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I do not know whether information from local Family Histories are wanted for your website, but I have sent you information on my great-great-grandfather Frank Harris (1866-1939), who was the Inspector at The Plough Tram Depot in Clapham High Street for 27 years.
He and his wife Elizabeth came to Clapham in 1892, when he gained work as a conductor for the London Tramways Company Ltd, working at the horse-drawn Tram Depot in Clapham High Street, next to the Plough Inn. He was on duty on Friday 15th May 1903 when the Prince of Wales (later King George V) rode through Clapham with his wife May in a special white tramcar from Belvedere Road, with their 2 children Prince Albert and Prince Edward. Following the introduction of these electrified lines, the Tram Depot was moved to a new site on the opposite side of the street and was accessed via a small entrance between 2 shops situated on the corner of Clapham Park Road. (Despite this move, the Depot was still referred to as "The Plough" in memory of the pub it had once been situated beside).
In 1905 there was a terrible tram accident at the new Plough Depot in which Frank had his leg broken. As there was no ambulance service in those days, a hand-drawn police ambulance had to come from Cavendish Road and pull him all the way to Kings College Hospital in Camberwell, in a journey that took four-and-a-half hours! In 1907, after a year in hospital, he was promoted to Depot Inspector at the Plough, where he remained for the following 27 years.
In 1912 he moved away from his house in Carfax Square, off Clapham Park Road, to 109 Manor Street (which changed its name to "Clapham Manor Street" on 1st July 1938). In 1934 (at the age of 68) he broke his leg again and had to retire from the tramways.
On Friday 1st April 1938 he and his wife Elizabeth had their picture printed in the Clapham Observer (page 13), celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, which gave a detailed history of his life. He died at home in Clapham Manor Street on Thursday 2nd February 1939, aged 72. (His wife Elizabeth also died at this address on Tuesday 4th November 1941, aged 81).
This may, of course, be of no interest whatsoever, but since your site is still under construction I did not know whether the people of Clapham were of any interest to your history researches. I hope it is of some use.
Above: The Prince of Wales in Clapham (Friday 15th May 1903)
(Click on the picture for a larger image -182K but lots of detail.)
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