Subject

At the ever useful Pubs History we learn that the 1899 Post Office Directory lists Alex Jas Avery as the publican of White Hart pub in Kennington Lane. Other names are given for 1895 and for 1899 so the maximum time he was here was 5 years and he oversaw the rebuilding.

As soon as we published this our colleague Andrew Behan was onto it.   He found Avery’s date of birth but his death is a mystery.   Also he married aged 19, saying he was 21, to a woman aged 29, saying she was 26, thus halving the age gap.  Oh la la!  Here’s Andrew:

Alexander James Avery was born on 13 February 1860 in Lambeth, the son of Alexander Bernard Avery and Sarah Ann Avery, nee Page. His father was a Waiter. He was baptised on 27 May 1860 at St John the Evangelist Church, Lambeth. The 1861 census shows him living with his parents at 16 Frances Street, Lambeth, together with an elder sister, Emily S Avery and his uncle William J Avery, who was also a Waiter. The 1871 census shows that he and his parents had moved to 26 St. Mary's Square, Lambeth {small terraced house, still there}, but it no longer showed his elder sister or uncle, but three younger brothers, Charles William Avery, Henry George Avery and Alfred Edwin Avery and a younger sister, Florence Fanny Mary Avery. On 26 October 1879 he married Eliza Nutley at the Parish Church of St. Philip, Lambeth. His address was shown as 150 Davidge Terrace, Lambeth, {for the location of Davidge Terrace see below} whilst her address was recorded as 26 St. Mary's Square. His occupation was shown as a Waiter. He gave his age as 21 years, but we know that he was only 19 years old. His wife, who we learn from subsequent census returns was born in Brentford, Middlesex, claimed to be 26 years old, but the only Eliza Nutley birth that  I could trace being born in Brentford, was registered in the 4th quarter of 1850, which would have made her about 29 years old when she married.

The 1881 census shows that he and his wife were living with three other families at 100 Kennington Road, Lambeth {since replaced with blocks of flats}. His occupation continued to be shown as a Waiter but he only recorded his name as James Avery. The 1884 Post Office Directory shows him running The Crown Tavern at 11 Vine Street, York Road, Lambeth. {Street near Waterloo had some name changes but was eventually lost mainly under the Shell Centre}. The 1891 Post Office Directory shows him still at The Crown Tavern as does the 1891 census. This time his name on the census is recorded only as Alexander Avery. He is shown living there with his wife and three servants. His occupation is given as Licenced Victualler.

You already know about the White Hart in Kennington Lane for the 1897 period.

On the 1901 census, he and his wife are shown living at 11 Temple Street, Southwark {all that’s left of this is the extremely unattractive Pastor Street} and his occupation is given as a Licenced Victualler's Manager.

It is here that my research can find no further trace. Nothing for the 1911 census, death registration, etc., mainly because they kept changing their ages to enable a conclusive account. Did they emigrate? Not a satisfactory conclusion, but maybe others will know their fate.

Davidge Terrace - we originally confused this with present-day Davidge Street but Nancy Davidge Frey contacted us via Facebook to point out that Davidge Terrace still exists. It's a terrace of 5 houses now numbered 150-158 Kennington Park Road, on the west side between Walnut Tree Walk and Fitzalan Street. Thank you Nancy - best wishes with your researches.