1895
The winter of 1894/5 was a very severe one (strange to say at the time of typing this, we are experiencing another such Frost i.e. 17 February 1929) and on 1st January 1895 my dear wife woke me early in the morning saying that she had unusual sensations. I carried the couch into the kitchen in the early morning and she laid down in front of the fire. Later I cut off to the Doctor and then to a nurse, and at 4.10 pm. our first child was born.
It was a fortunate thing for us that the day was the usual Stock Exchange holiday, so I was able to give every attention, but what a day it was. Hard Frost, fine but I didn't feel the cold I was too busy.
With a baby to attend to, to put to bed, we were tied more to our home, and my dear one found my absence during the evening when out teaching, left her lonely, and she suggested that she would rather have my company that the extra money the evening work brought in.
I didn't see how we could manage with the salary I received from James Shepherd & Co but I asked one of the principals, Mr Plimpton, if he could give me an increase. He was kind, put it to me that even if they gave me a small rise it would not go very far, and suggested, that as I was going in for a family, would it not be better to look out for a job in a larger firm with more prospects.
This suggestion made me think, and I started to hunt about, and after interviewing various people, arranged to join the firm of William H Hart & Co on the 1st May at a salary of £130 per annum. I had been with James Shepherd & Co for 14 years, not bad for a first place.
I dropped my music teaching, but sad to say, my new place was bad as regards hours. It was in the middle of a boom and busy firms were working all hours. I rarely left the office until 7 or 8 o/c, and on the account nights it was usually 12 or later, and frequently I had to sleep in the City, or get home by cab.
About this time H.W. Dowell offered his son Harry the loan of money to buy a house, but Harry could not see his way to accept. The repayment, interest, repairs, frightened him.
Mr Dowell on speaking about it to Lil. and myself one day, I remarked that "had I had the chance", not from any premeditated idea of getting the offer, but envy at such an opportunity, "I should have considered it".
To my surprise Mr D made the offer and I accepted, result 34 Filey Avenue was bought for £442-10/-. I found the money £42-10/-, the Lawyers Bill £12-8-6, and we moved in on June 5th.
This was a memorable date. I had arranged to have a day's leave for the move, but the auditors at Harts called upon the Governor to have all his books ruled down for a balance, and this holiday was cancelled, and I did not get home until 1 o/c at night. I let myself in, found my way upstairs, and not knowing how many there were brought my foot down bang on the top landing.
Poor Lil, she managed the move well. My father had lent a hand and our small load of furniture was shifted without mishap.
I arranged with father Dowell to pay off the loan by Half yearly payments of £10 and interest divided over 20 years. This interest worked out at £8-4/- per annum, so my annual cost to buy the house was £28-4/-. The Insurance 6/- , Rates £8-18-10, Water £2-1/-, Ground Rent £6-5-8, Property Tax £1-9/-, came to £19-0-6. I reckoned £5 would cover repairs, so the total cost per annum was reckoned to be £52-4-6.
This annual cost out of an income of £130 looked very heavy, but we didn't want a 7 roomed house plus scullery, so we let 4 rooms. One front and 3 back, our first tenant being Mr Loring who paid 12/6 per week i.e. £32-10/- a year.
This young couple stayed with us exactly a year, when Mr H.C. Forsaith came in at the same rent. He stayed from June 1896 until March 1900. Four years very happy time together.
On leaving Mr Forsaith told me that we were not charging enough for the accommodation and advised me to ask more for a new tenant.
Mr F.T. Stokes took them at 13/- a week, he was rather a touchy individual and we had a small difference about leaving our bedroom door open in the early morning, I advised him to find rooms elsewhere and they left in February 1901.
After this, wanting an extra room ourselves, we only let three rooms to a Mrs Longmate and daughter for 12/- a week. This tenancy lasted from February 1901 until April 1902 when owing to family financial trouble they left. In May Mr Frane moved in at 12/6 a week and stopped until March 1904.
Then the Misses Swain came in April paying 11/9 a week or £2-10-11 a month i.e. £30-11/- a year and remained until December 1906 when wanting still more room for our growing family we reluctantly had to ask them to go.
This was the end of our letting, during the whole of the 10 1/2 years we were not without a tenant, and doing a great amount of the repairs myself the house cost on an average £4-16-9 a year, or including the return of the loan £24-16-9.
I have often wondered how and where the difference is between 30 or 50 years ago and the present time, and have come to the conclusion that it is simply the fact that you "Can't have the cake and the farthing too". People were content to live simply. We had a sitting & bedroom to ourselves, a room for the boys, a "Parlour kitchen", and a scullery. At the present time people have all the above, also a NURSERY, LOUNGE, and a DEN for father.
Going back to 1895.
Owing to the busy times and being in a new place, I didn't get a holiday until September, this was spent at Brighton. It was rather wet and windy, and having a baby we could not do much.
I received a bonus of £7-7/-, this helped pay expenses.
