Not only was the company of S. H. Alabaster Ltd well known for building houses, but, as this cartoon published in the Bexley Local Paper in 1936
illustrates, they built the new Swimming Pool in Danson Park. It's long gone now, superseded by a new Pool in Crook Log. Now even that is
closed, and a new large Leisure Centre, recently opened by the Queen, reigns supreme in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath.
Tricia Dyer kindly sent in this advertisement from the Sydenham Gazette, June 1932, for a three-bedroom house built by S. H. Alabaster Ltd.
The price of the house was £450 freehold.
This looks like a letter from a satisfied customer. The postage was 1½d, or, as we used to say, three ha-pence.
And here are a few of the exhibits which were on show to members at the 2005 Gathering:
Left: A picture of Ray Williamson (born 1945)(IIIB), aged 4
His mother Violet is pictured immediately below right.
Right: Violet Williamson, nee Alabaster, 1901-1985, wearing the Mayoress`s chain of office of Lytham St. Annes Borough Council, in 1953
Right: Dorothy Hendrie, nee Williamson, (1923-2002)Violet`s daughter, with her son, John Hendrie (IIIB), photographed by Dorothy`s husband,
Don Hendrie, about 1950.
Left: A fashionable 1920s wedding. Branch IIIB shows the elegance and style for which all Alabasters, past and present, are rightly renowned.
Right: Cheers! Robert George Alabaster (IIA) bought Batey & Co., the ginger beer and mineral water manufacturers, in Kingsland Road,
Shoreditch, on 5th October 1882. His sons, John and Robert James, were directors of the company. Eventually it was bought by R. White`s in the
first half of the 20th century.
Left: Percy Criddle and some of his extended
family.
Our member Oriole Veldhuis is researching the
colourful Criddle family. If anyone can provide
any information, please contact Ray Williamson
in the first instance, via the email address on the
Contact Us page.
Right: Sabina Elise Harrer (1840-1903) with
Percy Criddle
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