Person    | Male  Born 24/5/1861  Died 1/1/1930

Henry Croft

Categories: Tourism / Traditions

The original Pearly King. Born in the St Pancras Workhouse (now, 2015, the St Pancras Hospital, immediately north of St Pancras Gardens). His mother was in and out of the workhouse, sometimes giving an address and sometimes not. His father was a musician but may have left, or died, since Henry was brought up in an orphanage - where he learnt to sew.

For his whole working life, from about the age of 15, he was employed by the local council as a road-sweeper - see the statue Street Orderly Boy for information on this job. 1892 married Lily Newton and went on to have 12 children. The picture originates in the Strand Magazine of February 1902 and is captioned ‘the Pearlie King of Somers Town’ – which seems right - all of the addresses given for him are in or near to the Somers Town area.

He did not invent the use of pearl buttons for decoration but certainly took it to new heights. It became so popular that in 1911 The Original Pearly Kings' and Queens' Association was formed. Croft created all his suits himself and made them for other people as well.

Twice presented to royalty he collected for various charities including his own orphanage and the 1928 flood. Died in the same workhouse where he was born. He was buried in St Pancras Cemetery on 7 January and his very long funeral cortege attracted the attention of British Pathe. His coffin was carried from his home in Phoenix Street, near Euston Road out to the cemetery, almost 6 miles away, so we do wonder if the whole procession went the whole way.

Most of this information, and the picture, comes from the extremely informative Studied Monuments - well worth a visit.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Henry Croft

Commemorated ati

Henry Croft - NW1

Henry Croft, the original Pearly King, 1861 - 1930, founder of the Pearly Kin...

Read More

Henry Croft tomb

Studied Monuments has all the information you could wish about this memorial....

Read More

Other Subjects

Harry Chi-Cheung Lee

Harry Chi-Cheung Lee

President of the China Town Chinese Association (London).

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration, Tourism / Traditions, China/Hong Kong

1 memorial
Martin Spencer

Martin Spencer

Swan Marker and Barge Master of the Vinters Company c.2006-7. Modelled for the figure in the Vintners statue. Deceased by 2023.

Person, Animals, Liveries & Guilds, Tourism / Traditions

1 memorial
Guy, Earl of Warwick

Guy, Earl of Warwick

We were disappointed to find that Wikipedia considers Guy to be "a legendary English hero". Or he may be the very real Richard Neville, the king-making earl of Warwick.

Person, Tourism / Traditions

1 memorial
Cornish Gorsedd

Cornish Gorsedd

The Gorsedh is a non-political, non affiliated to any religion, non-profit-making organisation. It exists to maintain the national Celtic spirit of Cornwall, to promote the study of literature, ar...

Group, History, Tourism / Traditions

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji

The first Asian elected to the House of Commons, representing Central Finsbury for the Liberal Party from 1892 - 1895. This was 4 years after the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, had said that black...

Person, Politics & Administration, Race Issues, India

1 memorial
Johnny Haynes

Johnny Haynes

Footballer. Born John Norman Haynes at the Middlesex Hospital Annexe, St Pancras. He spent his entire first class career at Fulham Football Club, where he played a record 657 games. Played for the ...

Person, Sport / Games, Scotland

1 memorial
UK Centre for Carnival Arts

UK Centre for Carnival Arts

An organisation based in Luton and dedicated to carnival arts.

Group, Community / Clubs

3 memorials
Choice FM

Choice FM

Started broadcasting from studios in Trinity Gardens (where the plaque is) in 1990. Co-founded by Patrick Berry and  Neil Kenlock, Choice was Britain’s first 24-hour black music radio station with ...

Media, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Frederick Goodall

Frederick Goodall

Painter. Born 20 Arlington Street. Following visits to Egypt his work often featured that country, and he was very successful, enabling him to employ R. N. Shaw to build Grim's Dyke as his home. A ...

Person, Art, Egypt

2 memorials