The Cockney Museum

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THIS SUNDAY IS FATHERS DAY, SO TREAT HIM TO THE MY COCKNEY MUSEUM, YOUR DAD AND YOU WOULD LOVE THE IT, EVERYONE JUST LOVES THE COCKNEY MUSEUM. OPEN SUNDAY 10-30 am to 3-30 pm.

WEBSITE www.originalcockneymum.co.uk

MUSEUM PURPOSE.
TO SHOW THE CONDITIONS WHICH LONDON’S POOR IN THE 19Th AND 20TH CENTURY, TO EXPLAIN THE ORIGINS OF COCKNEY SLANG, THE HISTORY OF COSTERMONGERS AND THE SUBSEQUENT OF PEARLY KINGS AND QUEEN IN LONDON. THE MUSEUM IS THE FULFILMENT OF THE 65 YEAR DREAM OF GEORGE MAJOR THE PEARLY KING OF PECKHAM. FOR 65 YEARS HE DEVELOPED HIS UNIQUE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND HISTORIC ARTEFACTS INCLUDING A WONDERFUL RANGE OF PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS OUTFITS UNTILL HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO OPEN THE MUSEUM.

THE MUSEUM WAS AWARDED THE BEST MUSEUM IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND AWARD, CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER DETAILS OF WHEN THE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED.
THE VISIT OF THE WRITER ON THE 19Th DAVID STEER CAME TO MY MUSEUM AND HE UNKNOWN TO ME WRITES ABOUT MUSEUMS.

THE MUSEUM IS HOUSED ON ONE FLOOR, AND IS FULLY ACCESSIBLE,THE ENTRANCE AREA CONTAINS A COUPLE OF MANNEQUINS WEARING TRADITIONAL PEARLY OUTFITS AS WELL AS A HOST OF PHOTOS OF THE EAST END FROM THE 1800S TO THE 1900S INCLUDED ARE GENERAL STREET SCENES, CHILDREN PLAYING, WORKING SCENES AND SOME FAMOUS OLD COCKNEYS SUCH AS THE KRAYTWINS.

THE MAIN ENTRANCE AREA DOES NOT IN ANY WAY PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT IS INSIDE, I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I HAD LOW EXPECTATIONS THE INTERIOR IS SOMEWHAT UNDER WHELMING, HOWEVER IMMODERATION IPON ENTERING THE MUSEUM I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAYBY THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE EXIBITS.

THE FIRST SECTION IS LABLED POVERTY STREET THERE ARE NUMEROUS PHOTOS DEPICTING TALES OF URBAN POVERTY AND POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS AS WELL AS THE PLIGHT OF WORKING POOR . THE APPALLING LIVES OF CHIMNEY CHILDREN IS EXPLAINED. THEY WERE PLUCKED FROM ORPHANAGES OR THE WORKHOUSE INTO AN APPRENTICESHIP AS A RESULT OF EXTEME POVERTY AND THEIIR LIVES WERE HORRENDOUS AND FREQUENTLY SHORT. THE MUSEUM CONTINUES ALONG A STREET SCENE WITH VAST ARRAY ON PHOTOS ON SHOW. REGENTS PLACE , YOUR SEE THE STORY OF AN OLD LONDON STREET SHOWING THE FREQUENTLY HOUSING CONDITIONS WHICH THE URBAN POOR WERE SUFFERING.

THE STREET SCENE INCLUDES EXAMPLES OF HOW INTERIORS OF HOUSES MAY HAVE LOOKED LIKE IN THE MID EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS INCLUDING A KITCHE, BEDROO, AND SITTING ROOM. THE PHOTOS CONTINUE WITH NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF LONG LOST LONDON, IT WAS QUITE TOUCHING TO LEARN THAT HOW EVER POOR THE RESIDENTS WERE THEY TOOK PRIDE IN CLEANING THEIR FRONT STEPS AND WINDOWS INCLUDING EVEN THE PAVEMENT OF THE FRONT OF THEIR HOME.

