Sydenham Hill Station was opened in 1863 to cope with visitors to the Crystal Palace, but was not convenient for that attraction. It would initially have been the nearest station for the Harrods on Wells Road. When Upper Sydenham Railway Station was opened in 1884 by the South Eastern & Chatham Railway, this was even more convenient for the family. It was just below the house and across the Wells Road, with the rail tunnel running under the hill. Charles Digby would then have been able to linger at home until the last minute before crossing the road for his train. The ticket office was on the Wells Road just above the tunnel entrance. The trains ran into Victoria Station, a brisk walk away from the store. The station was never financially successful, but despite that, apart from spells closed during both wars, it remained open until 1954.
Some years later, the name of the house was changed from Armitage Lodge to Greyfriars, and when demolished in around 1970 it was replaced by several blocks of flats that were given the same name. I found no trace of the house on a visit to Wells Park Road in 2009. A search below the Wells Park Road revealed the remains of the station with the original booking office, which still stands on the road at the top of a steep flight of stairs.
Armitage Lodge was apparently a grand nineteenth-century villa and very modern in its day. It had airy nurseries, a bath with running hot water and ample stabling. It was a house to suit a man of means with a growing family. The 1911 census shows the house had sixteen main rooms. Charles and Caroline’s sixth child, another girl, was born in Sydenham in 1877. She was Beatrice Martha – my grandmother. Their last two children were also born in Sydenham, and Charles Digby was doomed to one boy and a house full of girls. Olive Mary was born in 1880, and Eva Marguerita in 1881. According to her family, Eva was named after ‘Little Eva’, a character in the popular novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
There is a family photograph of the nanny or nurse in the Harrod household holding a child in a long christening dress. She was probably Harriet Pocock, who appears in the 1881 census staying with the family in Sydenham. The baby could be any of the last three girls, but I suspect it would have been Eva, as Harriet is listed as aged 42 in the census and looks at least that age in the photograph. Together with the four children and the nurse in that 1881 census were two other servants.
During the family’s stay in Sydenham, in 1887 the eldest daughter, Fanny, was married in a Nonconformist church in Upper Norwood, whilst their second daughter, Grace, was married in 1889 in a Nonconformist church in Kensington after they had moved back into London. Both girls had married into families containing Nonconformist preachers.
Frankau lists 1882 as the date that Charles Digby became a Congregationalist. Certainly he came from a Nonconformist family background, but after retirement in the last decade of the century he frequented local Anglican parish churches rather than Nonconformist alternatives. He seems to have switched his allegiance several times, like his father, depending upon the availability of places of worship and perhaps just going with the flow. He was a man for all seasons …
In 1883, Harrod bought a large piece of land at the back of the premises and began expanding again. This was almost completed by Christmas 1883, which promised to be the best Christmas ever. By early December the store was overflowing with merchandise in readiness for the rush. However, tragedy was just around the corner.
Harrods was still traditional in many ways, and the window displays in the store were lit with gas jets which burned all night, both to illuminate the goods and put off the local burglars. The second half of 1883 had seen some remarkable atmospheric and weather events after the major eruption of Krakatoa in Java in August. It had been cold and windy, and it was a foul winter’s night on 6 December 1883, with temperatures that fell below freezing, wind and snow.
William Kibble was the last to leave the shop that night, together with another faithful servant of the company, Mr Gearing, the despatch manager. Whether the curtains blew into the gaslight jet because of the high wind or whether workmen in the basement had left a candle burning which caught alight is not known. What is known is that Mr Gearing was woken at midnight to be told that Harrods Stores was burning. His account in the archives tells us that he went round at once, and on seeing how serious the fire was, despatched Mr Gamble, another assistant, in a hansom cab to fetch Charles Digby from Sydenham. This journey would have taken about two hours.