At the end of the year, including the installments towards purchase of the house, I found my assets amounted to £229-15-10.
It must be remembered that although I had given up my music teaching, I was working 10 to 12 or more hours a day, and received 2/6 an evening when stopping until 9 o/c, and as I only spent a small portion for supper this added up to a considerable sum during the year.
On August 1st, Mr Hart increased my salary by £10. At this time Stock Brokers were very busy, and clerks were in demand. I had only just made a change so didn't think of shifting again so soon, but others were going and coming. Mr Hart asked his auditors what he was to do about it, and the answer was "increase their salaries".
The books were in a terrible state, and I and others stayed all one night and helped to clear the cash books. It was a terrible strain to keep on for two days and a night, and after weeks of 10, 11, 12, each evening. On looking back I wonder why we did it, there must have been other places less strenuous, I suppose it was the spirit that we would not be beaten, so we kept on in spite of all the bad conditions.
1896
On 1st January 1896 we celebrated the occasion by a party, and had 17 people; the family on both sides, and Mr & Mrs Hensler and the Lorings.
In July we spent our holiday at Clacton staying at the Keunes, Lil's Aunt and Uncle.
On 19th. September our second child was born - Frank Leslie - he arrived at 12.55 p.m. Grandma Dowell alone being present. It was a fortunate thing for Frank, that his mother was a woman with intelligence. Grandma Dowell told her that there was something funny on his face, and she at once said "lift it off". When the Doctor came, he told them it was a Caul. This is really a very simple thing, only a portion of the amnion, a thin membrane, but for ages it has been looked on with superstition, and one born with it is supposed to turn out lucky, or fortunate. For curiosities sake I kept it, and have it in an envelope to this day. I wonder how Frank will progress? He has a loving wife, three dear little children, and seems to be mastering his job at the Bank where he is employed. May the giver of all good things grant him a happy, healthy life, both Spiritually and Physically.
Nothing of special interest occurred during the year, it was for me "all work and no play" and Lil's time was fully taken up with her two children.
By the end of the year I found I had paid my way and my assets amounted to £276-4-1.
1897
The year 1897 was uneventful, my screw was increased by the absurd sum of £5 a year, making me £145. Its surprising how mean rich men can be. I was glad of it, youngsters take a lot of keeping.
We spent our holiday at Margate, and after putting the children to bed, we used to amuse ourselves by learning to ride a bicycle along a road at the back of our lodgings, where it was very quiet and we ran in between each run up the road to see that all was well.
1898
In 1898 I was at home ill from 10th January to the 14th with Influenza and Bronchitis. It was doubtless owing to being run down from overwork. Influenza was very prevalent at that time.
In July we spent a holiday at Littlehampton.
About this time Mr Hart promised a bonus to the staff, calculated on the profits, payable when the books were balanced, and on September 15th he took us all to the Royal Hotel Chingford and I found at supper an envelope under my plate with £20 in it. First share of the profits for 9 months, also my screw was raised by another £5 making me £150.
It was the hopes of some of these promised bonuses that made some of us stick on, our hours were gradually getting better, but we were always late on the Account nights.
On making up my accounts for the year, I found they had again increased. It must be remembered that I was buying the house, and letting, and it was only by so doing that I could pay my way, and increase my assets. I couldn't spend more on home upkeep for I was never sure of keeping a tenant, and if we had been empty for any length of time the old trouble of both ends meet would crop up.
I finished up the year with £342-2-3.
1899
In 1899 March 18th between 1am and 8am we were burgled. £17-5-2 worth of goods were taken. All our cutlery and wedding presents of value were taken. After a deal of trouble I received from the National Burglary Insurance £13-13/-
The man came in by our Drawing Room window and apparently kept down stairs. We had a night light upstairs owing to the children needing attention in the night, and we were late going to bed the night before. The police made many calls, but nothing came of it. The man or men evidently wrapped things up in our table cloths, and wore my overcoat. I had to go to business without one, and found it very cold.
In June we spent our holiday at Walmer. It was not a suitable place for children, but very healthy. It was here that Bryan asked me if some hills were the "Purple headed mountains" the place seemed to call to his mind, sea, hills, sunshine. We had some pleasant cycle rides in the evenings and enjoyed our holiday.
Assets at the end of the year £376-14-10.
1900
On January 25th Bryan and Frank, now 5 years and 3 years 4 months old, went to school at Miss Henderson's Stamford Hill. They went together as companions, but Frank was too young. They got on all right, but Frank would have been better at home.
In July we all went to Bournemouth during a 19 day account and had a jolly time on the sands. Although the children were young we went to a boarding house and the young people in the house made themselves very friendly, playing and paddling with the children.
The year was uneventful and I finished up with assets £404-11-8.
1901
On 5th January we had a big children's party. We had had parties previously, but on this occasion there were 24 guests.
My screw was raised in April to £160. Very slow progress but it helped to keep me going, and I finished up the year with £427-13-3.