Aftermath of the Silvertown Explosion
Another Move
When we left Beckton Road we went to a house at 55 Trinity Street. The house was quite large which we needed with four girls all growing up fast. There was a fair sized tree and Dad fixed a rope swing on it for us. I believe we had a few chickens at the end of the garden. Our kitchen window faced next door's kitchen window and each kitchen had a mirror on the wall over the fireplace, so we could look and pull faces at the children next door! The neighbours' name was Pocock. One day a white cockatoo came down in our garden and no one claimed it, so we gave it to the boys next door. I don't think their mother was very pleased as it kicked up an awful din. They called it "Deboshah".
I remember my sister Floss pushing a button up her nose, the remedy for which was to sprinkle her with pepper so that she sneezed and down came the button!. I also remember there was a girl called Susie Walker who was always well dressed and wore gold rimmed spectacles. Sadly, she got Scarlet Fever and died; she was only aged seven or eight.
Adams the bakers
My sister Doris worked in a baker's shop on the corner of Beckton Rd and Trinity Street for two and six a week plus her food. It was Adams the baker's, the daughter Edna , was my school friend and we were called Adam and Eve! We used to go home from school for midday dinner from 12 until 2pm. Each had a task to perform; mine was to go and get two loaves, one yesterday's and today's, which cost 5 1/2 pence in old money for the two. I was always fascinated by a gorgeous three tier wedding cake under a glass dome, which stood on the counter. I was very disappointed when one day I was told it was made of cardboard! It was a very nice baker's and confectioner's. There was row of shiny glass jars containing extra special sweetmeat, petit fours etc. Edna's favourites were Ceylon Drops, like little Ratafia biscuits; she would take a handful and we would sit on the stairs and eat them . The lady wo served in the shop was a Miss Edna White who always looked immaculate in her black dress and her white embroidered bib apron. She was Edna's cousin and many years afterwards became the second wife of my husband's uncle Ernie. Mr Adams said that when I married he would make my wedding cake, but I was only 11 at the time and I'm afraid he passed on before my wedding day; in fact when I was married in 1928 my wedding cake came from Pritchard's in Oxford Street. He said he would have to be careful over making promises as one young lady had written from Australia asking for the promise to be fulfilled! When Grandma Leverett died I stayed with Adams family for afew days and had a lovely time. Mrs Adams made the most delicious steak and kidney puddings, boiled in a cloth not in a basin and the gravy was "Yum yum!"
Silvertown Explosion *
We were still living in Trinity Street when the Silvertown Explosion occurred. I think it must have been early in 1916 and at about 6pm one evening. It was dark and we had just finished our tea; Mum was out sick visiting. The explosion was at the Brunner Mond high explosive factory in Silvertown. The company was owned by Sir John Brunner and Sir Alfred Mond. One later became Lord Melchett. My eldest sister, Ada, worked there in the office, but she had arrived home some time before, thankfully. As we sat in our living room there was a terrific explosion; we thought the Zepps had come. The linen blind bellied out and we all ran up the passage towards the bottom of the staircase by the front door as this was considered to be the safest place during an air raid. We waited for the next big bang but it didn't come. Quite a number of the scientists had accommodation at the premises and many of them were killed. Ada knew them all as she worked for them. The devastation was terrible and many families were rendered homeless. My sister was eventually given a piece of her blown up typewriter! The explosion was hushed up and not publicized. The hall under our church, Barking Road baptist Tabernacle as it was the called, was used for temporary sleeping quarters. I went there with my mother and the floor of the hall was covered with mattresses and soup was being heated in large boilers. We left Trinity Street soon after that and, when I asked at school for my transfer, the teacher filling out the form said, "Oh you are going up in the world!" We were moving to East Ham.
*The link above gives more information on the disaster, which was on the 19th January 1917
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