Occasionally, during the 1960s and early 70s, my family would visit my Nan and Uncle John in London. After growing up in Kent, it was exciting to experience the sights and sounds of the old city. I have many happy memories of those times. However, it wasn't the tourist spots that I can recall, but my Nan's collection of old photographs hanging on her walls. Faded faces from the past peered down as we sat around her living room table. And, at the head of that table, stood an old dark wooden chair which no-one sat in apart from Uncle John. As a child, it was quite imposing, with its high back and carved armrests. Many years later, my mother told me that it was a 'Windsor Chair' and had once belonged to my great-grandfather Walter Coward (1861-1936).
 |
| Uncle John with my Nan |
When I asked mum about Walter, her anecdotes revealed a fascinating character. Her grandfather was known as the 'Iron Man of Islington' and he helped build the Astoria in Finsbury Park. Mum described how one day, during its construction, Walter became buried under a collapsed wall. He eventually managed to crawl out and walked home covered in brick dust. When his wife Harriet opened their front door, she fainted: she thought she had seen a ghost!
Mum also had another story about him losing a finger in an accident with a tram door. Walter managed to pick up his severed finger from the road, wrapped it in his handkerchief, and walked to the local hospital. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the doctors could not do anything with it.
Tales like these no doubt enhanced his reputation.
Family lore, handed down by word of mouth, often fades away over time and is lost forever. But if recorded, it gives us a unique insight into the world our ancestors lived in. So, although this blog is titled 'Our Wait Family History', stories like this inspired me to continue researching my maternal line and discover more about the owner of that old Windsor Chair.
I began with my great-grandfather's birth:
 |
| Walter Coward's birth certificate Shoreditch 1c 110 |
Walter Coward was born on December 13th 1861 at 25 Luke Street, Shoreditch in London. His parents were John Coward (1823-1897) and Hannah Coward née Taylor (1839-1921).
 |
| Luke Street, Shoreditch, London |
1871 Census
We can see Walter and his family on the 1871 Census (below). They lived at 49 Georges Road, St James, Islington in London. His father, John Coward, 44 (1823 -1897), was head of the household, and his occupation was 'shoemaker.' His birthplace was Chelsea, Middlesex. |
| 1871 Census Islington RG10/273 /39 Coward family |
As usual with the census records, there is a disparity with the ages of the residents, but what cannot be so easily explained is an Alfred Daniels, one year old, living at the same address and recorded as the son of John and Hannah Coward. Alfred, like Walter, was born in Shoreditch, so the location and age doesn't match.
1881 Census
I had problems when looking for Walter's family on the 1881 census. I eventually found them in the index under the surname Cowards, which is clearly a transcription error. |
| 1881 Census RG11/247/100/23 Coward Family |
On 3rd April 1881, the Coward family were living at 49 Rupert Road, Islington, London. John Coward (Walter's father) was 57 and was now a 'master shoemaker'. Hannah, his wife, is recorded as being 43. Her place of birth is given as Soho, Middlesex.
Walter, now 19, was working at a greengrocers. His birthplace is given as Shoreditch. His 14 year old brother Henry was employed at an ironmongers. James, 12, was still at school, as was his sister Hannah, nine, and brother John, six. There is also one year old Joseph.
Apart from Walter, the rest of the Coward children were born in Islington, Middlesex. There is no mention of Alfred Daniels, although a child of that name died in Shoreditch in1872 aged 2 years old.
Walter Coward's Marriage
 |
| Walter and Harriet's marriage certificate Bethnal Green 1c 372 |
On Sunday, 22nd July 1883, Walter married Harriet Diana Elsden in Bethnal Green, at the parish church of St James the Great. Because of the colour of its brickwork, this large chapel became known as the 'red church.' It would later become linked with the notorious Kray twins. Sadly, the church was closed in 1981 and redeveloped into flats in 1983.
 |
| St James the Great in Bethnal Green, London. |
The marriage certificate gives Walter's full name as Walter McVeney Coward. This name, 'McVeney', does not appear on his birth certificate and raises many questions. He was of 'full age', a bachelor and worked as a labourer. His residence at the time of marriage was Bethnal Green. We have seen on both the 1881 and 1871 census that Walter's father was known as John Coward. But on this marriage certificate, his name is given as John McVeney and his profession, a bootmaker.
Harriet Diana Elsden is also described as of 'full age', and a spinster living, at the time of marriage, in Bethnal Green. Her father, Henry Elsden, was deceased.
1891 Census
 |
| 1891 Census RG12/143/66/55 |
The 1891 census shows three generations of the Coward family living at 69 Rupert Road, Islington, in London. On RG 12/143/66, page 55, we see Walter Coward, 29. He was now head of the household, married, and working as a general labourer. His wife Harriet was 28 years old and her occupation is described as 'ironer - wash'. Harriet's birthplace is given as Great Wakering in Essex.
