My Stocking, Wales and Hill family lines converged in these two London streets on and off for more than two decades from the 1880s onwards. The street names seemed interchangeable and their history was apparently steeped in scandal. But what were the houses, the neighbours and the area like? Do family and other photos show … Continue reading Stocking homes: Bowles Road & Herman Road, Camberwell
Bowles Road
James Thomas Stocking (1853-1939): A Labourer’s life
My 2xgreat grandfather came from a line of Rope Mat Makers of Bermondsey. He spent most of his working life as a Labourer in south London, sometimes for bricklayers or builders. Many of his sons, grandsons and great grandsons learnt specific building or associated trades, but what would life have been like for Jim? Large … Continue reading James Thomas Stocking (1853-1939): A Labourer’s life
Richard Henry Stocking (1890-1904): A life cut short
My 2xgreat grandparents had a total of 19 children. Richard Henry was their 12th child and one of three to die young. His life was cut short when he was just 14; the family was very close and his death would have had a big impact. Here is what little I know of him, and … Continue reading Richard Henry Stocking (1890-1904): A life cut short
Lavinia (Lily) Stocking (1888-1968): Five Monk sons
Known in her early years as Lily, she was a witness to at least two of her sisters' weddings before marrying, in 1909, Frederick James Monk, a stationer's Card Cutter. He suffered ill-health after serving in the Remount Company during WW1, but continued to work. They had five sons between 1910-1919. What records did they … Continue reading Lavinia (Lily) Stocking (1888-1968): Five Monk sons
Elizabeth Bridgetina Stocking (1886-1960): Gent’s Hat Trimmer
'Lizzie' Stocking married Arthur William Evans in 1910, aged 23. They lived their married life in London, leaving little documentary record other than the death in infancy of their only baby, enumeration in the decennial censuses and long-term residence in Ringstead Road, Catford. There were, however, more convoluted connections between the Stocking and Evans families, … Continue reading Elizabeth Bridgetina Stocking (1886-1960): Gent’s Hat Trimmer
Catherine Alice (Kate) Stocking (1885-1967): Tingewick and turbulence of War [Updated]
Kate, the eighth child of my great grandparents, grew up with her many siblings in South London. Before marrying Tramways Engineer Charles Hall in 1908, she worked as a Shirt Machinist. They stayed together through two world wars, moving from London to Buckinghamshire to run The Crown Inn at Tingewick. But their family stories illustrate … Continue reading Catherine Alice (Kate) Stocking (1885-1967): Tingewick and turbulence of War [Updated]
William Henry Stocking (1880-1966): Master Builder
Building trades are very much part of my Stocking ancestry. My Dad worked for his father's firm of J Stocks & Sons in the 1950s. His great uncle William Henry Stocking built up the firm of W Stocks & Sons, creating an earlier dynasty of builders and decorators in the 1900s, one for which several … Continue reading William Henry Stocking (1880-1966): Master Builder
Harriett Elizabeth Stocking (1879-1945): A large family
Harriett was the fourth of my 2xgreat grandparents' 19 children and had her own large family of ten with her husband Alfred Edmund Ilott Bishop. They lived their lives in Camberwell and then Norwood in London, dying in the final throws of WW2. They gave a home to her widowed sister and their ten children … Continue reading Harriett Elizabeth Stocking (1879-1945): A large family
Mary Alice Stocking (1899-1899): The ‘missing’ child
For years I thought I had traced all 19 of my 2xgreat grandparents' children, including three who died young. Recent (January 2025) research to verify earlier work shows just how wrong I was. I had incorrectly assigned Violet Stocking, born and died in 1899, to the family, but she was my great aunt Emma's illegitimate … Continue reading Mary Alice Stocking (1899-1899): The ‘missing’ child
Alice Caroline Stocking (1874-1928): A tragic end
Alice was the eldest of my 2xgreat grandparents' children and appears to have had a steady childhood, albeit one of 19 children. After leaving school, she worked as a needlewoman, making shirts and hat trimmings. Her home life after she married was also straightforward, although she only had two children, a small family for the … Continue reading Alice Caroline Stocking (1874-1928): A tragic end
My Stocking Roots 