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Docwra Memorial Garden

St John’s Gate

Clerkenwell Road

THOMAS  DOCWRA (circa 1820's to 1860's) Hertfordshire, Middlesex, England.

I only know of three children but presumably there were more.

Below are extracted sections from the article about Thos Docwra & Son, contractors, of London. The source is: "Industrial Railway Record", No. 114, dated 9/88.

The article is quite lengthy and includes much info about the locomotives and other companies who used/owned them
before or after Docwras.

Based upon his research into contemporary newspapers, M. Cook concludes that Docwra seemed to specialise in waterworks and dock work. Many of these contracts were probably fairly small and merited little publicity, or else the firm acted as a subcontractor on some jobs.
Directories of the period reveal that a Richard Docwra was located at 3V2 St John Street, Clerkenwell in 1852-53. and he was described as a water pipe layer and contractor. In the next three years, his address was given as Eagle Wharf Road. In 1857, Thomas Docwra is mentioned for the first time with addresses at Cowley Wharf, Eagle Wharf Road and Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. Thomas Docwra had moved from these places by 1858 and was at Balls Pond Road, London.

The firm became Thomas Docwra & Son in 1865 and it remained at the Balls Pond Road location until the sale of its equipment in 1922. It was described as 'Contr actors for gas, water, and public works, well sinkers and borers'. 114 Balls Pond Road was probably the office. A copy of an ordnance survey map for 1894, supplied by the London Borough of Hackney, shows what could welt be Docwra's depot off the nearby King Henry's Walk, and indeed the Directory has entries for Docwra at 1 King Henry's Walk and also at Docwra Buildings.

Early references to what may be Docwra's work came as something of a surprise. Engineering in 1866 recorded that Grissell and Docwra had a contract for Leipzig Waterworks. In 1868 two Kitson 3ft 6in gauge 0-4-0 side tanks were supplied to the Buitron-Huetva Railway, Spain.... ...so was T. Docwra & Son the contractor for the Buitron-Huetva Railway?

 
The first mention of the firm's work in Britain appears to be in connection with the construction of the Surrey Commercial Dock Company's Canada Dock at Rotherhithe. This was begun on 28th September 1874 and opened in November 1876. ... Rotherhithe is in fact mentioned in the Manning Wardle Engine Book. The Union Publications archives state that Docwra had at least five locomotives on the Canada Dock contract, including Fox, Walkers 278 and 299. ...

 
February 1880, Docwra & Son had the contract for the completion of the Neath Harbour works. By August 1882, the contractor was C.E. Daniel so it is not clear whether Docwra had given up or both firms were involved. It was reported in February 1883 that the 'Exors. of late Thomas Docwra, contractor, of Swanage, have issued usual statutory notice to creditors'- The firm continued to function despite this bereavement and in 1892 T. Docwra & Son was described as 'Waterworks Contractors'.

 
Docwra had a contract for 'East Molesey Reservoirs' between 1898 and 1903. It was not known which of the numerous reservoirs in the Molesey area was involved, but D. Cole says that it was West Molesey Reservoir in 1898. The next reference to Docwra is in connection with Alexandra Dock. Newport, in 1910. The nature of the contract is unknown but there seems to have been work going on at the docks for most of the period 1904-14. Possibly Docwra was assisting the main contractor, Easton Gibb, another mysterious character who seems to have emerged after doing very little for years.

 
In November 1915. Thos. Docwra & Son. Gretna Green, wanted men for work on pipe sewers. This was presumably in connection with the construction of the munitions factory or associated housing schemes.

 
The last references to Docwra are concerned with the safe of the firm's equipment in 1922, and Andrew Neale has extracted details from the Contract Journal. On 11^th January 1922, auctioneers Fuller Horsey advertised that a sale of plant belonging to Docwra was to take place on the 7th February 1922 at the Balls Pond Road premises.

LAUNCELOT  DOCWRA,  born 15^th April 1852 in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire

(Source: 1881 Census for Clay Hill Farm, Tottenham, Middlesex:

Lancelot Docwra, head, male age 28, born Waltham Cross, Herts.
Farmer employing 4 men + 2 boys.

+ Catherine Docwra, wife, age 22, born Ponders End, Middlesex.

+ Martha Harrison, visiting, under 16 yrs, born Ponders End, Middlesex.

+ Ellen Hyde*, domestic servant, born Swanage, Dorset.)

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Launcelot Docwra

Martha Harrison (1885)

Launcelot (sometimes mis-spelt Lancecot or Lancelot) married CATHERINE HARRISON on 1^st November 1879 All Hallows, Tottenham. She was the daughter of JOHN HARRISON and MARY WALLACE.  She was born 1859 in Ponders End, Middlesex.

After the Docwra’s left, Samuel South lived at the farm during the late 1890's/early 1900's, and his son, also Samuel, was married from the farm in 1899.

The farm (later known as Devonshire Hill Farm) was owned by the New River Company and, presumably, the land acquired by them for the construction of the New River which ran through the property.

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The New River was constructed between 1609-1613 from Amwell in Hertfordshire to Islington to convey fresh water to the City of London. The river followed the 100 ft contour in a series of wide loops and over later years the route was shortened by the construction of tunnels and culverts that bisected the loops which were then abandoned. The Tottenham loop was abandoned in 1852 but remained in water for many years after and certainly when Lancelot lived there.

The photographs show Clay Hill shortly after the Docwras moved away.  The rear of farmhouse was taken during South occupation – New River and foot-bridge behind photographer.

The entrance to farm is from a postcard c.1908.

(Information and photos courtesy of Ken Barker)

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