By now, they had three boys: Walter Coward, seven (Walter Richard Coward born in 1884 Islington 1b 259), James aged three and John, one. This was possibly Reginald John Coward, who was born in 1889 and died in October1891, aged two.
Also living at 69 Rupert Road was Walter's brother Henry Coward, 24. He was head of the household and also a general labourer. His wife Annie, like Harriet Coward, worked as an 'ironer - wash.' Their daughter Amelia was one. The whole family were born in Islington, London.
The households of 69 Rupert Road are spread over two pages of the census. The second page shows the household of John (1823-1897) Coward, 66 - a shoemaker, born in Chelsea, London. He is my great, great grandfather, and the father of Walter and Henry. Listed next is his wife, Hannah, 56, born in Soho. Their daughter Hannah was 19 years old and worked as a general servant.
 |
| 1891 Census RG12/143/66/56 Coward family |
The household continues with John and Hannah's other two sons: John, 16, a grocer's cashier and Joseph, 11, a schoolboy. Also recorded at the property is a borderer named as Lizzie Hunt, aged nine.
 |
| Descendants of John Coward (1823-1897) |
1901 Census
In the census taken on 31st March 1901, we see that Walter Coward and his family are still living at 69 Rupert Road, Islington. His father, John, had died four years earlier, but his widowed mother Hannah, 63, was still living at the property with two of their sons. Her birthplace is recorded as Soho. John, her son, is now 26 years old and working as a tailor's salesman. His younger brother Joseph, 21, is a 'billiard marker'.Billiards was a hugely popular game at this time. It was played in halls, pubs, hotels and club houses right across Britain, and required someone to keep score of the match as well as keeping the drink flowing. This was an ideal job for a young man.
 |
| 1901 Census RG13/253/43 Coward family |
Walter Coward was now 39 years old, and working as a general labourer. Harriet is recorded as being a year younger, and her profession is described as 'general work.' Her birthplace is given as Essex. Walter, their eldest son, 16, was a general labourer like his father. James is recorded as 13 years old and Joseph as seven. Both boys were at school. Walter and Harriet, at this time, also had two daughters, Hannah, five years old and Catherine, two.
My grandfather John Joseph Coward was recorded as being born at 69 Rupert Road, in July 1902 (Islington 1b 180).
 |
| Descendants of Walter Coward |
1911 Census
The 1911 census was taken on April 2nd of that year and gives us more information about Walter's family than previous ones. It has been completed in Walter's own hand. The family were now living at 55 Tavistock Terrace, Upper Holloway.
 |
| Rupert Road and Tavistock Terrace, Upper Holloway, London |
Walter Coward was now 49 years old and still a general labourer. He put his birthplace as 'London'. His wife, Harriet, was 48 and her birthplace was Southend. In the section titled 'Particulars As To Marriage', we can see that the couple had been married for 28 years. Twelve children had been born alive but six had died.
 |
| 1911 Census Coward family |
Their son James is next on the register, now aged 23 and still single. His occupation was described as 'mantle department gas company'. He was born in 69 Rupert Road.
Six years later, James Coward was dead. After being given a 'white feather', during the Great War, he had joined the 1st Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment and was killed in action on October 4th 1917. Please click here to read his tragic life story.
Below James on the census is his brother Joseph, 17, a bakery boy. His sister 'Kate' (Catherine Coward) is next, recorded as being 12 years old and at school. Then we see eight-year-old John (my grandfather), also at school. Their eldest daughter, Hannah Amelia Coward (b.1895), is not recorded at this address.
John Coward meets Ada Harris
That is all the census returns are able to tell us. For a description of Walter Coward, we have to rely on the recollections of my Nan, which were later handed down to my mother.
It was after the death of James Coward in October 1917 that my Nan (then Ada Harris) met John Coward. They lived near each other and had spoken for the first time after the funeral of Ada's mother in September of that year. However, she didn't speak to John again until they met when he was mourning the death of his brother during the Great War.
It was after the death of James Coward in October 1917 that my Nan (then Ada Harris) met John Coward. They lived near each other and had spoken for the first time after the funeral of Ada's mother in September of that year. However, she didn't speak to John again until they met when he was mourning the death of his brother during the Great War.
After this second meeting, John Coward and Ada Harris began seeing each other on a regular basis. John introduced Ada to his sister Catherine and they soon became close friends. My mother would later know Catherine as her 'aunt Kit.'
