According to Helen E Skudder, Skudder & Co. at one time fabricated body panels for the DE-P Car produced by the Depford Company Ltd. formed 1913-1916 by Louis F de Peyrecave and Henry G Burford at 2 Evelyn Street, Deptford, and that the DE-P was at one time sold from a showroom in London's Regent Street, possibly the premises of H G Burford & Co which went into liquidation in 1926. She always referred to LFDeP as "Old DP" and a De-P light car was lent to Ernest and Helen for their honeymoon in 1915.
Link to Motorbase information.
Link to Motorbase information.
150 YEARS AT THE WHEEL
Nathan Dews in his History of Deptford published in 1883 wrote that the Wheelwright business carried on by Mr. Job Skudder since 1852 was started by his father William in 1801. William was born in the village of Kemsing, Kent in 1772, the son of John Skudder and Elizabeth Acton. His move to the north of Kent was probably due to lack of work and he was apprenticed at the Woolwich Arsenal as a Wheelwright and it was not long before he was followed by his younger brother Henry, who also became a wheelwright. It was at Woolwich in 1802 that he married Nancy (Ann) Eden Dearsley, and it was in Lower Road, Deptford that they first set up in business. William died in 1836 and the business, then in Broomfields, was carried on by his son George, a younger son Job was then apprenticed at Woolwich Arsenal. George was declared bankrupt in Oct 1841 and died in 1849. In the 1851 Census his widow Dinah noted her profession as a Wheelwright and in 1852, when he was able to move his young family and relinquish his employment, Job took over the business at the age of 27. He ran the firm successfully from 76-77 Evelyn Street (later re-numbered 266-268), mainly building horse drawn delivery vans, until shortly before his death in January 1908.
Nathan Dews in his History of Deptford published in 1883 wrote that the Wheelwright business carried on by Mr. Job Skudder since 1852 was started by his father William in 1801. William was born in the village of Kemsing, Kent in 1772, the son of John Skudder and Elizabeth Acton. His move to the north of Kent was probably due to lack of work and he was apprenticed at the Woolwich Arsenal as a Wheelwright and it was not long before he was followed by his younger brother Henry, who also became a wheelwright. It was at Woolwich in 1802 that he married Nancy (Ann) Eden Dearsley, and it was in Lower Road, Deptford that they first set up in business. William died in 1836 and the business, then in Broomfields, was carried on by his son George, a younger son Job was then apprenticed at Woolwich Arsenal. George was declared bankrupt in Oct 1841 and died in 1849. In the 1851 Census his widow Dinah noted her profession as a Wheelwright and in 1852, when he was able to move his young family and relinquish his employment, Job took over the business at the age of 27. He ran the firm successfully from 76-77 Evelyn Street (later re-numbered 266-268), mainly building horse drawn delivery vans, until shortly before his death in January 1908.
By 1905 the business was called Job Skudder and Sons, indicating that both his sons, Job Armstrong (Job A was listed as running the Carpenter's Arms Public House in Oscar Street in 1894 & 1896) and Frederick Edwin had joined the family trade. After Job's death in 1908 it would appear that Job Armstrong Skudder carried on working as a Coach and Wheelwright at Evelyn Street, but he was declared bankrupt in December 1910. By 1908 Frederick Edwin had already set up his own business at 1a Batavia Road, New Cross, later as Skudder & Co. in Alpha Road, New Cross, and then as the Vulcan Coach and Motor Works in Vulcan Road, Brockley, whilst his wife Helena Selena Maud Avery ran her own Ladies School in Evelyn Street, Deptford. H.W. Jameson joined as a partner and the business moved to premises in Carberry Road, Upper Norwood, near the Crystal Palace. In his later years Frederick (known as Edwin) ran a business from his home in St Donatt's Road.
Frederick's only son Ernest maintained the tradition forming his own firm the Imperial Motor Works, in Catford with partner George A Longhurst, and after his Father's death in 1930, Vulcan Coach Builders Ltd. in Upper Norwood. The firm at one time specialised in high quality hand painted coachwork with silver plated trim, progressing to spray painting and chrome fittings, carrying out premuim quaility work for firms such as Caffyns. Finally the taking on of another partner resulted in the formation of the firm Sinclair-Vulcan Ltd., in Old Town, Clapham, the operation of which ceased shortly after Ernest's death in January 1949.
