Who lived in 15 Cobbett Road?

Introduction

I blame this research on a book which was published in 2017.

Mr Keith Billinghurst, The Origins and Evolution of the Progress Estate: Eltham's Garden Suburb which covers the reasons for the building of the Progress Estate in Eltham, as well as other garden villages. In short, the Estate was built to accommodate the workers at the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich and Keith's book was written to coincide with the centenary of the Progress Estate, and it got me thinking about who lived in my house. Using Keith's book as a starting point I visited the Greenwich Heritage Centre, in Woolwich, which at time of writing, is closed for redevelopment, though enquiries can be made to staff at Charlton House. I also created a tree on Ancestry. To qualify for a house on the Estate you had to be working in the munitions and be from outside the area. When I use the word qualification below, this relates to an individual's entitlement to appear on the Electoral Register

Timeline

1915 - the property is built as part of the Progress Estate

1916 - there were no electoral registers taken during World War I

1917 - despite the lack of electorial information a baptismal certificate told me that the Hills family were living in the property

1919 - members of the Hills family are joined by the Roberts 

1921 - there are now two families living in the property: Roberts and Griffin

1922 - only the Griffins are in residence

During World War II there is again no electoral information, but in 1945 the Griffins are still there, so it must be assumed that members of the family were living at the address during the war years.

1945 - Griffin and they remain in the property until 1968

1969 - unknown

1970 - the Ruane family are living at the address

2000 - my partner and I buy the property from the Ruanes

The Hills Family

The first confirmation I have of the Hills family living in the property is the baptismal certificate of Thomas Hills and Gladys, of their second son from 1917.

The 1918 Electoral Register shows that Thomas qualifies by occupation, presumably at the Arsenal, and Gladys qualifies as his wife.

On the death of her husband, Gladys continues to live in the property, qualifying by occupation, until about the mid 1920s. She appears alone in the 1920 Spring Electoral Register and I am unclear whether she moved out, died or married.

In 1937 Thomas John Hills comes to live in the property and is joined the following year by his brother Frederick Charles Hills. In 1939 Frederick alone is living with the Griffin family.


The Roberts Family

The first record of a member of this family is the 1918 Electoral Register, which lists Charles Roberts living with the Hills, and qualifying by occupation; so he is also working at the Arsenal.

In 1919 Charles is listed in the Electoral Register with an Elizabeth Roberts, however they are both absent in 1920.

In Autumn 1920 John Roberts is living alone in the property.


The Griffin Family

The property is occupied by the married couple, James Griffin and his wife Gladys Roberts in 1920, and they have a son James who is born in June that year. I have not been able to prove that this Gladys is the widow of Thomas Hills, but it would not be a ridiculous thought.

The Autumn 1920 Electoral Register does not list the couple, but they are back living with John Roberts in 1921. At this point I assumed that the latter was Gladys' father.

The Griffins continue to live in the property, with any children under voting age, until 1937. During this time Gladys appears to have taken to using her full name, Gladys Elizabeth Mary Griffin. The property also appears to have become a family home, in the ownership of the family, as it is listed in Kelly's Directory as a private residence.

They are also joined in the property by another Hills' family member and yet another in 1938.

During World War II as with World War I, limited electoral registration information was collected. I have found no records for the property from 1940-1944.

By 1945 James and Gladys now have children of voting age: one daughter Elsie Pauline and one son Denis W Griffin. The following year Denis has left the property, but the year after, 1947, the Griffins appear to have had another daughter reach voting age. Her name may also explain why Gladys senior, had adopted a full name. Their second daughter is called Gladys Mary Griffin.

James and Gladys continue to live in the property with their two daughters until they are rejoined by their son Denis in 1952. Sadly at the end of the year, James Griffin dies. In 1953 Gladys and her three children are living together in the property.

In 1954 Elsie has left, and the remaining three members of the Griffin family live together until the death of Denis in 1962. Mother and daughter continue to live in the property until the death of Gladys Elizabeth Mary dies in 1966.

Gladys Mary Griffin is now joined by a male John T Griffin who would have been 18 years, voting age.

I was unable to trace a record for 1969.

The Ruanes

In 1970 the property is now owned and occupied by Shirley and Thomas Ruane and they remain in the property until my (now ex husband) and I buy it from them in 2000.

I am still here.