Life with Walter Coward
 |
| Walter Coward (1861-1936) |
Ada met John's father, Walter, for the first time at the age of 15. She described him as sitting in his Windsor chair dressed like a 'navvy' in a collarless shirt and corduroy trousers with small belts tied around the legs just below his knees.
 |
| Navvies with their trouser legs tied |
Walter Coward frowned as he looked my nan up and down and gruffly said, "You're very young!"
"I am 15," Ada replied.
"Don't you call that young?"
"Yes," she agreed rather timidly.
Walter's wife, Harriet, then walked into the room carrying plates of dinner.
Ada apologised saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were having dinner. I wouldn't have come in."
Walter sarcastically replied, "We don't put a notice up when we are having dinner!"
When Ada's father re-married in 1918, her step-mother Mildred Scarr (1888-1965) threw her out after a huge row. So she began lodging with the Coward family, probably in the three-storey property at 69 Rupert Road in Islington. It was here Ada experienced life with Walter Coward.
Walter's wife Harriet enjoyed playing cards in the evening. So, to prevent her husband visiting the pub on the corner, she would insist they stay in and have a game. But Walter preferred visiting his local bar, where their son John would often sing songs like 'Avalon' to the appreciative regulars. Harriet didn't like to lose, so Walter would purposely cheat. When Harriet discovered this, she would fly into a rage and chase him up the passage throwing her button-up boots at him. Walter would run off to the pub laughing.
Harriet was described as short-tempered, but a kind loving woman. As a child, she had had rickets, a condition that caused her bones to become weak and left her with bowed legs. Because of this, she often wore very long dresses, starched white aprons and button-up boots. In the pocket of her skirt, she always carried a roll of paper, on which were written birthdays, due to having so many grandchildren and relatives. Mum remembers that her birthday card would always be first on the doormat!
To pacify her children, Harriet or 'Granny Coward', would often put sugar into a rolled-up cloth and let them suck it to keep them quiet. Something that would definitely be frowned upon these days.
Harriet Coward's brawn was very popular. She made this from scraps of pork (usually from a pig's head), pressed into a pot with jelly. Sometimes she cooked 'pig's trotters' (pig's feet) or sheep's heads - all cheap sources of protein. Walter was also known to slice pieces from the cheek of the cooked sheep's head and feed them to the children sat around their dining room table.
Occasionally, he would dip his finger into a gravy of boiled up rabbit's brain and put it on the lips of his children in the hope of giving them more intelligence. This was probably an old East End custom.
John Coward and Ada Harris (my maternal grandparents), were married on Saturday 28th August 1920 at Islington Register Office.
By this time, John had joined the 3rd Middlesex Regiment and the document gives his number as 20933. After his marriage, John's regiment was sent to Germany and it became part of the allied occupation of the Rhine. At the time of their marriage, Ada and John gave their address as 92 Isledon Road, Finsbury Park, London.
Intriguingly, just as on his own marriage certificate, Walter gave his full name as Walter McVeney Coward. His occupation was as a general labourer.
Ada's father James Harris (1879-1964), did not attend the wedding. He did not like the Coward family and had said to her, "If you get problems, don't come to me!"
At some time during the 1920s and early 30s, John and Ada lived with Walter Coward and his family in their three-story house at 69 Rupert Road. It was here that their son, Kenneth Vernon Coward, and also my mother, Joyce Daphne Coward, were born.
Harriet, or 'Granny Coward' as was affectionately known, helped deliver all of Ada's children.
Walter appears to have been of quite a rugged character. He was short-tempered and very strict with his own children, thinking nothing of using a belt on them. Sometimes, during his rampages, they would hide from him under the dining table. But as he grew older, and his hair grew white, he mellowed into a lovely old grandfather.
Mum recalls Walter challenging all of his grandchildren to pull him out of his Windsor chair. They climbed all over him but, of course, he was far too strong!
Out of all his grandchildren, mum said that my uncle John was his favourite.
When Ada's father re-married in 1918, her step-mother Mildred Scarr (1888-1965) threw her out after a huge row. So she began lodging with the Coward family, probably in the three-storey property at 69 Rupert Road in Islington. It was here Ada experienced life with Walter Coward.
Walter's wife Harriet enjoyed playing cards in the evening. So, to prevent her husband visiting the pub on the corner, she would insist they stay in and have a game. But Walter preferred visiting his local bar, where their son John would often sing songs like 'Avalon' to the appreciative regulars. Harriet didn't like to lose, so Walter would purposely cheat. When Harriet discovered this, she would fly into a rage and chase him up the passage throwing her button-up boots at him. Walter would run off to the pub laughing.
 |
| Harriet Coward with her pregnant daughter Catherine Langlois née Coward. Also Harriet's sister Emily and Catherine's son Horace and daughter Gladys Langlois. |
Harriet was described as short-tempered, but a kind loving woman. As a child, she had had rickets, a condition that caused her bones to become weak and left her with bowed legs. Because of this, she often wore very long dresses, starched white aprons and button-up boots. In the pocket of her skirt, she always carried a roll of paper, on which were written birthdays, due to having so many grandchildren and relatives. Mum remembers that her birthday card would always be first on the doormat!
