05 Feb Southwark Wesleyan Chapel, Long Lane, Poors Book

BermondseyStreet.London has received a gift this week! The amazing John Colley of Hitchin, Hertfordshire has sent us the 1824 Poors Accounts Book from the Southwark Chapel in Long Lane. He found it when clearing out his attic, left there no doubt by a previous resident. Rather than just throw it away, he took the trouble to offer it to BermondseyStreet.London – and it arrived this week. The accounts book records payments into the fund the Chapel kept for relief of the poor, and the widows and others the money was paid out to, for the period from 1824 to 1840, so it is 200 years old. The Chapel was on the south side of Long Lane from about 1810, with its own graveyard, entrance on Manciple Street. It was deconsecrated in 1918 and the bodies removed from the graveyard to Nunhead Cemetery. The site was then cleared for redevelopment. In the meantime the Methodist mission at the south end of Bermondsey Street was established, with more capacity and facilities.

If you are trying to make sense of the page in the picture, remember that money was counted then in pounds £, shillings s (20 to a £) and pence d (12 to a shilling). We are hoping to commission further research, and will have the accounts book on display at our Annual Meeting in March. Many thanks, John Colley!