Looking for work 1894-1896

When Billy was laid off from a job he would lose no time in looking for another position. Often this would involve travelling out of Horsham. Sometimes this process was not too lengthy or difficult. The following account is of his first search for work after being laid off by his apprenticeship firm, Sendall Brothers – “the first ‘push’ I have had since leaving school”.

Thursday August 9th to Saturday 11th 1894
Went by 8.23 train to Holmwood to go up with the van[1] in search of a job.
Started about 10 with Worsfold. Tried several places at Holmwood, Dorking and Mickleham and succeeded in getting a start at Brown’s, Leatherhead. So as I had nothing to do for a time, thought I might as well go on to London for a holiday. Had a good journey up through Ashtead, Epsom, Ewell, Merton, Morden to Tooting where we[2] stopped for refreshments. Then on again to Wandsworth over Wandsworth Bridge, out to the West End and back into the Boro arriving there about 11. Slept in the van and got up about 4.30. Went to Smithfield and Boro markets, and then took a stroll over to the Tower Bridge[3]. Saw the Basculis go up and went over the upper footway. Back to breakfast and started from the Boro for the Strand. There I left the van and went over the National Gallery, had a walk around Northumberland Avenue to Charing Cross, took boat to London Bridge, had tea on Boro, and started homeward journey about 4.30. Went down to Tooting by a different route via Stockwell, Kennington and Clapham Common. At Merton a rather heavy storm broke out. Lightning very sharp. Continued to rain all the way to Epsom where we put up for the night at Magpie Inn. Started from Epson on Saturday morning about 8.00, went through Leatherhead and saw the man who put me on my job and arranged to lodge with him. Got to Holmwood just in time for 2.30 train home.

 
Tower Bridge, reproduced from Billy’s copy of The Queen’s London, 1896, p. 18.

 

This job lasted barely a month before Billy was out looking for work again.
 
Monday 15th October 1894
Finished up at Fetcham Park today and drew money this evening. I’m afraid work is rather scarce just now but I’ve heard of a possible start from Geo. Martin.
 
Tuesday 16th October 1894
Laid in bed till 8 as I had nothing to do. After breakfast went to Epsom by S.W.R. Tried several places including Furniss’s, Chuter’s, Jeal’s and Simpson’s at Lord Roseberry’s job. All the same tale. Heard that trade was brisk at Ewell so walked there, tried Killick’s and another but no go. Walked back to Epsom and caught train to Wimbledon. Tried Whitehead Bros., Harmer’s, Parsons & Townsend, Price etc. but all very quiet so came back to Leatherhead. George Marten’s job I’m afraid will turn out a “biffer”.
 
Wednesday 17th October
Started off to Dorking in search of a job. Tried Bargeman’s, Coll’s, Lett’s, and Hamlin’s. Was successful at the latter firm. Saw Foreman and arranged to start tomorrow morning. Found a lodge at 24 Mill Lane, went back to Leatherhead, had dinner, packed box and came down again by 4.20 train.
 
Once again, the job lasted only a month and by the end of November Billy was out of work again. This time he travelled in a south-westerly direction
 
Tuesday 27th November 1894
Started off by the 9.00 train to Pulboro to look for a job. Nothing doing there so walked to Petworth and from there took train to Midhurst. Had a look round then trained again to Petersfield (SWR)[4] and stayed there for the night at Coffee Tavern. Rather hard luck after going that distance and then no work.
 
Wednesday 28th November 1894
Had a fairly comfortable bed. Got up about 7.30 and tried all the shops in Petersfield without success. Was advised to go to Lis, a place about 4 miles distant so walked there and after waiting a time saw a Mr Jenkins who expected a job and promised one a start if possible. From there started for Liphook. Took a bylane through a forest to save a mile or so and came out on the main road at Rake. Don’t think I ever saw a better road than that, made of sandstone and as hard as a rock. Enjoyed the walk as it’s a very pleasant country, all open moor and common as far as the eye can reach. Saw a man at Liphook with same result and just caught train to Godalming. From there had a ride in a lime cart to Shalford, tried Mitchell’s and then walked in to Guilford. Hadn’t been there long when I saw Cooper (Hurl’s (?) coachman) in North Street on the way home with a Pair, so I came home by road with him. Had a nice ride, not very cold. Landed about 9 p.m. fairly tired and found that S.B.[5] had sent for me to start.
 
Monday 21st January 1895
As there is no sign of work about here (Horsham), I thought I would have a look around, so caught 9 o’clock train to Holmwood and rode in Uncle’s van to Dorking.

 
Billy’s uncle John Hoad who ran a carting business at Holmwood. Photo courtesy of cousin Yvonne.

 
Nothing doing here so went on to Leatherhead. Same tale. Saw George Marten and Mr Brown. Think I shall be right here later on. Left van and went by rail to Epsom for the job at Lord Roseberry’s. Was told to call again on Wednesday so met the van again and went on to London. Had a very cold journey after going out west. Got in to the Boro about 11 p.m. Took a bed at the “Home Temperance Hotel”, High Street, Boro.
 
