In the beginning there was David Ogg, a marine engineer born at Leith, Scotland in 1855, though family tradition says North Berwick. His must have been an eventful life, he had been shipwrecked three times before he settled in London to run a public house at Mile End, the Marquis of Cornwallis. In 1901 the address was 337 Old Ford Road, Poplar/Bow. His wife was Ada M.J., 32 years of age to his 46 years. They had married in the third quarter of 1898 and their son David was only a year old. With them at the Marquis of Cornwallis on Census night 1901 were Emma Hayward, barmaid (32), Margaret Borman (21), Jane Woughhman (22) and Sarah Smith, a 16-year-old housemaid.
The Ogg family at their bungalow called ‘Canvey Lodge’, in Station Road, on a seemingly empty Canvey in Hester’s time. The covered wagon might have been a kitchen, or even a shop?
This was the time of Champagne Trips, free train rides and free meals on outings to potential plotland sites and for smog-bound Londoners an escape to the ozone-enhanced new watering place by the Thames, christened Canvey-on-Sea.
We’ve seen the posters and advertisements offering plots for as little as £5. As a publican, the entrepreneurial David Ogg (let’s call him 1) would accept plotland receipts to clear bad debts, encouraging him to dabble in the up-and-coming industry himself and ending up with several dwellings on the island. One was the early holiday cottage of the Ogg family, the curious ‘Canvey Lodge‘ in Station Road. This would seem to show a wagon (or carriage) with a house added – or vice versa – supporting a balcony/verandah in an otherwise unpopulated frontiers’ environment. The stuff of pioneers. In one picture the portly David Ogg (1) can be seen with binoculars, being served by a maid and surveying the wide empty prairie, sorry, landscape beyond… (By association it would seem to be of a similar date to the picture of Hester’s travelling bench and therefore has to belong to the first few years of the 20th century.)
David Ogg (1), London publican in the straw boater, sitting under the flag on Hester’s travelling bench, that must be a fair-weather companion of Hester’s covered wagon monorail.
The picture’s companion is a unique photograph of Hester’s single rail, horse operated travelling bench. Horse and rider supply both the engine and the balance (in the background beside the conveyance) and a ‘Dutch’ operator is in attendance. David Ogg (1) in straw hat sits left of centre in the picture. Frederick Hester played up the Dutch connection with the island to the full, as reflected in the souvenirs on sale in the Winter Gardens.
Pictures from the family albums and souvenirs were kindly loaned by Joan Ogg. When I mentioned that Canvey-born Graham Stevens remembered a Canvey plumber by that surname, her answer was: “Oh, that was my husband, David Charles Ogg (3).” Their son makes up the fourth generation as David William Ogg (4) and her grandson is the fifth.
(All family pictures courtesy of Joan Ogg.)
Obviously 'Ogg from Mile End' knew a business opportunity when he saw one. Setting up his tent on Canvey, making his London public with their free rides and charabancs feel at home... It would seem that the entrepreneur might be the only one having removed his hat for the occasion, seated far right? (The original is actually a framed glass slide.)
'Canvey Lodge', Station Road, Canvey. Ada and David Ogg with their son David (2). There is an outhouse now, or a privy? And houses are now visible in the background. Could Cox's Emporium be the one on the far right?
Great grandma and great granddad (1) and friends photographed at 'Canvey Lodge' in the early 1920s. The boy in white (2) became Joan's father-in-law.
The postcard says 'Canvey Hall Outing, 1911'. Would that be the Methodist Hall? Joan's future father-in-law, David Ogg (2) in school cap and blazer, seated in the second row, fourth from left.
St Anne's church, quite probably photographed from the back of Ogg premises.
Another Ogg property, here seen from the back, was the brick-built 'Stanley Villa' in Gafzelle Drive, Leigh Beck, which has survived to this day. (One half was 'Stanley Villa', the other half was 'Gordon Villa'.)
The Pound family at a picnic on the Thames, Alice and Charles Pound with daughter Alice and a friend. (The very likely home-processed film negative seems to have been tampered with and the film negative mark 'A' and the 'IL' for Ilford have been turned into the words 'DAD' and 'WILD'.)
Alice and her father Charles Pound (Joan's husband's granddad) in a playful holiday mood at Gafzelle Drive, with flowers about his hat...
A family portrait at Stanley Villa in Gafzelle Drive, Leigh Beck. From left, Ada Ogg, her son David (2) and Alice, his wife, with her mother (also Alice) and father Charles Pound. That corner of the house in Gafzelle Drive features in many of the family photos.
