Builder. Born Edward Charles Christmas in Lewisham. He set up his business around 1890, initially building large detached houses, and then less expensive ones in the Perry Vale area, where his style is still pervasive. He made a curious bid for immortality by giving his houses names, the first letters of which spelt out 'Ted Christmas' and 'Laura' after his wife.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, advises that the gives much information about this man. Edward Charles Christmas was born in 1867, the second of the seven children of Edward Christmas (1839-1927) and Elizabeth Frances Christmas née Coole (1835-1904). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1867 in the Lewisham Registration District, Kent (now Greater London).
In the 1871 census he was shown as Ed. Chas. Christmas, aged 4 years, living in a property in Queens Road, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Kent (now Greater London), with his parents and three siblings: Elizabeth Christmas (1865-1938) - a scholar; Mary Ann Eliza Christmas (1868-1959) and Abraham Christmas (1870-1940). His father was described as a gardener.
When the 1881 census was compiled he was shown as Edward Christmas, aged 14 years and a carpenter's apprentice, living in stables and rooms in Queens Road, Forest Hill, Sydenham, with his parents and his six siblings: Elizabeth Christmas - a domestic servant; Mary Ann Eliza Christmas - scholar; Abraham Christmas - a scholar; Florence Louise Christmas (1872-1945) - a scholar; Edith Christmas (1875-1963) - a scholar and Martha Caroline Christmas (1876-1963 - a scholar. His father continued to be described as a gardener.
On 29 July 1889 he gave at Old Bailey, London, in which he gave his address as 49 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill.
His marriage to Laura Hayward (1867-1937) was registered in the 1st quarter of 1891 in the Portsea Island Registration District, Hampshire and in the 1891 census he was shown as Edward Christmas, aged 24 years and a builder, living with his wife at 55 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, Sydenham, London.
On 27 October 1898 he was initiated as a Freemason in the Ravensbourne Lodge No.1601 which met at the Board of Works Offices, Catford Bridge, Lewisham, London. The masonic registers held at the United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ, show him as a builder residing at 55 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill.
The 1901 census shows him as Edward C. Christmas, aged 34 years, a builder and an employer, still residing at 55 Dartmouth Road with his wife and their four children: Esmeralda Laura Mildred Christmas (1895-1955); Elsie Grace Christmas (b.1896); Edward Hayward Christmas (1898-1984) and Vera Estelle Christmas (1900-1977), together with a female general domestic servant.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as Edward Charles Christmas, aged 44 years, a house builder and employer, residing in a 10 roomed property at 55 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, with his wife and their five children: Esmeralda Laura Mildred Christmas; Elsie Grace Christmas; Edward Hayward Christmas; Vera Estelle Christmas and Hilda Eileen Christmas (1904-1969) who were all described as at school, together with a female domestic mother's help servant.
In the 1921 census return form that he completed showing details applicable on 24 April 1921 he listed himself as Edward Charles Christmas, aged 54 years and 3 months, a builder and an employer, still living at 55 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill, with his wife and three of their children: Edward Hayward Christmas - a builder's assistant to his father; Elsie Grace Christmas - a domestic help to her parents and Hilda Eileen Christmas who was studying music.
His death, aged 69 years, was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1936 in the Lambeth Registration District, London. Probate records show his addresses to have been: 2 Bolney Court, Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham; 55 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill and Flat 2, 3 Kings Gardens, Hove, Sussex. He died on 29 September 1936 at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5. Probate was jointly granted on 26 June 1937 to his widow and to three of his children: Esmeralda Laura Mildred Urry (wife of Albert Henry Urry); Elsie Grace Christmas (a spinster) and Edward Christmas (a builder). His effects totalled £131,632-0s-7d.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
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