In 1883, neither Harrods Stores nor Charles Digby in Sydenham were on the new telephone system. Alexander Bell had demonstrated the telephone first in 1876, and by 1880 the new device was spreading rapidly in the British Isles. It was not until 1886 that ‘C.D. Harrod’ was first listed as having a telephone at Brompton Road with the number 8542. The entry changed to ‘Harrods Stores’ after 1891.
Mr Gearing watched the fire all night; Charles Digby arrived at about six in the morning. Allegedly, on being told of the fire, his first question was ‘is anybody hurt?’ He sent ‘every expensive delicacy the store could provide, and a dozen bottles of Martell Brandy’ to an employee who had been hurt whilst saving stock.
At a blow, all his hard work and hopes seemed to have been wiped out. The newspaper reports were legion, and detailed the events at some length. It was reported in local London newspapers, national newspapers and even in the local press elsewhere in the country, from Nottingham to Aberdeen. Although the amount of cover amounts almost to overkill they do give quite an insight into the problems of urban fires in that era. One report read:
Fires. The men and engines of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade were busily engaged for several hours yesterday morning at the West-end in endeavouring to extinguish two fires which broke out within a short time of each other. The more destructive of the two was discovered a few minutes after 1 o’clock at Nos 101, 103 and 105 Brompton Road, the premises of Mr C.D. Harrod, general stores proprietor. The building was soon burnt out; and a second building of three floors, about 45ft by 27ft, which became involved, and which communicated with the building first mentioned, was also destroyed. The premises numbered 107, adjoining, occupied by E. Jeffcoat, brushmaker, were next attacked, and the back rooms on the first, and second floors, and the front portion of the shop, were greatly damaged by fire. Most serious damage was caused to No. 109, occupied by C. de Costa, Silk Merchant, and by M. Myhill, lodger. The outbreak, the origin of which is unknown, was not finally subdued until 7 o’clock yesterday morning. All the sufferers are insured.
Another report in the Chelsea Herald of Saturday 8 December reported as follows:
Tremendous Fires in West London.
Burning of Harrod’s Store. Partial Destruction of Ransome’s Factory.
It is many years since Brompton and Chelsea has been the scene of such conflagrations as those which broke out on Thursday night, and extended far into yesterday [Friday] morning.
Most of the residents in this part of the metropolis are familiar with Harrods in the Brompton Road. Situate on the southern side of the road, near the Knightsbridge end and embracing Nos 101, 103 and 105 in that thoroughfare, they extended back to the cottages in Queens-gardens in the rear, and had been enlarged from time to time to meet the ever increasing volume of business attracted by Mr Harrod’s adoption of the Civil Service store system of dealing, until the establishment had grown to enormous dimensions. Within the stores there were separate departments for groceries, provisions, confectionery, wines and spirits, brushes and turnery, ironmongery, glass, china, earthenware, stationery, fancy goods, perfumery, drugs, &c. The provision department was the leading feature of the Stores and during the present week it was being enlarged and further subdivided to cope with the special demands of the coming season.
It is particularly unfortunate that, just at the moment when these gigantic stores had been literally stocked to overflowing with Christmas goods – cosaques and cards and more elaborate presents, to say nothing of the hogsheads, and boxes of comestibles – an outbreak of fire should have occurred.
In the mid 1800s, the first Christmas cracke
rs were quite small, about 6in long, and fairly plain. They were known as ‘cosaques’, French for Cossacks, because the noise they made reminded people of the cracking of the Cossacks’ whips as they rode through Paris during the Franco-Prussian War:
Harrod’s Stores are now a heap of ruins, and with those buildings other establishments which adjoined – those of Mr Jeffcoat, brushmaker, and of Mr C. DeCosta, draper, have been much injured. Had not a narrow thoroughfare intervened between Mr DeCosta’s and the next house leading to the Queens-gardens the fire would have undoubtedly spread further down the road. As it was the Northumberland Arms, which occupies the corner of the other side of the narrow street, was in imminent danger of destruction, and was terrible scorched.
