We think C. J. and F. A. Kerven were builders.
'The , 1800 - 1914 a Building History', an Open University thesis by Keith Alan Bailey refers to a number of Kervens who were builders including C. J. Kerven who was active 1885-95, building 60 houses.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched these two men and although they were brothers, only C. J. Kerven was a builder. F. A. Kerven was a butcher.
Charles James Kerven was born in 1858 in Brixton, Surrey (now Greater London), the fourth of the eight children of William John Hall Kerven (1823-1886) and Mary Elizabeth Kerven née Bryant (1825-1893). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1858 in the Lambeth Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London).
When the census was conducted on 7 April 1861 he was shown as aged 2 years and living at 44 Sussex Road, Brixton, with his parents and four siblings: William Edwin Kerven (1852-1932); Henry John Kerven (1853-1929); Frederick Abraham Kerven (1856-1912) and Mary Jane Kerven (1860-1938).
He was shown on the census that was compiled on 2 April 1871 as aged 12 years and a scholar who was living at 4 Heath Road, Clapham, Surrey (now Greater London), with his parents and six of his siblings: William Edwin Kerven - a joiner; Henry John Kerven - also a joiner; Mary Jane Kerven - a scholar; Martha Alice Kerven (1863-1950) - a scholar; John Albert Kerven (1865-1941) - a scholar and Clara Helena Kerven (1868-1931). His father was described a carpenter.
On 27 March 1880 he married Alice Jane Kenning (1861-1940) in Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common North Side, Clapham, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 22 years, a bachelor and a joiner who was living in Park Road, Clapham, the son of John Hall Kerven - a joiner, whilst his wife was described as aged 21 years and a spinster who was residing in Clapham, the daughter of Charles Kenning - a sand merchant.
The census that was undertaken on 3 April 1881 shows him as aged 22 years, a carpenter and joiner who was living at 542 Wandsworth Road, Clapham, with his wife and their four-month-old son, Arthur Charles Kerven (1880-1943).
He was listed at 117 Grandison Road, Battersea, London, when the census was taken on 5 April 1891. He was shown as aged 31 years and a builder living there with his wife, their son and a female widowed lodger aged 71 years.
The census that was compiled on 31 March 1901 shows him as aged 42 years and a builder, living at 7 Baronsmeade Road, Barnes, Surrey (now Greater London) with his wife, their son, who was listed as a carpenter and his niece - A. Coleshill, aged 7 years, together with a female general domestic servant.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 52 years and a builder of houses. He was living in an eight roomed house at 29 Roehampton Lane, Putney, London, with his wife and their son, whom he also showed as a builder of houses, together with a female domestic servant.
He was living in an eight roomed house at 36 Church Road, Barnes, when he completed his census return form on 19 June 1921. He described himself as aged 62 years, 11 months and a retired builder, living with his wife and their son who was listed as a builder and employer working from Church Road, Barnes.
Post Office Telephone directories in 1928 show him as Kerven Charles J, 36 Church Rd, SW13. RIVerside 4366.
His death was registered as aged 71 years in the 4th quarter of 1929 in the Richmond Registration District, Surrey (now Greater London). Probate records confirm that his address remained as 36 Church Road, Barnes, but that he died on 29 October 1929 at 224 Sheen Lane, Mortlake, Surrey (now Greater London). Probate was granted on 21 November 1929, jointly to his widow and his son who was shown as a builder. His effects totalled £19,325-10s-5d.
He is shown as 'C. J. Kerven' on the memorial plaque attached to the Radcliffe obelisk located in Acton Park, East Churchfield Road, London, W3.
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