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Old Ship Hotel, Kings Road

Photo:Entrance to the Old Ship Hotel

Entrance to the Old Ship Hotel

From a private collection

Working as a hotel telephonist in the 1940s
by Barbara Chapman

I saw an advert in the Evening Argus for a telephonist at the Old Ship Hotel and to my surprise, I got the job.On my first day I remember meeting another girl working on the switchboard about my own age -I was then about 16. Her name was Milly, she took me under her wing and showed me what I had to do.

Extra duties
Apart from answering the very small switch board we had to operate the lift and deliver messages to the residents. We even had to carry their luggage as there as only one porter, one page boy and the Head porter, who was a very sick man (or else he would have been called up into the forces).

How the other half lived
The hotel was indeed very old, with lots of stairs and creaking floor boards. The ballroom was closed and the hotel appeared to be very run down as it required inside painting and refurbishing. But to me it was wonderful and a chance to see the comfort of how the other half lived when they came to stay - for whatever reason.

From the QueenSpark Book "Boxing Day Baby" by Barbara Chapman
This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

The Old Ship Hotel was a well known destination for London-Brighton coaches during 'the Coaching Revival'. The most famous event was when James Selby undertook to drive his coach 'The Old Times' from London to Brighton and back in under 8 hours. The turnround point was the Old Ship Hotel; the start and finish being The White Horse Cellars just off Piccadilly in London. Selby did the journey with ten minutes to spare, winning a 1,000 pound bet placed at Ascot, a phenominal amount of money in those days. This event took place in 1888. I would welcome any pictures or press-cuttings of this event as I have been researching this coach and coachman for over 40 years.
By Iain Anderson (16/07/2005)
Have just read Iain Anderson's comment with interest. My husband is a first cousin three times removed of James Selby and has a great interest in his life and exploits. We should love to hear from Iain.
By Corinne Lawson (03/08/2005)
I am great great grandaughter of Mr Selby and have just started to research him. I would be so pleased to hear from other researchers to pool knowledge etc.
By Irene Cornelius (12/09/2005)
I was very interested in the comments by Corinne Lawson and Irene Cornelius about their connection with James Selby. Would they please contact me by email (DavidInkel@aol.com) so that we may discuss family history as I am also researching James Selby and his connection with the Old Ship Hotel when it was an important part of the coaching revival.
By David Inkel (21/09/2005)
I have just come across your info regarding James Selby. James Selby is my great great great grandfather and the famous race between London and Brighton was a good talking point. Just over five years ago my mum passed away and when clearing out our mother's home, we came across the certificate from the race.
By Kevin Stevens (11/03/2006)
So excited to come across this page. I have recently been trying to research our family history and am proud to say that James William Selby was my great great great grandfather. After discussing my findings with my brother we realised that the certificate presented to James after his record breaking trip (London/Brighton/London in less than 8 hours) is actually in a box of papers collected by my late mother, Margaret. I would dearly love for anyone with added information to contact me. From what I understand there was some kind of feud in the family and I now realise myself and my siblings may have a much larger family than we thought.
By Maria Al Rashed (nee Kyle) (11/03/2006)
I will be glad to hear from anyone who responded to my original posting, but I have been delayed mainly by illness. My email is, nortrot@britishlibrary.net I look forward to hearing from you.
By Iain Anderson (04/04/2006)

My father is a great grandson of James Selby and has researched him from a very young age and has lots of info and pictures etc. He would love to hear from anyone interested in James Selby.

By Sara Barnes (06/07/2006)
Would like to hear from others with information on my great grandfather, J W Selby. Lots of letters on the main page regarding him, but only a couple of people have added a means of contact. [Editor's note: If visitors wish others to contact them they need to publish their email address IN THE BODY OF THEIR MESSAGE. But - you need to be aware that this leaves your email address open to anyone. Unfortunately the Editorial Team are not able to take on the task of forwarding email addresses. Thank you.]
By Irene Cornelius (11/07/2006)
The Editor's note of 11.07.06 gives me hope that Sarah Barnes, Maria AI Rasheed and others might contact me. The name given as 'Coprnelius', should be 'Cornelius'. My address is: Irene Cornelius c/o The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Bletchley, MK3 6EB.
By Irene Cornelius (24/07/2006)

My father, Samuel Mori worked as the Head Porter at The Old Ship from 1940-1953. It was a common sight to see him outside the hotel in all weathers, greeting and assisting guests as they arrived.

By Pamela Bennett (11/12/2006)

Sarah Barnes and Maria Al Rasheed, please contact me via min.mark@tesco.net, or write to Irene Cornelius, The Holley/Cornelius Collection, The Mansion, Bletchley Park, MK3 6EB to exchange details on J.W.Selby, my great Grandfather. Thank you.

By Irene Cornelius (14/12/2006)

Is there anyone out there who isn't related to James Selby?! My family also claims to be descended from Selby. I only know this as several years ago they re-ran the London to Brighton race and my grandmother was interviewed as part of the local news coverage at the time. I'm lead to believe he rests in Highgate cemetery; I have often promised I would pay him a visit. I'd love to hear from anyone who can give me anymore information. garethbeeson@bluebottle.com

By Gareth Beeson (17/09/2007)

My grandfather was also the Head Porter at the Old Ship during the 1960s. His name was Walter Tully.

By Nick Phillips (02/12/2007)

My great aunt Maud Escott worked at this establishment in 1901. I am also investigating my family history, sadly we don't have any information or photographs of this lady as contact was lost following the death of my grandfather in the 1940s.

By Wendy Telfer (31/01/2008)

Hi, I'm not related to James Selby but everything I've read about him says he was one hell of a Coachman. My Great Grandfather was Tom Tagg who was a Coachman himself, he drove the Perseverance London to Dorking coach and also the Old Times coach for Bertram Mills of circus fame. In 1938 there was a memorial for Selby, and at 7 Edgware Road were Selby lived and died there was a tablet fixed to the wall which tells of his famous run in 1888. Tom Tagg attended this memorial as he knew Selby and the other coachman who attended.

By John Davis (01/07/2008)

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