The boy grown up - Joan's father-in-law David Ogg (2) in a typical plotland setting.
Joan's mother-in-law Alice Ogg with the plotland goats.
The Chapman Lighthouse with David Charles Ogg (3), Joan's future husband and Alice, his mother.
Ada Ogg and friend Mrs Harper who lived in Southend, two dowagers to be reckoned with. (By the fashionable couple behind them, could that be the 'roaring 20s'?)
Mrs Harper and Ada Ogg at the entrance to Southend Pier. (The fashions have changed, but not the two ladies.)
David Charles Ogg (3) with aunt Gladys Pound during the last war...
A photo of 1957, when Kathleen Ogg, with daughters Natasha and Natalie were staying at the old Dutch cottage of 1621 while their house was being built.
A postcard featuring Stanley Villa between the two wars, centre left.
(Courtesy of Dave Bullock)
The bungalow in Gafzelle Drive today.
(Photo Dave Bullock, taken May 2006)
The shaking lady! A tangible connection to Hester's Winter Gardens, a souvenir in his beloved 'Dutch' style, as well as a pair of shells, very likely meant as ashtrays. It must be rare for such objects to survive their time on mantelpieces. Originally the young lady used to wiggle sideways from the hip, though one of the little points of balance has been lost.
Courtesy of the Ogg family. Photo Tessa Church.
Author
By Robert HallmannPage added
02/05/2008
Comments about this page
What fascinating flamboyant people moved to Canvey in the early years. Great pictures thanks to Joan Ogg.
Additional information:
David Ogg (1) wife was Ada Mable J Foxton born in Lambeth c1869, her father was John Foxton born in York, a Stone Carver/Mason. David’s (1) first wife was Emma Bellett a silk weaver from Bethnal Green born c1853, they married 1870 in Mile End Old Town where David had a Beer House in the 1881 census. Later moving to Upper East Smithfield, Aldgate where again he was a publican. Emma died in 1897
This is at the top of Pier Hill in Southend, with the Royal Hotel in the background which still stands today.
If I am correct, this is the Dutch Cottage situated in Rayleigh,Essex which belonged for many years to my 4X Great Grandfather, one William Pissey who amongst other things was a chemist, stationer and entrepeneur.
He never actually lived in it but since at the time he owned nearly half of Rayleigh no doubt he was able to afford a somewhat larger property!
In about 1900 the family sold it to the local council and it became the oldest council house in the country. RJT
Sorry Ray you could not be more wronge. This is the 1621 Dutch Cottage situated in Haven Road, Canvey Island
I have just received the deeds for my house and it seems that it was built on the site of “Canvey Lodge” in the early 70s. There are references to Ada Mable Jessie Ogg in some of the conveyancing documents also.
Remember David Ogg well, he use to do plumbing for Prout’s when I worked for them at Small Gains corner
The house on the right. Is this “Blenheim”? Can anyone confirm please?
Hi Martin, Afraid I can’t confirm the name of this property in Gainsborough Ave but my sister Jenny Stacey and I remember it very well because in the mid 50s it was the home of our Mum’s very close friend ‘Auntie’ Joan Amore. She lived there with her husband Les and two daughters and her mother Mrs Carlisle. Presumably they rented the house as they moved from there to a council house in North Ave.
Although I cannot see the houses you speak of as the resolution is too low. It is not COX’s Emporium as Canvey Lodge was on the WEST side of Station Road, so the photographer would have COX’s behind him. This gives the orientation of balcony on the roof as Southerly and facing the Thames. It is possibly Wigwam or East View in Gainsborough ave, or Easton Villa in Gafzelle Dr. which was about 200 yards back at that oblique angle.
In 1910, the property was described thus in the Tax Evaluation Field book “Detached Bungalow erected in weather boarding & felt roof with verandas and balcony approached by steps, enclosed forecourt by an open pale fence & paved approach.” “Contains 4 rooms” “Road unmade”. It also says Bungalow and shed.
It was purchased 27th (July or Feb – difficult to read) 1902 for £70 – a question mark was added so maybe they were unsure of cost. They also claim that £125 subsequently spent on the property.
I’m Scott ogg from Strathroy Canada.
OGG is such a unique galic name with great importance with angus ogg and Robert the bruce. I love this stuff. I want to find out who in my clan came to Canada first. Roderick OGGis my grandfather. I was always under the impression we came from Aberdeenshire …. I went to live in Edinburgh when I was 22 and trained with Livingston fc for yr soccer I really want to trace the family from Scotland to southwest Ontario Canada.
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