THE STORY OF HOMELESS CHILDREN AND HOW SOME WERE SAVED BY CHARIT’S, THE GROWTH OF THE WORKHOUSES WHICH NEVER WORKED AND BECAME A PLACE OF FEAR AND DREAD, THE GROWTH OF “RAGGED SCHOOLS” FOR POOR
CHILDREN AND HOW FOOD PARCELS WERE HANDLED OUT TO POOREX
CHILDREN ARE ALL EXPLAINED WITH HUMOROUS.

THE HISTORY OF THE COSTERMONGERS.
THIS SECTION IS A REPLICA MARKET COMPLETE WITH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES STALLS AND A EXAMPLE OF WORKING CLASS TRADERS. THE HISTORY OF COSTERMONGERS IS EXPLAINED. THESE WERE ILLEGAL STREET TRADERS AND THE POLICE AND AUTHORITIES TRIED TO STAMP THEM OUT. THE COSTERMONGERS BRANDED TOGETHER AND IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES VIA THE START OF THE COSTER KING‘S AND QUEENS IN 1750 THIS SUBSEQUENTLY GREW INTO THE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS OF LONDON AREAS IN 1855 MUCH LATER, AT THEIR PEAK IT WAS 300, THIS HAS NOW DWINDLED NOW TO ONLY A COUPLE OF DOZEN OR SO GENUINE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS. OF LONDON LIFE IT WILL BE A SAD DAY IF THIS TRADITION DIES OF COMPLETELY
THE COLLECTION OF THE PEARLY OUTFITS IS UNQUE IN THE UK.

IN A SMALL SIDE ROOM IS A INFORMATION VIDEO ON A LOOP, SHOWING A PATH NEWS STORY FROM THE LATE 1800S OF A PEARLY WEDDING AND OTHER CLIPS OF THE PEARLIES IN THEIR GLORY, AND A PEARLY FUNERAL OF A WELL KNOWN PEARLY KING IN THEM DAYS IT IS WELL WORTH WATCHING.

THE COCKNEY SLANG
THE ORIGIN OF THE COCKNEY SLANG IS EXPLAINED, IT STARTED AS A SECRET LANGUAGE USED BY THE COSTERMONGERS TO CONFUSE the POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES. A LIST OF COCKNEY RHYMING SLANG EXPRESSIONS IS INCLUDED.

SUMMARY.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL MUSEUM BRILLIANTLY LAID OUT AND ASTONISHING IN IT’S DETAIL. THE RANGE OF EXHIBITS IS
INCREDIBLE LAYOUT WORKS REALY WELL, IT FLOWS NICELY FROM THE POVERTY STREET SECTION TO THE MARKET PLACE TO THE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS. THIS MUSEUM IS TESTAMENT TO THE DETERMINATION AND FORESIGHT OF ONE
MAN GEORGE MAJOR AND HE DONE A BRILLIANT JOB.

HIGHLIGHTS

THE WHOLE MUSEUM IS A HIGHLIGHT, BUT THE BEST BIT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CHAT WITH GEORGE MAJOR AND HEAR SOME OF HIS STORIES FROM TIMES GONE BY. HE IS 86 YOUNG AND IS A MINE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE EAST END. HE BECAME PEARLY KING OF PECKHAM AT THE AGE OF 20 WHICH CAME FROM HIS MOTHERS SIDE OF THE FAMILY. HIS GRANDFATHER WAS THE WAS THE PEARLY KING OF MILE END IN THE EAST END OF LONDON AND ALSO WAS A COSTERMONGER ON THE MARKETS.

GIFT SHOP.

THERE IS A GIFT SHOP CLOSE TO THE EXIT WITH A RANG OF COCKNEY ITEMS AND HIS BOOKS HE WROTE ON HIS LIFE. IT IS WORTH A VISIT. ABSOLUTELY YES THIS KIND OF MUSEUM WILL DIE OUT IF NOT SUPPORTED, AND THIS MUSEUM MUST NOT DIE OUT IF NOT ND THIS ONE IS THE MOST INFORMATIVE MUSEUM I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO VISIT.

SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN:
I THINK CHILDREN WILL HAVE AN ABSOLUTE BLAST HERE, THEIR IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND IT WILL BE GOOD FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN ITS HISTORY OF THE POOR AND HOW LUCKY THEY ARE TO LIVE IN THE MODERN ERA, I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE FOR SCHOOLS TO VISIT.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS
WE ARE AT THE REAR OF 31 STONELEIGH BROADWAY, STONELEIGH, KT17 2JE BEHIND THE SHOPS IN THE SERVICE ROAD.

OPENING TIMES
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY. FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY, TIMES 10-30 AM to 3-30 PM.

COST OF ENTRY
ADULTS £7. O.A.P £4 CHILDREN. £4

THE TIME NEEDED TO GO AROUND AT LEAST AN HOUR AND HALF. WHEN BOOKING TEL 07884341897 SHOULD YOU WISH TO HAVE PIE AND MASH IN OUR CAFE PLEASE ORDER WHEN BOOKING COST OF PIE AND MASH £5-75.

THERE IS NOT MUCH OF NOTE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY TO VISIT, APART FROM ALL THE LOVLEY SHOPS, BUT THE MUSEUM IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH A VISIT ON IT’S OWN.

REFRESHMENT:
THE MUSEUM WEBSITE HIGHLIGHTS THAT TRADITIONAL PIE AND MASH ARE AVAILABLE AND WHEN I RETURN I WILL DEFINITELY BE TRYING SOME OUT.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CAFES AND COFFEE SHOPS ON STONELEIGH BROADWAY, NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES AWAY.
FOR BEER/WINE/ FOOD THE STATION PUB IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO STONELEIGH STATION, IT IS A STANDARD GREEN KING PUB SELLING TYPICAL PUB FOOD.

www.originalcockneymum.co.uk

COCKNEY MUSEUM LONDON.
ORIGINAL COCKNEY MUSEUM.
ALL ABOUT THE MUSEUM.

ORIGINAL COCKNEY MUSEUM-LEARN ABOUT THE ENDURING LEGACY OF PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS.

LONDON’S HISTORY IS ADORNED WITH TALES OF REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO CHAMPIONED THEIR COMMUNITIES, EVEN IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY. AMONG THESE UNSUNG HEROES, THE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS STAND OUT AS ICONS OF WORKING-CLASS SOLIDARITY AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION. THE ORIGINAL COCKNEY MUSEUM IN EPSOM, LONDON, PAYS HOMAGE TO THESE FIGURES, UNRAVELING A CAPTIVATING NARRATIVE OF RESILIENCE AND HERITAGE.

THE ORIGINAL OF A UNIQUE TRADITION.

LET’S LEARN ABOUT THE ROOTS OF THIS TRADITION, DATING BACK TO 1750. GEORGE MAJOR, KNOWN AS THE PEARLY KING OF PECKHAM, NURTURED A LIFELONG DREAM SHARING THIS EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY. HIS COLLECTION OF CROWN JEWELS, A TERM AFFECTIONATELY USED TO ITS KIND.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE MUSEUM COLLECTION.

WITHIN THE WALLS OF THE COCKNEY MUSEUM IN LONDON, VISITORS CAN TRACE THE FOOTSTEPS OF THESE WORKING-CLASS HEROES. THE CROWN JEWELS COLLECTION OFFERS A TANGIBLE CONNECTIONS TO THE PAST, ADORNED WITH INTRICATE DESIGNS AND A BEHIND EACH THREAD. AS YOU STROLL THROUGH THE MUSEUM, TAKE A MOMENT TO ADMIRE IMPECCABLE CRAFTSMANSHIP THAT WENT INTO EACH GARMENT.

REVIVING THE COCKNEY MUSEUM SPIRIT.

THE MUSEUM IS NOT JUST A DISPLAY OF ARTEFACTS, IT’S AN IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCE.
THE AIR RESONATES WITH THE TUNES OF OLD COCKNEY SONGS, INCLUDING THE TIMELESS “LAMBETH WALK” FEEL FREE TO DANCE AND SING ALONG, TRANSPORTED TO AN ERA WHEN THESE MELODIES ECHOED THOUGH THE STREETS OF LONDON.

PRESERVING LONDON’S HERITAGE FOR GENERATIONS.

