Editha Whittlesey born 1847 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. Daughter of Charles Whittlesey and Elizabeth Walker. Sometime between 1861 and 1871 Charles Whittlesy, Elizabeth and children moved from Willingham to Chapel Street, Shoreditch. Here he was a Corn Dealer and Brewer.
Although I can't find the family on the 1861 Census the Ackland Snows were back in London, from Norfolk, by 1858. They were living in Worship Street Shoreditch. I think we must presume that is how Editha and Matthew met: because they were living in the same area in Shoreditch.
They Married at St Clement Danes Church on 25th November 1869.
At the time they were both living 2 Denzell Street.
Denzell Street was located between Vere Street and Stanhope Street, just near Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Denzell Street was demolished in major redevelopment and is now under Aldwych
They had four surviving children: Florence Louisa, Frederick Arthur, Henry (Harry) and Matthew (Uncle Matt).
Their first child Edith Amelia Blanch Ackland Snow born 3rd July 1870 at 134 Balls Pond Road died when she was two years old.
1871 Census
62 Buttesland Street Shoreditch from Google Streetview
In 1873 they were living at 16 Marlborough Terrace, Upper Holloway Islington where their son Frederik was born.
On the 1881 census the family are at 61 Glenthorne Road under the surname of just Snow. Note Frederick is listed as Arthur on both the 1881 and 1891 Census.
61 Glenthorne Road is just around the corner from the railway arches in Hammersmith. Matthew Ackland-Snow is listed as a gasfitter in Kelly’s West Kensington and Hammersmith Directory for 1896-7 the address is “The Arches” listed in the middle of Cambridge Road.
Family information is that Matthew William used to make scenery for the theatre. He started a business under the railway arches at Hammersmith and actually lived there to begin with. When he died his son, Harry, took over. Family legend has it that at some stage Matthew William went to America “to escape the clutches of the law”. This could have been between 1873 and 1877 when there is a gap in his children. Also that Matthew was involved with Eastman of Eastman Kodak.
1891 Census: 61 Glenthorne Road Hammersmith
Commercial Directory 1896
. . . . . . . . Another death, which will evoke many expressions of sympathy, is that of Mrs Ackland Snow the wife of Mr Snow of Glenthorne Road. She had been under the care of ? doctors for some days, but succumbed on Wednesday. The funeral will take place at Hammersmith Cemetery on Monday.
On her death certificate it states Edith Blanche Ackland-Snow died on 19.1.1898, aged 49.
Wife of Matthew William Ackland-Snow, Plumber (Master) at 61 Glenthorne Road, St Paul, Hammersmith, Fulham.
The cause of death was influenza, pneumonia and the informant, her son, F. A. A. Snow of West Street, Carshalton, Surrey. [Frederick]
Editha is buried in Margravine Road Cemetery, Hammersmith grave 20 E 12.
There is no recorded headstone and for some reason Edith Ackland Snow is not recorded in the Daily Burial Registers.
Cemeteries Department at LBHF Council said this was probably “an administrative oversight”.
Electoral Rolls.1898
Glenthorne Road, Hammersmith, looking east, 1905 [above] Original source of these photographs is unknown but they appear to be freely available on the Internet on several different sites.
Photo taken in 1999 - Number 61 Glenthonrne Road with white ground floor frontage.
Next door [with 2nd floor extension number 59a]
Unknown whether this was Number 61 in the 1890s.
In the rate book for April 1909 (page 269) at Hammersmith Archives it shows Snow, Matthew Acland “lives here” Workshop Arches and Yard 59,60,61,62,63,64,65 Railway Arches (between 31 and 25 Cambridge Rd) Arches numbered 55-65. Amount of rate 5 pounds 12s 6d in arrears. The Temperance Society occupied number 58.
Electoral Registers 1901
Electoral Registers 1902
Matthew William with his sons: Frederick, Harry and Matthew.
Four photos below of the Arches taken in 1999.
Access below the Air Vent sign no longer there due to brick wall [2011]
Cambridge Road as was, now Cambridge Grove.
In 1901 Matthew, a Widower, was living with Henry and Euphemia at 81 Worship Street.
1902 Kelly's Directory shows him at 29 Cambridge Road.
From 1905 Hammersmith "Annual Report" on the Wellcome Library Website:
Messrs. M.A. Snow & Son For consent to form gate opening in railings at side of footpath, Cambridge Road, opposite entrance to Arches under L. & S.W.Ry.
In 1911 he was listed as a visitor at the home of William John Hodge, an Engine Fitter and his wife at 39 Revelon Road, Brockley.
1913
Matthew is buried in the same grave as Editha and the burial registers show he was removed from the district of Brockley. Matthew purchased this grave on the death of Edith in 1898 and was recorded as living at Greyhound Road, Fulham at the time. The burial rights to this grave expired in 1998. There is no headstone for Matthew and Editha’s grave.
I enquired of the Cemetery Dept about reuse of graves and received the following reply: With regard to burial rights in general, these expire after 100 years. At present the Council has no plans to re-use these graves but I cannot say what may happen in the future.
I do not think it would involve removal of the remains however.
More Information from Hammersmith Archives c 1980s:
The information from the ratebooks is as follows:- Matthew Ackland Snow, 61 Glenthorne Road: from 1878, gone by April 1898 Railway Arches: in 1888, all the railway arches in Cambridge Road (about eight, including no. 59), were owned by the Temperance Society. Matthew Ackland Snow’s name first appears in 1891 (he may well have sublet from the Temperance Society previously). By 1895 he was paying rates on both 59 & 60 Railway Arches and between 1905 and 1909 he took over 61-65 as well. In the 1909 ratebook is penciled by his name ‘lives here’.
In 1914 Harry Ackland Snow’s name appears, and he left the property, according to the ratebooks on 31 August 1930. The railway arches are listed in the rate after 25 Cambridge Road and before 31 Cambridge Road: there are no nos. 27 & 29 Cambridge Road.
Henry Ackland Snow, 29 Cambridge Road: This address does not appear in the rate books at all. However, it does appear in the street directories. The street directories give a description of the business: in 1910 it was a gasfitter’s. in 1930 a theatrical contractor’s.
Many years ago, sometime in the early 1970s it must have been, I asked Grandad where exactly the Arches were in Hammersmith and he drew me this map.
The business definately made props for the illusionists Maskelyne and Devant and, as over a period of many years advertisements were placed in theatrical publications, they probably did work for other entertainers too.
I have been unable to get the full text of these small ads without payment but what is available for free gives the general gist:
The Era Newspaper [a theatrical publication] 3rd Sep 1898:
Advertisements & Notices: ... Carpenter, Storage. Contracts for Scenery. ACKLAND SNOW, Cambridge-rd., Hammersmith WANTED, Suitable Premises, on Share or l Rental, for Howard's Ghost Illusion. First Week ...
The Stage Newspaper 18th May 1899:
WANTED Known, Scenery Made and Repaired Fit-ups, etc. Two Paint Frames, 36ft long, Vacant.-- ACKLAND SNOW, Cambridge Rd, Hammersmith. WANTED Known, that Frank Hiam is now selling the Great Coin Trick. The ? Of London.
Newspaper ad from 1855:
THE END