To pacify her children, Harriet or 'Granny Coward', would often put sugar into a rolled-up cloth and let them suck it to keep them quiet. Something that would definitely be frowned upon these days.
 |
| Walter and Harriet Coward with their granddaughter Edith Coward (behind) |
Harriet Coward's brawn was very popular. She made this from scraps of pork (usually from a pig's head), pressed into a pot with jelly. Sometimes she cooked 'pig's trotters' (pig's feet) or sheep's heads - all cheap sources of protein. Walter was also known to slice pieces from the cheek of the cooked sheep's head and feed them to the children sat around their dining room table.
Occasionally, he would dip his finger into a gravy of boiled up rabbit's brain and put it on the lips of his children in the hope of giving them more intelligence. This was probably an old East End custom.
Ada and John's Marriage
 |
| Ada Harris and John Coward |
John Coward and Ada Harris (my maternal grandparents), were married on Saturday 28th August 1920 at Islington Register Office.
 |
| Ada Harris and John Coward's marriage certificate Islington 1b 872 |
By this time, John had joined the 3rd Middlesex Regiment and the document gives his number as 20933. After his marriage, John's regiment was sent to Germany and it became part of the allied occupation of the Rhine. At the time of their marriage, Ada and John gave their address as 92 Isledon Road, Finsbury Park, London.
Intriguingly, just as on his own marriage certificate, Walter gave his full name as Walter McVeney Coward. His occupation was as a general labourer.
Ada's father James Harris (1879-1964), did not attend the wedding. He did not like the Coward family and had said to her, "If you get problems, don't come to me!"
At some time during the 1920s and early 30s, John and Ada lived with Walter Coward and his family in their three-story house at 69 Rupert Road. It was here that their son, Kenneth Vernon Coward, and also my mother, Joyce Daphne Coward, were born.
Harriet, or 'Granny Coward' as was affectionately known, helped deliver all of Ada's children.
Walter appears to have been of quite a rugged character. He was short-tempered and very strict with his own children, thinking nothing of using a belt on them. Sometimes, during his rampages, they would hide from him under the dining table. But as he grew older, and his hair grew white, he mellowed into a lovely old grandfather.
Mum recalls Walter challenging all of his grandchildren to pull him out of his Windsor chair. They climbed all over him but, of course, he was far too strong!
Out of all his grandchildren, mum said that my uncle John was his favourite.
Walter's Amputated Finger
My nan often related how Walter lost a finger during an accident on a tram. Unfortunately, like most family stories, details have been lost in time, so I began to investigate by looking at his picture with Harriet and Edith (shown above). But unfortunately, the area around both sets of Walter's fingers is heavily shaded. Even after magnification it is impossible to detect any injury.
I then looked at some old photographs of London trams, but they had no doors! So I was becoming very sceptical of this tale until I investigated further.
By 1914 the London tram operators formed the largest tram network in Europe. But, after the Great War, money for investment and maintenance became hard to find. The London United, and Metropolitan Electric companies did purchase a large fleet of modern double-deck Feltham Trams (with doors) however, and these came into use in 1931, with some of them lasting right up until 1952.
A Royal Commission on transport held between 1928-29 ensured that the train companies retained complete responsibility for the maintenance of its rails and highway. Then in 1930 and 1933 Parliament bills set up the London Passenger Transport Board to purchase all London's tramways and manage all existing bus and underground train services. Under the LPTB there was no investment and the maintenance of services became a hot political issue in London. By 1935 trams started to be considered out-dated and inflexible and began to be phased-out in favour of diesel busses or trolleybuses.
It is impossible for me to corroborate this family tale about Walter Coward losing a finger in an accident with a tram door. But within that environment of severe maintenance issues suffered by tram commuters of the early 1930's it is hard to completely discount it.
The most intriguing story about Walter Coward is how he was buried alive under a collapsed wall during the construction of the Astoria Cinema in Finsbury Park. It was this incident that allegedly gave rise to his nickname 'the Iron Man of Islington.'
The Mayor of Islington, Alderman William E. Manchester, officially opened the Astoria in Finsbury Park with a golden key at a 'grand gala' on Monday 29th September 1930. He said, "We welcome this addition to the buildings of our borough as being unequalled for its purpose by any other in the Metropolis, or indeed, in the whole of the country."
