known as the Queen of Seaford. She gave soup, meat, coal, etc. to the poor and loaned them blankets for the Winter months. She gave all her grandchildren on their 21st birthdays - the girls had a 5 diamond ring and the boys a gold watch or chain. The grandparents on father's and mother's side gave each one of us a Christening cup, knives and forks, napkin rings and a spoon. Grandmother was loved and respected by all who knew her and was always willing to lend her garden and field for bazaars and school treats.
In 1875 Seaford had a terrible storm, all the lower parts flooded up to the Crown Inn nearly up to the church gates and the sea flooded right along to Lions Place and Steyne Road. Grandmother got anxious about Telsemaure and had a sea wall built for protection, doing away with the garden in front of the house; we used to roller skate on the wider part after.
In 1877 father, mother and my sisters Amy and Elizabeth and maid drove down from Stamford Hill and stayed at Telsemaure for the holidays. I have got a book my father wrote and illustrated of the journey back, making 3 stops en route. Grandmother supplied them with ample provisions and drinks for picnics on the way home,
After these drives we used to have a saloon joined on to the train from London Bridge and so had wonderful Summer holidays at Telsemaure every year.
Father and mother and us children had a big house on Stamford Hill. "Warwick House"; we had all we wanted there, a fine big playroom, a very big garden and stables, and my two brothers and elder sisters had little shops in the garden to play in. Pain, the head gardener, Arnold and William the coachman, all worked well. Father had a lovely horse, Philosopher, and used to invite the band and one or two companies of the H.A.C. for an afternoon tea and games in the garden. Father used to go for a ride with one of the children every morning before breakfast.
In 1882 grandmother had a great longing for father to come and live at Seaford to be near her, and so we left Stamford Hill and came to live at Saxon Lodge, a fine old house which was once the Vicarage, built 1731. By this time my parents had 9 children. Father became very popular and he was known by all as the major and took a great interest in all sports; he was president of the Football and Cricket clubs and used to drive the teams to the away matches in the wagonette; used to drill the Seaford men for the 5th of November - a great night - sham fights and fireworks and torches, and had an arch built for Mafeking day and parades. He was very fond of children, animals and birds and had a seagull and raven, the latter was a very for father to open his bedroom window and then flew and perched on his shoulder on a walk to visit grandmother every morning before breakfast; one cricket match father was batting at the wicket and Jack the raven flew down and perched on the bails and had to be carried home before the game could go on. We had some lovely outings, one up at 6 o'clock to Firle and then down to the Ram Inn for ham and egg breakfast and back for a good bathe before lunch. Father was very clever on his canoe and could swim under water and used to give the natives and visitors a shock sometimes. All the children soon learned to swim, getting tipped off the canoe, and we also had a little dinghy called the Cockleshell, supposed to hold 2, but mostly 3 to 5 got in. Another trip was 2 canoes & 3 row boats to Cuckmere, shoot the rapids at the mouth of the river, and bathe and lunch on the head, then a row up the river to Litlington gardens for tea with the ladies, and games and a row back to Seaford. We also went primrosing in the wagonette and covered wagon, driven by Gibbs, and a nutting party on my birthday, 16th September, to Abbotswoods; coming home was great fun in the wagon and marching alongside singing the old songs that father knew. We used to follow the volunteer manoeuvres at Eastbourne or Brighton on the downs at Easter and came home very tired. Grandmother had a large field behind the museum and she had two lawn tennis courts made for us to play on, and we also played cricket and rounders with the August visitors.
The seawall was started from the cliff end and eventually extended past Telsemaure to Newhaven, and houses built along part of the front. Old George and Will Templeman had bathing machines and boats and also Simmons and Kneller had some.
Then to everybody's great grief and sorrow Grandmother died December l3th, 1901. The Congregational Church was packed for the funeral and the male relatives drove to Eastbourne for the interment. I have a long letter from a very old Seafordian, Mr. F.W. Pettitt.
He writes as follows:-
“As one who knew that dear old Lady of Telsemaure, she thought of others not so well off.
Seaford in those days, 1877, was a very poor place in the Winter, with bad weather and very little work, and if in work one had to lose all wages if wet. I sometimes wonder how we should have fared and I have a pretty vivid memory of those days; I am now turned 81.
If it had not been for that good lady we should not have had soup kitchen three times a week, then at Christmas a parcel of groceries and a joint of beef and from October to March a parcel of blankets, the number according to the size of the family. My mother used to have six and they were returned to her in March just as you had used them and Mrs. Crook had them cleaned and you had your parcel again next October. No one was refused a parcel who asked for one and once on the list they were there for you on the date notified.
I remember the sea wall being built in front of Telsemaure after the sea had begun to encroach; that work employed a lot of men and so they should be able to work during the wet weather they were all supplied with an oilskin suit; they paraded in front of the house and wore them home at dinner time. I have a vivid memory of the laughing and joking as they came down the road".
