Page 69 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

Cane Hill Hospital Complex: Aerial View

By the late 1980s, the number of patients had greatly declined, largely
due to the recommendations of the Mental Health Act (1983) with its
emphasis on care in the community. Following a gradual winding down of
hospital services and operations, the entire hospital closed in 1992. The
large site became derelict, and became a magnet for ‘urban explorers’,
vagrants and arsonists. With the exception of a few buildings, the site has
now been cleared, and there are only photographic memories of the
sanctuary and suffering of the inmates, isolated there over a period of
more than a century.

After contracting pneumonia, ‘Alf’ was admitted to Tooting Bec Hospital,
where he died in April 1965. He had survived his wife, Mary Ann, by some
5 years. The cause of his death was certified as ‘Bronchopneumonia and
Cardiovascular Degeneration’. His body was cremated at West Norwood
Cemetery.

6.23 Other Children of John Blaker (1852- ) and Emily Rump (1854-
1938)

6.23.1 William George Blaker (1877-1893)
Born: 3 November 1877, 6 Glaister Road, Norwood, Surrey
Died: 16 October 1893, aged 17 years; Charing Cross Hospital, London
Buried: 25 October 1893, Public Grave C693, Streatham Cemetery, Garratt
Lane, Tooting, London

William was the eldest child born to John and Emily Blaker. William
attended St. Leonard’s school in, before moving to Eardly Road school in
Streatham. He left school on 20 July 1890, aged 12 years.

Contemporary View of Eardley Road School – now a Nursery School & Derelict Building

In the 1891 Census, William was captured as a 14 year-old ‘Errand Boy’,
living with his parents and siblings at 64 Wellfield Road, Streatham.

64 Wellfield Road, Streatham: Contemporary View

By 1893, William was living at 30 Leverson Street, Streatham. He sadly
died in Charing Cross Hospital, London in October of that year. The cause
of his death was certified as ‘Pericarditis and Cardiac Failure’. A young life
was cruelly cut short. William was buried in Streatham cemetery in a
grave that contains several other unrelated remains.

30 Leverson Street, Streatham: Contemporary View

6.23.2 Emily Caroline Blaker (1880-1959)
Born: 15 January 1880, Salters Hill Cottages, Norwood