It was chilly night but a complete sell-out. A colourful pageant, 'Spectacle of Europe', representing all the countries of the British Empire, was performed by over 200 dancers before the main feature films 'Condemned' starring Ronald Coleman and 'The Kiss' with Greta Garbo.
The Astoria in Finsbury Park was the last of four, built (within a year) by The Picture House Trust, founded by Arthur Segal, with Edward A. Stone as its chairman and principal architect. The sumptuous interior design was the work of Marc Henri and Gaston Laverdet.
The local papers advertised its arrival as the 'largest and most luxurious [cinema] in the world.' And it soon became one of North London's most ornate buildings, with an exotic Spanish interior design in the ' Grand Atmospheric' style. A cafe stood in the Circle Foyer and a fountain containing goldfish (which my mother can remember) situated in the Main Foyer. This Grade II listed building would later become the Rainbow Theatre and the venue for many legendary rock performances.
I searched in vain through The British Newspaper Archive and other genealogical sites for reports of accidents during the construction of Finsbury Park's Astoria. It is of course possible the accident was not recorded, as these were pre-Health and Safety times. But a more thorough trawl through local newspapers, including the Islington Gazette is needed. Unfortunately I do not currently have the time or finances. Although my search will continue.
From the ground plan (above) we can see the complexity of the design of the Astoria in Finsbury Park. The auditorium, well to the rear of the corner entrance, was reached via a corridor at a sixty degree angle. The Astoria's elaborate entrance block masked its 'complex geometry'. This was due to its construction on an 'awkward island site' between Seven Sisters Road and Isledon Road, bounded at the rear by Coleridge Road.
So a clue might be in the position of the building, in this densely populated part of London. Records show that to build the largest and most luxurious cinema in the area, a number of small businesses had to be demolished. These included a furniture dealer, a milliner and an umbrella maker. Perhaps it was during the demolition of those buildings that Walter Coward, working as a general labourer, was accidentally buried alive under the rubble?
When my Uncle Reg was asked about Walter, he recalled a slightly different version of the accident. He says that after Walter escaped from under the debris he was taken to hospital. It was seeing him on the doorstep bandaged up, that made his wife Harriet faint.
Walter's death certificate (above) shows that he died on the 22nd January 1936 at 77a Highgate Hill. This building evolved through various 'medical' phases over the years into the Whittington Hospital in Islington. His full name is given as Walter McVeney Coward and he had been a labourer for a builders at 64 Ashbrook Road, Islington.
The informant of Walter's death is H. James, daughter, living at 57 Melbourne Road, Walthamstow. After some research I discovered that she was Walter's eldest daughter, Hannah Amelia Coward (b.1895). She had married Charles F. James in the autumn of 1923.
The cause of Walter Coward's death is given as 'carcinoma rectum.' This is colorectal cancer, a cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. The colon and rectum are parts of the large intestine which is the lower part of the body's digestive system. This explains why he suffered with stomach problems.
Walter was buried at Islington Cemetery on Wednesday 29th January 1936 and his name was recorded as Walter McVeney Coward.
Why the name 'McVeney' is used on some of his official documents remains a mystery. But I will try to solve this in the future.
So what happened to Walter's wife Harriet after his death? Three years later on the eve of World War II, the 1939 Register shows Coward, Harriet D and her date of birth is given as 14th January 1863. She is recorded as a widow and living in Ireton Road, Islington, London. Her occupation is described as unpaid domestic duties.
Harriet gradually began losing her sight. She blamed this on looking at lightning during a ferocious thunderstorm one evening. She died in the spring of 1947 aged 84 (Islington 5c 841). She was buried at Islington Cemetery on the 10th April 1947. My mother attended her funeral.
At the age of 87 Catherine (or Katherine as her Christian name was sometimes spelt) swam 27 lengths of an Olympic size swimming pool in Gillingham, Kent. She was awarded a certificate and a bouquet of flowers by the Mayor of Gillingham and appeared in the local papers. Catherine had obviously inherited some of her father's strength.
As we have previously seen, Hannah Coward (b.1895) married Charles F. James in the autumn of 1923. They had a son, Douglas (b.1925) who joined the Navy.
Joseph Coward (b. 1894) married Caroline May Pointer (Carrie) in December 1918 (Islington 1b 543). They had two daughters, Ilene and Joan and two sons, George and Ronald.
Walter Richard Coward (1884-1936), the eldest son of Walter and Harriet, was a keen boxer. He eventually emigrated to New Zealand and together with his wife Lillian (c.1890-1958) had fourteen children. Walter died on the 31st May 1935 aged just 53. He was buried two days later. His occupation is described as bricklayer and last address is given as 21 William Street, Dunedin in New Zealand.