So the reader can see by the few remarks that the good Lady of Telsemaure was a real help to many in their time of trouble.
I see on reading this history that Banks, the man of all work, had a carpenter's shop at the back of the field and a retriever dog had his kennel outside the door with the inscription warning all and sundry that his name was Jock.
“Jock, timber splitter and bone polisher, teeth inserted here gratis.”
A pretty straight warning to those who had no business there.
After grandmother's death Telsemaure and contents was put up for a 3 days' sale; everything had to be sold according to grandfather's Will. There was a good attendance at the sale but the house did not fetch the reserve price. The contents sold well, competition being specially for the silver, china and furniture. After the sale the house was let for some tune for an hotel, but owing to expense of upkeep and dilapidation the house was sold to a company who were going to build a fine hotel with swimming pool, etc. but this up to date has not materialized.
I forgot to mention earlier in this story. After we came to live at Saxon Lodge, we used to go to grandmother for Christmas day. We had a wonderful dinner, turkey 18 to 20 lbs. sirloin of beef and Christmas pudding. Some of our cousins were there and their parents; after tea we had presents from a 6-foot Christmas tree, grandmother giving each one a present; then after that we went to the big schoolroom for games, Blindman's Buff, Musical Chairs, Postman's Knock, etc. The maids and Banks were also asked to join in the fun.
Father was a great sportsman and had no fear.
Just before we left Warwick House 5 burglars broke in and mother had just had another baby and her nurse and midwife were in the bedroom. A man walked in and demanded to look round. Mrs. Burtenshaw was very brave and told the man about her mistress and shoved him out; she then slipped round to father's bedroom and gave the alarm. Father chased the men downstairs and out of the house; they left their boots behind. Another occasion at Saxon Lodge two burly navvies came banging at the glass door and demanded to see the Major. At last mother got so frightened she sent me to call father away from a meeting. We marched up to the door at the end of the passage from the front door. Before I realized it the first man was shot out and me with him and the second pushed out by the scruff of the neck, a very neat scuffle and good work.
Father was always kind to tramps and used to send them out some dinner in the greenhouse; if they said they were old soldiers he put them through their drill.
He was quite a good runner and rifle shot, winning prizes at the H.A.C. sports, quite clever with the single stick and foil and also boxing, and he was a freeman of the City of London.
The children were very fond of him and used to wait for buns and sweets and he was superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School for several years and worked the attendance up to over 300.
He was very strict about keeping the Sabbath. We children had to go 3 times on Sundays and not allowed to have a boat out or ride a bicycle.
He was presented with his long service medal by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace; quite a lot of the old veterans of the H.A.C. were there and the King inspected them and pinned the medal on. I had a ticket for the grounds and inspection. Father was very proud of his uniform which was very similar to the Grenadier Guards.
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| Honourable Artillery Company on Martello Fields in Seaford. |
When we first went to Saxon Lodge the sisters and myself had a Miss Millie Green to teach us; when I got too old I was sent to Seaford College when Mr. Savage opened old Corsica Hall for a school. I remember my number was 10 and we started with 13 or 14 boys, but the school soon grew and we turned out some good football and cricket players. My last term at school I was lucky to win 7 prizes but was only allowed 4 with the Victors Cup. My eldest sister and father used to train me for the sports. I then left school for work in the City of London. I used to love to come home for week-ends. My eldest brother Albert's 21st birthday was celebrated at the Bay Hotel, dinner and dance. We had a lot of relations and friends down from London, etc. and amongst them was an uncle of father's, Uncle John, a regular John Bull in manners and dress, very fond of playing jokes on other people. Well, during the dinner somebody tied a 21 bang cracker on his coat tail and the fun to see the old man trying to catch it and in the morning he found his top boots hoisted to the top of the flagstaff. The dinner and dance was a great success.
My brother Albert after going through the Brighton railway works became very friendly with a family of diamond merchants, the Whitehorns, and Albert went out to Buenos Aires with two of them for ranching and farming, but he did not live very long. We have the last member of the family, Percy Whitehorn, living here now in Seaford, he has a great respect and memory of father and our family.
Tom, my second brother, went to New College, Eastbourne and then took to the sea and eventually fruit growing at Worthing. He died last year, so I am now the last remaining in the direct male line of the Crook family.
Our family getting married or leaving Seaford, father and mother decided to leave Seaford and go and live near my youngest sister Gertie, at Wallington, much to the regret and surprise of the people of Seaford. The people of Seaford gave them a farewell dinner and a picture scroll of remembrance at the Wellington Hotel. Poor father was very sad to leave but mother was rather pleased to have a change and get away from the high winds and be near Gertie.
