UPDATE No 13

SAMUEL SOUTH & SONS

In 1886 Samuel(1) moved his pottery business from Dyson's Road to White Hart Lane, Tottenham, where it traded until closure in 1960. He took over the operation of the Brickfield in Bury Street, Edmonton, leased by Joseph(1), after the death of his elder brother in 1897. There was also a significant carting business. In 1903 Stepens & Carter of Leicester published a business map of Tottenham which included an advertisement for Samuel South & Sons. The advert neatly summarises the activities of the firm. Only three of the advertised concerns, Samuel South & Sons, Ernest Knifton, General Contractor of Tottenham and James Skinner, Brake Proprietor of Dalston, display a telephone number.

SOUTH BROTHERS

Contact has been made with Eric South, son of Alfred - the ninth child and youngest son of Samuel(1). In 1922, three - Walter, Arthur and Alfred - of the six sons of Samuel(1) formed a partnership trading as South Brothers, builders, with each brother having an equal one third share. Around one hundred houses were built primarily in the Tottenham area although a small development of four houses was built in Broxbourne. The main period of building activity occurred during the 1930s. An estate office was built in St Loy's Road, Tottenham, in 1938. After World War 2 the firm concentrated on war damage reparation and, thereafter, building maintenance for private customers, the South Estate and South Brothers' properties which was continued by the Exors. of A J South after South Brothers closed in 1969. Eric has generously donated the balance sheets of South Brothers for 1925 and 1931.

DR GURNEY THOMPSON

The report of the inquest into the death of Samuel(1) included in Update No 11 made reference to Dr Gurney Thompson. Walter Barnard has recalled that his mother was a life long friend of Lily Webb (nee Carter) whose father was a gardener, servant and coachman to the doctor. Walter recorded the following memories of his mother:- "There were very few cars. Dr Thompson had a car, a new one open top and there was Mr Carter sitting there in his uniform next to the doctor, but he never drove the motor though.Dr Thompson lived in the Dial House, the large house near White Hart Lane in the High Road"

SAMUEL(2)

One of the tasks of the young Samuel(2) was the collection of monies due from the customers of the Potteries. It was a cash business and the return journeys were often through lonely lanes and streets. Samuel(2) equipped himself with a "Life Preserver" and horn whistle for protection and to raise the alarm  in the event of criminal attack. The "Life Preserver" is a formidable weapon having a  flexible shaft, possibly of whale-bone, and a lead weighted end, bound with cord. In use it was intended to be aimed at the arms or legs in order to disable the assailant. A blow to the head could easily result in fatal injuries. There is no record of the "Life Preserver" having been used in anger and it remains a serviceable weapon.

GLADYS SHORT

Gladys Ella South is the third child of Samuel(2) and was born in 1906 when the family lived at 2 Tottenham Terrace. On 30 June 1928 Gladys married Ernest Short and in June 1998 they will celebrate seventy years of marriage. The Archive sends sincere best wishes to the anniversary couple. Gladys trained as a dressmaker and has recalled placing a padded dressmaker's dummy amongst the shrubs in the flower bed of the entrance courtyard at River House and awaiting the arrival home of her father. In the fading light Samuel(2) noticed the shape lurking in the bushes and set about the the potential miscreant. It is not recorded whether the "Life Preserver" was put to good use on that occassion.   KLB 5/98