Tuesday 22nd January 1895
Got up about 8, had breakfast, then went out with the van. Hadn’t got far before snow began to fall making the roads very slippery. Horses falling about in all directions. Left the van in Pall Mall. Tried for a start in several places. Had dinner then found my way to the British Museum and spent the afternoon there. From there, went to the Strand, had tea, and went to the Tivoli Music Hall. Very good programme. Came out about 11, and took a bed at the “Wilfred Lawson”, Bow Street.[6]
 
Wednesday 23rd January
Very rough morning – rain, hail, snow, thunder and lightening almost at the same time. Caught 10 o’clock train from Waterloo for Epsom. Went to the job several times waiting for the “Boss” to come down. At last the Foreman gave me a start tomorrow to my great delight as it’s very lucky to get a start now as trade is very slack.
 
Billy was working on the maintenance staff at Hampton Court for most of 1896, but when that job finished in October he was in search of a job once more.
 
Tuesday 13th October 1896
Caught 7.30 for Waterloo this morning (with Harry[7]) who stayed here last night) intending to have a look round town for a job. Did so but with no success. Tried several places in West End including the Coburg Hotel[8] now building. Then to Sage’s in Grays Inn Road but all no good. Had a bus ride through the City, dinner in Bishopsgate and a look in the new Bishopsgate Institute. Fine place that! Afternoon went to South Kensington Museum having never been there before. Of course saw it very imperfectly. Shall certainly go there again if I have the chance. Came out to find it raining hard again. Had a beautiful morning too.
 
Friday 16th October 1896
To town again this morning. Very wet, miserable day. Seems to rain mud. Had a walk down Lambeth, over the Bridge and along Grosvenor Road. Tried Trollope’s and Mowlem’s but with no luck. Hardly expected any in fact. Trained to Victoria, met the Horsham train and Tom Christopher. Had drink and left him. Went down Buckingham Palace Road, Eaton Square, Chester Square and various other places. Saw several jobs but none that wanted hands. Thought I had a bit of better luck at Burton Brothers, Elizabeth Street, but it didn’t come off so gave the game up for the day and walked down to the Natural History Museum at Kensington[9].

 
The Natural History Museum, South Kensington, reproduced from Billy Hoad’s copy of the Queen’s London, 1896, p.11.

 
Had a stroll through that. I consider it about the handsomest modern building I’ve seen in London. What a wonderful “little village” is London. The more I see the more I think so. Called in at Parnicott’s, York Street, on my way back to Waterloo. Was informed there might be a chance of a job at 164 Clerkenwell Rd. so shall go there tomorrow.
 
Saturday 17th October 1896
Much brighter morning. Caught 7.30 again for Waterloo and from there set out to find Clerkenwell Rd. and a rare job of it it was too. Anyway, I did find it at last (also the Angel Islington for the first time) and had the usual luck. From there I went by tram through Shoreditch and Spitalfields Market to Whitechapel. Walked from there to Bethnal Green. “Did” the museum there. Seem to be having a fill of museums this week. Took bus from there to Bank. Had a look in Royal Exchange and Courtyard of Bank. Walked from there to Waterloo via Embankment. Home about 3 o’clock.

 
The Royal Exchange, City of London. Reproduced from Billy Hoad’s own copy of the Queen’s London, p.12.

 
Monday 19th October 1896
Once more to town this morning although it’s a forlorn hope, work being very slack everywhere now. Went over to Bayswater for a start and from there to Kensington having heard that Aldiro and Davis, Queensgate Place, were busy. Called there but got no answer. Tried several jobs that I came upon while walking round, all to no purpose. So, being handy again, went into the South Kensington Museum this time to the Southern Galleries of machinery and ships models which include examples of engines from the earliest old steamers and Locos (viz. The Rocket etc.) to the latest marine engines of today…. Came outside and called again at Aldiron and Davis. This time got an answer but of the wrong sort so then thought of working my way back to Waterloo. To my surprise, after walking for nearly an hour, found myself at the place I started from. Anyway, found myself again and made for Brompton Road. From there by bus to Strand. Just came over very dark and foggy accompanied by rain. Miserable weather again. No doubt that stops a lot of work.
 

The Strand and St Mary-le-Strand, reproduced from Billy Hoad’s copy of the Queen’s London, p. 309.

Billy returned home to Horsham where he spent the next 8 months, living at home, getting painting and decorating work when he could find it, but principally helping out his father with his horse hire, odd job and chimney sweeping business. It was the following summer before conditions at home allowed him to look for work again further afield.

• [1] Billy’s uncle and aunt lived in Holmwood and lent their horse and cart (“van”) to their nephew from time to time.
• [2] Billy and the horse!
• [3] Tower Bridge had only been opened for two months when Billy made his visit.
• [4] The London and Southwest Railway.
• [5] Sendall Bros., the Horsham firm Billy had served his apprenticeship with.
• [6] Sir Wilfred Lawson Bt. (1829-1906) was a radical member of various Liberal Governments of the late 19^th century and a tireless advocate for temperance so no doubt this was a temperance hotel.
• [7] Harry was Billy’s younger brother.
• [8] The Coburg Hotel was opened in 1897 replacing an earlier hotel on the site in Mayfair. It was named after Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg.. In 1917, during World War I, the decision was made to change the name to The Connaught. The name chosen was that of Queen Victoria’s 3rd son, Prince Arthur, the first Duke of Connaught.
• [9] The South Kensington Museum was to change its name to the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1899.
• [10] Indicating he needs to collect his things from his diggings at Hampton Wick.
  
  

• Part 2: Looking for work - 1898 and 1899
  
  
  

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