Father, after getting well known at Wallington, died in 1919 and had a big funeral at Bandon Hill, Waddon.
Mother lived on until 1930. She was one of the sweetest women and mother one could wish to meet and know, a beautiful loving character beloved by all; we shall never forget her.
My sisters are still all living and all except Gertie living in Sussex.
I left business in 1944 and came to live at Seaford and end my days here I hope.
I am always meeting some of the old residents or their offspring down the town and they have never forgotten the dear old days.
Those were the days.
Norman Crook.
Please see my other blogs which relate to research done at Seaford Museum.
Links: https://dryplate2colour.home.blog/ relating to Eastbourne photographer Ellis Kelsey.
Also http://greatwartales.home.blog/ which is about four soldiers who trained in Seaford and Eastbourne during WW1
and https://lamberecipes.blogspot.com/ being list of some 200 Georgian,Victorian and Edwardian recipes and Remedies by the Lambe family of East Blatchington.
Also https://sussexbirds.blogspot.com/ detailing birds in the Seaford area in the middle of the 19th century.
and for research into a shipwreck at Seaford Head Link: https://seafordcliffswreck.blogspot.com/
Also to: https://blatchingtonbarracks.blogspot.com/ which includes the story of the 1795 riots and executions and also the story of the forming of the Rifle Brigade.
Seaford Museum is run entirely by volunteers and is funded by its members and day visitors. Please
take a look using the following link: http://www.seafordmuseum.co.uk/
Many thanks for reading this blog.
Ben Franks
Father, after getting well known at Wallington, died in 1919 and had a big funeral at Bandon Hill, Waddon.
Mother lived on until 1930. She was one of the sweetest women and mother one could wish to meet and know, a beautiful loving character beloved by all; we shall never forget her.
My sisters are still all living and all except Gertie living in Sussex.
I left business in 1944 and came to live at Seaford and end my days here I hope.
I am always meeting some of the old residents or their offspring down the town and they have never forgotten the dear old days.
Those were the days.
Norman Crook.
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| 'Telsemaure' Seaford Seafront. |
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| 'Telsemaure' circa 1870 by Tunbridge Wells photographer H.G. Inskipp. Telsemaure was built 1861/62. |
Other items from the Crook Collection
The Crook Collection at Seaford Museum of is an interesting mixture of family photographs, the 1877 London to Seaford diary plus scrapbooks. There is also a letterhead collection and other loose drawings by Amy Crook and her friends as children and adolescents. Some examples are shown below:-
Scrapbooks
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| 'Glenhaven' Elstree - 1891 |
Letterheads (Amy Crook's collection)
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| Seaford Town FC was originally called Seaford Rovers FC founded circa 1882) |
Photographs
Early photographs of Seaford from the Crook/Murray Collections at Seaford Museum:-
Early photographs of Seaford from the Crook/Murray Collections at Seaford Museum:-
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| Seaford Seafront c 1890. |
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| High Street, Seaford in the 1860's or 1870's. (Photographer - Mark Wynter) |
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| Seaford Beach
Photographs of Warwick House and grounds at Stamford Hill in around 1875:-
(The photographs of Warwick House were taken by the photography pioneer B.J. Edwards then of The Grove, Hackney) |
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| Warwick House Stamford Hill c 1875 |
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| Garden at Warwick House, Stamford Hill. |
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| Gardens at Warwick House, Stamford Hill. |
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| Grounds of Warwick House, Stamford Hill c 1875. |
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| Bridge over stream at Warwick House, Stamford Hill c 1875. |
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| Grounds at Warwick House, Stamford Hill c 1875. |
Links: https://dryplate2colour.home.blog/ relating to Eastbourne photographer Ellis Kelsey.
A companion blog to 'Dry Plate to Colour' concentrates on the Early Colour Systems such as Autochrome and Paget Process which were introduced in 1907 and 1913 respectively. I show many images by Ellis Kelsey not previously seen. Please see link: https://earlycolourphotography.blogspot.com/
Also http://greatwartales.home.blog/ which is about four soldiers who trained in Seaford and Eastbourne during WW1
and https://lamberecipes.blogspot.com/ being list of some 200 Georgian,Victorian and Edwardian recipes and Remedies by the Lambe family of East Blatchington.
Also https://sussexbirds.blogspot.com/ detailing birds in the Seaford area in the middle of the 19th century.
and for research into a shipwreck at Seaford Head Link: https://seafordcliffswreck.blogspot.com/
Also to: https://blatchingtonbarracks.blogspot.com/ which includes the story of the 1795 riots and executions and also the story of the forming of the Rifle Brigade.
Seaford Museum is run entirely by volunteers and is funded by its members and day visitors. Please
take a look using the following link: http://www.seafordmuseum.co.uk/
Many thanks for reading this blog.
Ben Franks