They say history repeats itself and Walter, like his father, had a son named James. And James John Coward - like his Uncle James Henry Coward (1888-1917) - was killed during military action. This time in World War II. James was buried at Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, in New Zealand on 25th January 1943 aged 24. James was buried near his father.
The 'New Zealand WWII Nominal Rolls 1939-1945' show that Private James John Coward 12874 had been in the 26 Canterbury and Otago Infantry Battalion. He had previously been a farm labourer and it is stated that his next of kin was his mother Lillian Coward (his father Walter, died in 1935). Their residence at this time was 144 Main Road, Green Island, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Paperwork in volume two of the New Zealand Cemetery Records (1800-2007) show that plot 34 in block 82 in Andersons Bay Cemetery was purchased by:
This historical journey has taken me from Shoreditch in the East End of London to the trams and construction of the Astoria Cinema in Islington, then across the seas and oceans to New Zealand. It has been a hugely rewarding experience, particularly to discover relatives on the other side of the world. But this quest would not have been possible without the invaluable help of my dear mother Joyce Wait, together with Don Philips and Edna Flipping. They have patiently dealt with my constant questioning and requests for pictures, which I am eternally grateful.
I would also like to thank my wonderful fiancée Jules Frusher, who spent many, many, hours patiently editing this piece.
If you are related to this particular Coward family and would like to get in touch, please leave a message below or email me at tonywait@hotmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
 |
| Feltham 331 Tram |
By 1914 the London tram operators formed the largest tram network in Europe. But, after the Great War, money for investment and maintenance became hard to find. The London United, and Metropolitan Electric companies did purchase a large fleet of modern double-deck Feltham Trams (with doors) however, and these came into use in 1931, with some of them lasting right up until 1952.
A Royal Commission on transport held between 1928-29 ensured that the train companies retained complete responsibility for the maintenance of its rails and highway. Then in 1930 and 1933 Parliament bills set up the London Passenger Transport Board to purchase all London's tramways and manage all existing bus and underground train services. Under the LPTB there was no investment and the maintenance of services became a hot political issue in London. By 1935 trams started to be considered out-dated and inflexible and began to be phased-out in favour of diesel busses or trolleybuses.
It is impossible for me to corroborate this family tale about Walter Coward losing a finger in an accident with a tram door. But within that environment of severe maintenance issues suffered by tram commuters of the early 1930's it is hard to completely discount it.
The Collapsed Wall
 |
| The Astoria, Finsbury Park, Islington c.1930 |
The most intriguing story about Walter Coward is how he was buried alive under a collapsed wall during the construction of the Astoria Cinema in Finsbury Park. It was this incident that allegedly gave rise to his nickname 'the Iron Man of Islington.'
The Mayor of Islington, Alderman William E. Manchester, officially opened the Astoria in Finsbury Park with a golden key at a 'grand gala' on Monday 29th September 1930. He said, "We welcome this addition to the buildings of our borough as being unequalled for its purpose by any other in the Metropolis, or indeed, in the whole of the country."
It was chilly night but a complete sell-out. A colourful pageant, 'Spectacle of Europe', representing all the countries of the British Empire, was performed by over 200 dancers before the main feature films 'Condemned' starring Ronald Coleman and 'The Kiss' with Greta Garbo.
 |
| The 'Atmospheric' interior of Finsbury Park Astoria |
The Astoria in Finsbury Park was the last of four, built (within a year) by The Picture House Trust, founded by Arthur Segal, with Edward A. Stone as its chairman and principal architect. The sumptuous interior design was the work of Marc Henri and Gaston Laverdet.
The local papers advertised its arrival as the 'largest and most luxurious [cinema] in the world.' And it soon became one of North London's most ornate buildings, with an exotic Spanish interior design in the ' Grand Atmospheric' style. A cafe stood in the Circle Foyer and a fountain containing goldfish (which my mother can remember) situated in the Main Foyer. This Grade II listed building would later become the Rainbow Theatre and the venue for many legendary rock performances.
I searched in vain through The British Newspaper Archive and other genealogical sites for reports of accidents during the construction of Finsbury Park's Astoria. It is of course possible the accident was not recorded, as these were pre-Health and Safety times. But a more thorough trawl through local newspapers, including the Islington Gazette is needed. Unfortunately I do not currently have the time or finances. Although my search will continue.
 |
| The Ground Plan of the Astoria Finsbury Park |
From the ground plan (above) we can see the complexity of the design of the Astoria in Finsbury Park. The auditorium, well to the rear of the corner entrance, was reached via a corridor at a sixty degree angle. The Astoria's elaborate entrance block masked its 'complex geometry'. This was due to its construction on an 'awkward island site' between Seven Sisters Road and Isledon Road, bounded at the rear by Coleridge Road.