THE LEGACY OF PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS ISN’T JUST ABOUT THE PAST; IT’S ABOUT INSPIRING THE FUTURE. ALL ABOUT THE MUSEUM IN EPSOM ISN’T LIMITED TO PASSIVE OBSERVATION; IT’S A PLACE TO LEARN, ENGAGE, AND IGNITE A PASSION FOR HISTORY IN THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN. BY BRINGING YOUR “DUSTBIN LIDS” (KIDS) ALONG, YOU’RE NOT JUST VISITING A MUSEUM; YOU’RE NURTURING A LOVE FOR LONDON’S HERITAGE.

MORE THAN ARTIFACTS: A TALE OF COMMUNITY.

AT ITS CORE, THE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS TRADITION IS ABOUT UNITY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THESE INDIVIDUALS USED THEIR INFLUENCE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THOSE IN NEED, EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL TRUST AND FRIENDSHIP THAT DEFINES THE WORKING CLASS. THE MUSEUM ENCAPSULATES THIS ESSENCE, ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO EMBRACE THE VALUES OF COMPASSION AND SOLIDARITY.

THE ENDURING MESSAGE.

AS YOU STEP OUT OF THE ORIGINAL COCKNEY MUSEUM, THE LEGACY OF LONDON’S WORKING CLASS HEROES WILL RESONATE WITH YOU. THEIR STORIES SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT THE STRENGTH OF A COMMUNITY LIES IN ITS UNITY AND THE PRESERVATION OF ITS TRADITIONS. THE PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS WERE MORE THAN JUST FIGURES; THEY WERE BEACONS OF HOPE AND SYMBOLS OF RESILIENCE.

THE NEXT TIME YOU FIND YOURSELF IN EPSOM, LONDON, MAKE SURE TO PAY A VISIT TO THE ORIGINAL COCKNEY MUSEUM. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE STORIES OF WORKING-CLASS HEROES, CELEBRATE THE HERITAGE OF COCKNEY CULTURE, AND CARRY THEIR LEGACY FORWARD WITH PRIDE. JUST AS GEORGE MAJOR’S DREAM BECAME A REALITY, THIS MUSEUM INVITES YOU TO BE PART OF A LEGACY THAT DESERVES TO BE CHERISHED AND REMEMBERED.
www.originalcockneymuseum.co.uk

THE LAST TROLLY BUS ALL ELECTRICK

I FEEL SO PROUD THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS WALKED THOUGH MY
COCKNEY MUSEUM DOORS ON HOW EVERYONE GIVES IT TOP MARKS.
IT WAS WORTH MY LIFES SAVINGS IN BUILDING MY MUSEUM, TO SEE THE VISITORS SMILING AND SAYING I BE BACK WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIONS, YOUR MUSEUM IS JUST FANTASTIC.
HAVE A BUTCHERS AT MY WEBSITE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF.
www.originalcockneymuseum.co.uk

www.originalcockneymuseum.co

THE STANDARD WE ONCE HELD DEAR HAVE BEEN ERODED BY GREED, DUPLICITY AND MENDACIOUSNESS ARE FACING POVERTY, WITH FOOD BANK’S, A HEALTH SERVICE THAT IS GOING DOWN DAILY. BUSINESSES RIPPING OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, EXAMPLE ENERGY BILLS TO REMAIN HIGH, YET THE COST OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY HAVE FALLEN BACK TO THE LEVEL BEFORE RUSSIA INVASION OF UKRAINIAN ALL MOST A YEAER AGO. BUT ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD BILLS STILL REMAINS HIGH.
WHEN MY ENERGY BILLS WERE RAISED, I WAS TOLD TO PASS IT ON TO MY CUSTOMERS, WHICH I DECIDED THAT MY CUSTOMERS ARE HARD WORKING PEOPLE, SO WHY SHOULD I PASS THE COST ON. SO NO I HAD DECIDED NOT TO RIP OF MY CUSTOMERS OFF. THATS WHY TO CLOSE MY
COCKNEY MUSEUM DOWN UNTIL THE FIRST OF MARCH.
BUT IM TAKING BOOKINGS NOW FOR MARCH ONWARDS, IM SURE YOU SEE MY POINT.