Frederick's only son Ernest maintained the tradition forming his own firm the Imperial Motor Works, in Catford with partner George A Longhurst, and after his Father's death in 1930, Vulcan Coach Builders Ltd. in Upper Norwood. The firm at one time specialised in high quality hand painted coachwork with silver plated trim, progressing to spray painting and chrome fittings, carrying out premuim quaility work for firms such as Caffyns. Finally the taking on of another partner resulted in the formation of the firm Sinclair-Vulcan Ltd., in Old Town, Clapham, the operation of which ceased shortly after Ernest's death in January 1949.
The exact location of 77 Evelyn Street is hard to determine as the area was extensively damaged during the Second World War and has since been re-developed, but the Tramway passing place notice published in November 1878 states "Tramway or Passing Place (No 4d) - Commencing in the centre of Evelyn Street, opposite to the east side of entrance to the carriage Works occupied by Job Skudder, between 76 & 77, Evelyn Street, and terminating in the centre of Evelyn street, opposite the south west corner of the Globe Public House". The former Globe Public House still stands, now 321 Evelyn Street at the junction with Prince Street/Abinger Grove, but is now a Bookmakers. So it would appear that the premises were on the south side of Evelyn Street, with rear access through William Street/Duke Street, and that after the renaming of a further section of Lower Road to Evelyn Street re-numbering had taken place prior to 1905, changing the street address to 266-268 Evelyn Street, 1-2 Duke Street was the rear access to the Evelyn Street premises and appears to have become 1 Alverton Street (see maps on Job Skudder page).
DIRECTORIES
1801 William Skudder Lower Road, Deptford
1839 PIGOT'S NATIONAL & COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY - KENT.
DEPTFORD
Wheelwrights
George Skudder Broomfields, Deptford
Henry Skudder Broomfields, Deptford
1847 BAGSHAWS KENT DIRECTORY.
Wheelwrights
Geo. Skudder (Coach) 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Henry Skudder (& tyresmith) 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
1848 P.O. DIRECTORY.
Geo. Skudder Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Henry Skudder Wheelwright 9 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
1866 P.O. DIRECTORY.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1875 LONDON COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY Vol. 2.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1879 P.O. DIRECTORY.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1879 LONDON TRADES DIRECTORY.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1887 LONDON COMMERCIAL P.O. DIRECTORY
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1888 LONDON COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY PART 2.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 75 & 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1905 P.O. TRADES & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY.
Wheelwrights
Job Skudder & Sons 266-268 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
& 1 Alverton Street, Deptford S.E.
1908 P.O. COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY.
Job Skudder & Sons, Coach & Wheelwrights 266-268 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Frederick Skudder Wheelwright 1a Batavia Road, New Cross S.E.
Mrs. Helen Skudder Ladies School 304 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
1801 William Skudder Lower Road, Deptford
1839 PIGOT'S NATIONAL & COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY - KENT.
DEPTFORD
Wheelwrights
George Skudder Broomfields, Deptford
Henry Skudder Broomfields, Deptford
1847 BAGSHAWS KENT DIRECTORY.
Wheelwrights
Geo. Skudder (Coach) 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Henry Skudder (& tyresmith) 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
1848 P.O. DIRECTORY.
Geo. Skudder Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Henry Skudder Wheelwright 9 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
1866 P.O. DIRECTORY.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1875 LONDON COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY Vol. 2.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1879 P.O. DIRECTORY.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1879 LONDON TRADES DIRECTORY.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1887 LONDON COMMERCIAL P.O. DIRECTORY
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1888 LONDON COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY PART 2.
Job Skudder Coach & Wheelwright 75 & 77 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
& 1-2 Duke Street, Deptford, S.E.
Richard Skudder Wheelwright 27 Evelyn Street, Deptford, S.E.
1905 P.O. TRADES & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY.
Wheelwrights
Job Skudder & Sons 266-268 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
& 1 Alverton Street, Deptford S.E.
1908 P.O. COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY.
Job Skudder & Sons, Coach & Wheelwrights 266-268 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
Frederick Skudder Wheelwright 1a Batavia Road, New Cross S.E.
Mrs. Helen Skudder Ladies School 304 Evelyn Street, Deptford.
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No part of or any information contained on this or any page on the Skudders website may be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the Webmaster
No part of or any information contained on this or any page on the Skudders website may be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the Webmaster