So a clue might be in the position of the building, in this densely populated part of London. Records show that to build the largest and most luxurious cinema in the area, a number of small businesses had to be demolished. These included a furniture dealer, a milliner and an umbrella maker. Perhaps it was during the demolition of those buildings that Walter Coward, working as a general labourer, was accidentally buried alive under the rubble?
When my Uncle Reg was asked about Walter, he recalled a slightly different version of the accident. He says that after Walter escaped from under the debris he was taken to hospital. It was seeing him on the doorstep bandaged up, that made his wife Harriet faint.
The Death of Walter Coward
In later life, Walter suffered with stomach problems. I was informed that he eventually had an operation at his local hospital and during one of her visits, 'his wife Harriet took him some fruit. After she had gone, Walter lent over to reach an orange and fell out of his bed. This burst his stitches and he died'. |
| Walter Coward's death certificate Islington 1b 202 |
Walter's death certificate (above) shows that he died on the 22nd January 1936 at 77a Highgate Hill. This building evolved through various 'medical' phases over the years into the Whittington Hospital in Islington. His full name is given as Walter McVeney Coward and he had been a labourer for a builders at 64 Ashbrook Road, Islington.
 |
| Ashbrook Road, Islington, where Walter worked as a labourer |
The informant of Walter's death is H. James, daughter, living at 57 Melbourne Road, Walthamstow. After some research I discovered that she was Walter's eldest daughter, Hannah Amelia Coward (b.1895). She had married Charles F. James in the autumn of 1923.
The cause of Walter Coward's death is given as 'carcinoma rectum.' This is colorectal cancer, a cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. The colon and rectum are parts of the large intestine which is the lower part of the body's digestive system. This explains why he suffered with stomach problems.
Walter was buried at Islington Cemetery on Wednesday 29th January 1936 and his name was recorded as Walter McVeney Coward.
Why the name 'McVeney' is used on some of his official documents remains a mystery. But I will try to solve this in the future.
The 1939 Register
 |
| Ref: RG101/0258D/002/31 Letter Code: ALAN |
So what happened to Walter's wife Harriet after his death? Three years later on the eve of World War II, the 1939 Register shows Coward, Harriet D and her date of birth is given as 14th January 1863. She is recorded as a widow and living in Ireton Road, Islington, London. Her occupation is described as unpaid domestic duties.
 |
| Harriet Coward (1863-1947) |
Harriet gradually began losing her sight. She blamed this on looking at lightning during a ferocious thunderstorm one evening. She died in the spring of 1947 aged 84 (Islington 5c 841). She was buried at Islington Cemetery on the 10th April 1947. My mother attended her funeral.
Walter Coward's Legacy
 |
| Descendants of Walter Coward |
Down the years Walter grew to like my Nan a great deal. He knew his son John often treated her badly and got violent when he was drunk. So Walter warned his son, "I'll break your back if you don't treat Ada right!" But sadly, after Walter passed-away John's behaviour towards Ada got worse.
John and Ada Coward were divorced on 2nd December 1947. The reason given was John's adultery. He had left Ada and his six children in 1935 and moved to Huntingdonshire. John eventually married Mabel E. Townsend in the Spring of 1948 (Huntingdon 4b 723).
Ada married Marcus/Mark Cooper two years later, on May 25th 1950 at Edmonton Registry Office. Mark was a widower aged 77 and a retired insurance representitive. He had been the insurance man to both Harriet Coward and her son John and knew all the family. Most of the family attended the wedding, although Ada's children did not like him.
On her wedding day, a friend of Ada pinned a sprig of her favourite flowers, Lillie of the Valley, onto her blue wedding costume. Ada was thirty years younger than her husband Mark. My mother, together with younger brother Eddie and friend Francis, had to catch a bus to the wedding (it cost them 1½d).
Walter's daughter, Catherine Coward (1898-1970) married William H. Langlois, the son of a builder, in the summer of 1919 (Islington 1b 938). They had one son, Horace and three daughters, Gladys, Yvonne and Edna.
John and Ada Coward were divorced on 2nd December 1947. The reason given was John's adultery. He had left Ada and his six children in 1935 and moved to Huntingdonshire. John eventually married Mabel E. Townsend in the Spring of 1948 (Huntingdon 4b 723).
 |
| Descendants of John Joseph Coward (1902-1962) |
Ada married Marcus/Mark Cooper two years later, on May 25th 1950 at Edmonton Registry Office. Mark was a widower aged 77 and a retired insurance representitive. He had been the insurance man to both Harriet Coward and her son John and knew all the family. Most of the family attended the wedding, although Ada's children did not like him.
