In between touring commitments James and Lucy Allison stayed in several addresses in Brixton, south London. In the 1890s Brixton was becoming popular as a place to live whether that was in boarding houses or to put down roots. It was a meeting place for music hall entertainers, managers and agents. The Water Rat’s earliest meetings were at Ye Old White Horse public house in Brixton Road in 1890. Over the next decade Brixton, and the surrounding area was to becoming the beating heart and spiritual home of music hall.
The Allisons lived at several prominent address in Brixton between the 1890s and 1915.
1897-1898
Evandale Rd
The 1911 census records that James, now 52 years of age, and Lucy together with their son James Eadie and his wife Cissie Ramsden lived in a house at 89 Loughborough Park, Brixton together with Florence Lane, their domestic servant. The house is no longer there but historical records indicate that 89 & 91 and 93-95 Loughborough Park were “the most striking houses” on the south east side. Loughborough Park was laid out around 1844.
1912
32 Stockwell Park Road
1901
Harbour Road, very close to Fred Karno’s fun factory
Other records suggest James & Lucy Allison, together with their children lived at 22 Burton Road and this electoral register list from 1899 appears to confirm (Ancestry.com)