The alarm was raised shortly before midnight, and at half-past one in the morning the fire was at its height. From the raised pavement on the western side of Brompton Road a considerable crowd watched a scene of a splendidly terrible character. Only the skeleton of the three large shops and the stores at the back remained; but the fire raged in a seething mass shooting high up in the air from the inner portion, whilst the flames clung tenaciously to the window frames, mouldings, and other woodwork, thus outlining the structure as if by an intentional illumination. The steam fire engine and hose from the hydrants were pouring tons of water upon the burning mass; but for a time with no apparent effecting even checking the conflagration.
Meantime, in the rear, the scene was of a most exciting character. The wind blew the sparks in clouds, and at length the flames, right over the cottages in Queens Gardens, and across North Street, and even as far as Hans Place. The occupants of the cottages in Queens Gardens were so terrified that some of them removed their goods into the street, whilst women and children were running about excitedly and crying in their terror. Shortly before two o’clock, there was a terrific rush of flame from the rear of the stores, cause apparently by the ignition of a quantity of spirits or other inflammables. The fearful heat thrown out by this caused a general stampede of all who were near the fire, which at that moment seemed to threaten with destruction the whole of the range of private dwellings. Fortunately, however, this was averted. Enormous quantities of water were poured upon the part which connected the business premises with the cottages and thus the latter were saved. The water, moreover, soon had a perceptible effect upon the principal seat of the fire, for by half past two the Fire Brigade had obtained complete mastery over it. Between three and four o’clock it was difficult to approach the ruins owing to the smoke and steam which rose up in clouds from the smouldering mass.
The effect produced in the sky by the fire was most remarkable. Heavy snow clouds hung over Western London, and the reflection of the flames upon them, as seen from the Strand resembled in its brilliant grandeur some of those phenomenal sunsets which have lately excited general attention.
Engines from the following stations combined in their attack upon the burning mass:– Relton Street, Brompton, Paddington, Kensington, Baker Street, North Kensington, Hammersmith, Chandos Street and Southwark Bridge road headquarters. Large crowds of people were to be seen opposite the scene of destruction during the whole of yesterday [Friday]. A more complete wreck could scarcely be imagined; and up till after mid-day firemen were engaged with stand-pipes in soaking the ruins, which were still smouldering. Mingled with the charred remains of the timber and party-walls were remains of wine cases, potted meats, and provisions of every description.
The amount of damage cannot yet be estimated, but it is supposed to be between thirty and fifty thousand pounds [about £4 million today]. On the most prominent part of the ruins, fronting the Brompton Road, printed notices have been posted stating that arrangements are being made to carry on the business.
Mr Harrod will resume business in a few days on the opposite side of the road.
Superintendent Hambling, Inspectors Cronin, Jordan, Collins and Denton, 13 sergeants and 250 constables were present at the fire, the latter under their officers doing valuable service.
Mr Jeffcoat’s shop and premises are almost wrecked. Mr De Costa’s are also greatly injured at the back. Both shops are closed and barricaded at the front. Mr Pring’s premises on the other side are slightly injured at the rear, and Nos 1 and 2 Queens Gardens have also been somewhat damaged.
Despite the mayhem caused by this fire, Harrods’ customers received a letter from Charles Digby the following day, headed with the address of 101/103/105 Brompton Road, and dated 7 December. It read:
Madam,
I greatly regret to inform you that, in consequence of the above premises being burnt down, your order will be delayed in the execution by a day or two. I hope, in the course of Tuesday or Wednesday next, to be able to forward it to you.
In the meantime may I ask you for your kind indulgence.
Your obedient servant,
C.D. Harrod
PS All communications to be addressed to 78 Brompton Road.
No. 78 was exactly opposite 101 Brompton Road and Queens Gardens and on the corner of Lancelot Place where Charles Digby had premises for stabling his horses. Lancelot Place is these days the site of a very prestigious development. It was used during this emergency as the office, and a temporary shop space was found at No. 83.
