Early last century, the original Manor Hall, owned by the Smallholders’ Association, stood on the south side of Worthing Road, facing Laindon High Road. From 1902 the hall was rented by Christian non-conformists to hold Services and Sunday School. There were close links with a similar fellowship at the Nightingale Mission in Langdon Hills and from 1918 to 1919 both groups met away from the Manor Hall. In 1924 a committee was formed and an independent but un-denominational church was established in Manor Hall. They decided they needed their own premises and in 1925 were offered a plot of land in Manor Road. On April 3rd 1926 the newly built Manor Mission Church was opened and in 1930 the Primary Hall was built.
This photo taken in 1924 shows an outing from the Manor Hall, about to depart in two vehicles. One can’t help but wonder in fascination, who were all those people and where they were heading for their day out.
Editor: Click on the image to enlarge.
Comments about this page
Add your own comment
Hi Nina, I noted the mention of Mary Ann Gayler in your reply, and I can add a bit more to the family history.
Mary Ann Gayler was my mother’s “double”-cousin – their fathers were brothers, and their mothers were sisters. I have done some research, but it is far from complete. I have not been in touch with anyone from this side of my family tree, so I hope what I have written is correct and apologise if it is not.
Mary Ann’s parents, John Joseph Gayler and Elizabeth Georgina Albert married in 1905 in West Ham. The 1928 Electoral Register shows they were living at “Lily Bungalow”, New Century Road, but I think they were living there some 4 or 5 years earlier. John was still living at Lily Bungalow when he died in December 1948. Elizabeth died in 1968 in the Ormskirk area of Lancashire, probably having moved there to live with Mary Ann and her husband John Phillip Tourle.
Interestingly, an article in the Chelmsford Chronicle of 17 July 1931 reported that Elizabeth had organised a fancy dress dance in aid of the New Century Road footpath fund.
John and Elizabeth Gayler had three daughters – Lilian Elizabeth (b 1906), Mary Anne (b 1912) and Doris May (b 1914). Lilian married Herbert Charles Frank Chappell in 1931 in Laindon. They had a daughter Edna L Chappell (b 1933). Frank died in 1967 in the Boston district of Lincolnshire, and Lilian died in 1990 in the Sleaford district in Lincolnshire.
As mentioned in other replies, Mary Anne married John Philip Tourle in 1939, and they had triplets in 1951 – Ann Elizabeth, Margaret and Philip. John died in 1995 and Mary in 1996, both in the West Lancashire district.
Doris May married William Charles Walter Cooper in 1936. They had two daughters Beryl M (b 1939) and Carol Ann (b 1943). William died in 1969 and Doris in 2005, and, I believe, both in the Laindon area.
I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who can correct or add to the information I have about my cousins.
Nina, is that another Hewett family in Tyler Avenue, because Sue and Joan definately lived at Kidron, but may not have been until 1962.
Editor: I have sent you an e-mail which may be helpful.
Thought that may be the case, if my memory serves me well there were older siblings to the triplets as well. Another for you to check Nina.
John P Tourle and Mary A Tourle lived in ‘Kidron’ until 1959. From 1960 a different family had moved into the house (info via Electoral Registers). I’ve been unable to find any older siblings, but John P Tourle had a brother called David A Tourle born 1920. He married Ivy G Noad in Brentwood 1940 and they had two children, Doreen G Tourle born 1941 and David W Tourle born 1943. Therefore, the triplets and Doreen G and David W Tourle were cousins.
Okay Nina, I can tell you that the new people that moved into Kidron were my wlfe’s family. Sue’s Dad had the record stalls in Basildon, Pitsea and Chelmsford markets. That is why I knew where the Tourles lived, plus the triplets were in my younger sister’s class.
According to the Electoral Register, between 1960 and 1962 a family called Gillson were living in ‘Kidron’, Tyler Avenue. The Hewett family are listed at another house in the road called ‘Evenley’. I remember the family as their daughter Joan was my age and in the same class as me.
Hi Nina. Thinking of you and thought you might like to know a Mrs Tourle and two sons are in the front charabanc and I understand they might have lived in Leicester Road and the photo was taken 1924.
Hi Denise. Thank you for that, very interesting. I found John and Evangeline Tourle on the 1929 Electoral Register living at ‘St Ives’ Leicester Road. A further bit of research shows that Evangeline’s maiden name was Carpenter and she was born in Toronto, Canada. In 1911 she was living with her family in Ilford, Essex, described as a single, 21 year old Elementary School Teacher. John and Evangeline married in 1912 and their sons were John P, born 1913 and David A, born 1920.
A Tourle family lived in a house called Kidron in Tyler Avenue around 1958, may have been one of the sons. They were the parents of the Tourle triplets that attended Markhams Chase School at that time.The triplets’ names were Elizabeth, Margaret and Philip and would now be about 65.
Wonder if any are still in the area?
Spot on Eric. John P Tourle born 1913 was the father of the triplets, Margaret M, Anne Elizabeth and Philip E J Tourle who were born in 1951. Their mother was Mary A Gaylor who married John P Tourle in Brentwood 1939. It’s satisfying to be able to trace a family over so many years.
Add a comment about this page