Person    | Male  Born 16/7/1834  Died 25/9/1917

John Reynolds Roberts

Categories: Commerce, Philanthropy

Shopkeeper and philanthropist. Born Camberwell. Aged 17 he and his brother Thomas, left their home in Newington Green and began work in London as errand boys in a drapers. In 1870 he opened a store in Stratford, J. R. Roberts Ltd, which was initially a drapers and furniture shop. It eventually became a full department store at 78-102 Broadway Stratford, the so-called equivalent of Harrods in East London. At its height it employed 500 members of staff.

1882 he bought Salway House as his home. He sold the business in 1894 which enabled him thereafter to live the life of a country gentleman and philanthropist. Knighted in 1911. His philanthropy included, as well as the Memorial Hall, the Jubilee Hospital Woodford (demolished), and the old Union/Wesleyan Church in the High Road which he converted to a working man's club, both in 1904.

The department store closed in 1954 and the building was sold to London Co-operative Society. Demolished in 1957–62, a modern long low building now (2019) occupies the site (Wilkinsons and Poundstretcher).

Much of this information comes from the South Woodford Village Gazette and the Washington Post of 22 January 1911.

The Roberts household were in the news, and not in a good way, when the Essex Newsman Sat 13 Nov 1909 reported that Samuel Willingale, head gardener, was found lying dead in a tank of water in a greenhouse at Salway House.

The 18th century Salway House was demolished in 1932 and the site is now occupied by Salway Evangelical Church. Waltham Forest hold an 1890 photo of Salway House but give the address as High Road Leyton. Seems likely this is actually the house in Woodford Green.

Date of death depends on source: 25 or 26.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
John Reynolds Roberts

Commemorated ati

Woodford Green Men's Club - Roberts

This plaque is protected from the rain by a projecting granite shelf, above. ...

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
John Reynolds Roberts

Creations i

South Woodford Memorial Hall foundation stone

This building was erected in the coronation year of His Majesty King Edward V...

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Other Subjects

People's Building Society

People's Building Society

It was operating in the 1860s with branches in Deptford, Greenwich and Lewisham. In 1968 it made an application to be merged with the Greenwich Building Society. Caroline's Miscellany gives further...

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1 memorial
London Hop Trade

London Hop Trade

Hops were introduced to England from the Netherlands. They were grown principally in Kent and brought to London via the River Thames and later by rail to London Bridge. By the mid-nineteenth centur...

Group, Commerce

1 memorial
Cantor & Nissel Ltd

Cantor & Nissel Ltd

Contact lens manufacturers.  Founded by David Cantor.  Acquired Nissel Limited in August 2000.

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1 memorial
Caparo Group

Caparo Group

Company, based in Portland Place, founded by Lord Paul, specialising predominantly in the manufacture of steel, automotive and general engineering products.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial

Previously viewed

DLR extension to Lewisham - Greenwich

DLR extension to Lewisham - Greenwich

SE10, Cutty Sark Greenwich DLR Station

The rectangular aluminium plaque is on the cutter head which has been painted in a Union Jack-inspired scheme.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Martini Beati - keystone head

Martini Beati - keystone head

EC3, Change Alley

His ringlets are formed by coins. Loose copies of an old penny are placed at the bottom corners: head (a young Victoria) at the left, tai...

Basil Hume, Duncan Terrace

Basil Hume, Duncan Terrace

N1, Duncan Terrace, St John the Evangelist

The Haines and Marley plaque is to the left, Hume to the right.

2 subjects commemorated
Walter Tull

Walter Tull

N17, Northumberland Park, 77

Walter Tull, 1888 - 1918, pioneering footballer for Tottenham Hotspur and pioneering British army officer, lived in a house on this site ...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Major Matthew Meiklejohn, VC

Major Matthew Meiklejohn, VC

Gained his VC, and lost his right arm, as a captain in the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in South Africa at the battle of Elandslaagte, during the Boer War. He died following a fall from his h...

Person, Armed Forces, Scotland, South Africa

1 memorial