Charles Digby posted an advertisement in the St James’s Gazette of 7 December. It read:
FIRE NOTICE – HARROD’S STORES. 101/103/105 Brompton Road.
Arrangements are being made for RECOMMENCING BUSINESS which C.D. HARROD hopes will be completed in a day or two.
Some of the reports in country newspapers were very short, but gave different details. The Exeter Flying Post of 12 December stated that the fire had been spotted by a passing cabman, who alerted a policeman. The policeman called out the Ralton Mews Fire Station which was just 200 yards away. The paper reported that there were several thousand spectators for the fire.
There are many different accounts of the event and the aftermath, each based on the perspective of the witness. Some seem to have been trying to maximise their part in the rescue operation. Mr Clancy, in his retirement article quoted earlier, gave a description of his part in the fire:
I arrived at business one morning to find the place in ruins. There had been a fire, the place was gutted, and nothing saved except the safe containing the Ledgers. Number 88 Brompton Road [does he mean no. 83?] was immediately opened as a Grocers and we carried on in a back room for the Office. Subsequently Humphrey’s Hall was taken. This was a large Hall in the High Road opposite the Barracks. This Hall eventually became the Japanese Village, which a few years after, curiously enough, was destroyed by fire with loss of life
Humphreys Hall consisted of a large iron structure, and was well known to the late Victorian public as the venue for a series of exhibitions. The roller-skating rink which became the first Humphreys Hall probably originated within premises used for manufacturing bicycles and sports equipment. Thomas Sparrow and the firm of Sparrow & Spencer occupied these premises for several years in the early and mid 1870s. The skating rink, known as Dungannon Rink, was set up in about 1876 during a brief mania for the sport. Like many others, this rink had fallen out of use by 1880 when it was refitted for a supplier of cut-price food and general produce. In 1882 Dungannon Hall, as the premises had become known, was taken over by James Charlton Humphreys, the iron buildings manufacturer, who adapted and rebuilt it for public use. It hosted many exhibitions, including the Food Exhibition of 1882.
After use by Harrods in 1883, the longest running and most remarkable was the ‘Japanese Native Village’ which ran from 1885 to 1887. The exhibition employed around 100 Japanese men and women in a setting built to resemble a traditional Japanese village. Whilst Gilbert and Sullivan were writing their opera,The Mikado, in 1885 W.S. Gilbert visited the exhibition and engaged Japanese people from the village to teach his cast aspects of Japanese behaviour. The hall was destroyed by fire in May 1885 and a new hall was rapidly built and opened again later that year. It was later extens
ively reconstructed as the Prince’s Racquets and Tennis Club.
William Kibble, in an interview with him for an article in 1935, which was also quoted earlier, was described as:
… throwing new light on the happenings of that Friday morning … it was he who went across the road to rent another shop and supervised the fitting of shelves. He then had to ‘step into a cab’ and make for the City, so that the stock could be replenished. Instead of giving large orders to each wholesaler, Mr Kibble bought in small enough quantities, for delivery of all the goods to be made by Monday morning without fail. So it happened that, even without the aid of telephones and motor cars, Harrods was open to the public after the weekend, and, to the outward eye, it appeared very little worse for wear.
It is apparent that the Harrods staff, and William Kibble in particular, acted superbly after the fire and were a great source of support for Charles Digby, who must have been devastated.
Tim Dale reports in his book an item from The Draper, which was sent in a letter to William Kibble by a contemporary employee, Mr Wallace Fraser of Fulham. It suggests a different version of the aftermath:
One day in 1882, Edgar Cohen [then in the sponge business – Cohen & Co.] was going home in an omnibus when a stranger asked him to lend him half a sovereign, saying he had lost his purse and giving him his card, which bore the name of Charles Harrod, and when Cohen obliged, asked for one of his. Charles Digby had been travelling to visit his solicitor in Bloomsbury, and had found he had boarded the horse omnibus without any money.
The Jewel of Knightsbridge Page 14