On her wedding day, a friend of Ada pinned a sprig of her favourite flowers, Lillie of the Valley, onto her blue wedding costume. Ada was thirty years younger than her husband Mark. My mother, together with younger brother Eddie and friend Francis, had to catch a bus to the wedding (it cost them 1½d).
Walter's daughter, Catherine Coward (1898-1970) married William H. Langlois, the son of a builder, in the summer of 1919 (Islington 1b 938). They had one son, Horace and three daughters, Gladys, Yvonne and Edna.
At the age of 87 Catherine (or Katherine as her Christian name was sometimes spelt) swam 27 lengths of an Olympic size swimming pool in Gillingham, Kent. She was awarded a certificate and a bouquet of flowers by the Mayor of Gillingham and appeared in the local papers. Catherine had obviously inherited some of her father's strength.
 |
| Catherine receives her bouquet from the Mayor of Gillingham |
As we have previously seen, Hannah Coward (b.1895) married Charles F. James in the autumn of 1923. They had a son, Douglas (b.1925) who joined the Navy.
Joseph Coward (b. 1894) married Caroline May Pointer (Carrie) in December 1918 (Islington 1b 543). They had two daughters, Ilene and Joan and two sons, George and Ronald.
Walter Richard Coward (1884-1936), the eldest son of Walter and Harriet, was a keen boxer. He eventually emigrated to New Zealand and together with his wife Lillian (c.1890-1958) had fourteen children. Walter died on the 31st May 1935 aged just 53. He was buried two days later. His occupation is described as bricklayer and last address is given as 21 William Street, Dunedin in New Zealand.
 |
| Some of Walter Richard Coward's children |
They say history repeats itself and Walter, like his father, had a son named James. And James John Coward - like his Uncle James Henry Coward (1888-1917) - was killed during military action. This time in World War II. James was buried at Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, in New Zealand on 25th January 1943 aged 24. James was buried near his father.
The 'New Zealand WWII Nominal Rolls 1939-1945' show that Private James John Coward 12874 had been in the 26 Canterbury and Otago Infantry Battalion. He had previously been a farm labourer and it is stated that his next of kin was his mother Lillian Coward (his father Walter, died in 1935). Their residence at this time was 144 Main Road, Green Island, Dunedin, New Zealand.
 |
| New Zealand Cemetery Records |
Paperwork in volume two of the New Zealand Cemetery Records (1800-2007) show that plot 34 in block 82 in Andersons Bay Cemetery was purchased by:
Mrs L Coward in 1937. The stone has 'In Loving Memory Of' (Watty) Walter Richard Coward d. 31st May 1935 aged 53 years also grandson Charles Douglas Jolly d. 26th October 1941 aged 5 weeks also wife of the above Lilian d. 31st Jan. 1958 aged 68 also Dorothy Lilian loved daughter of above d. 3rd November 1978. R.I.P.
Stone 2. 12874 Pte. J.J. Coward New Zealand Infantry d. 25 Jan. 1943 aged 24 years.More research on the Dunedin City Council website has revealed other burials in the Coward family plot at Andersons Bay Cemetery.
Coward Walter R 53 Years, Burial, Died 31 May 1935
Coward Baby 1 minutes, Burial, Died 23rd Aug 1955
Coward Dorothy Lilian 63 years, Burial, Died 3rd Nov 1978
Coward James John 23 years, Burial, Died 25th Jan 1943
Gemmell Anette Lillian 5 months, Burial, Died 19 March 1950
Gemmell Gerald 6 Days, Burial, 16th October 1952
Jolly Baby Stillborn, Burial, Died 19th June 1949
Jolly Charles Douglas Six Weeks, Burial, Died 26th October 1941
 |
| The family plot in Andersons Bay Cemetery |
 |
| The plaque to commemorate James John Coward d.1943 |
 |
| The scarce legible headstone |
This historical journey has taken me from Shoreditch in the East End of London to the trams and construction of the Astoria Cinema in Islington, then across the seas and oceans to New Zealand. It has been a hugely rewarding experience, particularly to discover relatives on the other side of the world. But this quest would not have been possible without the invaluable help of my dear mother Joyce Wait, together with Don Philips and Edna Flipping. They have patiently dealt with my constant questioning and requests for pictures, which I am eternally grateful.
I would also like to thank my wonderful fiancée Jules Frusher, who spent many, many, hours patiently editing this piece.
 |
| A Windsor Chair |
If you are related to this particular Coward family and would like to get in touch, please leave a message below or email me at tonywait@hotmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
