Article written by Jane Anthony.
One of the most rewarding aspects of researching those who died during the First World War for the Dorking Museum, is discovering those whose families had strong connections with the town and surrounding villages. One such was 2nd Lieutenant Charles Maurice Crow, not only was he the only member of the Royal Flying Corps from the Dorking area to be killed; but his family had agricultural, commercial and public service connections with the town that lasted for more than 100 years, and still continue to this day.
The Crow family’s origins lie in Brasted Kent. A Coat of Arms was granted to Gyles Crow in 1586. The family connection with Dorking started 300 years later, when Frederick Crow set up his business as a Land Agent in South Street. At that time a Land Agent was not unusual; they acted on behalf of both landowners and tenants with regards to management, sales and tenancy agreements, during the 20th century they declined due to there being less in the way of large estates and urbanisation. Most Land Agents merged with the more lucrative House Agents and are now known as Estate Agents. Crows also gave agricultural advice and, together with White and Sons, were involved in the running of Dorking market. Not only did Frederick act as agent to others but he was also active with his own farming and forestry pursuits and was a founder of the Farmer’s Club in London enabling farmers to have somewhere to stay in the capital.
In 1884 Frederick had married Mary Hobbs at Sellindge, Kent. The couple lived briefly at Cliftonville in Dorking before taking moving to Shellwood Manor, Leigh as a tenant of the Duke of Norfolk. This remained the family home for some time, although later Frederick moved to Buckland Knowl after the death of his wife, before, eventually returning to farm in Kent. He died aged 93 in 1952 and is buried at Buckland.
Frederick and Mary had four children, Frederick Lewis, known as Lewis, Florence, known as Flossy, Percy and Charles Maurice who was called “Boy” throughout his life. Like their father, the three boys were educated at Tonbridge School in Kent. In all; four generations of the family attended the school.
Lewis was only at the school for two years before leaving and joining his father’s business and then working for two land agents in London to gain experience. Percy was very successful at Tonbridge; being made a school Praeposter (prefect) and awarded scholarships both there and Cambridge. After graduation, he taught classics at Epsom College and was awarded the MC and Mentioned in Despatches during the war. He returned to Epsom after the war and ran the Officers Training Corps for several years before moving to Shanghai.
“Boy” the youngest in the family by several years, left Tonbridge slightly early at the outbreak of war, As he was too young to join up he worked for his father; the intention being that he should become a Chartered Surveyor once the was over. He was gazetted into the Royal Flying Corps on 16th March 1916. After initially learning to fly at Croydon, he gained his flying certificate that June, flying a Curtiss Biplane at Beaulieu. When he was killed on 24 April 1917 while was serving with the 16th Squadron, having previously been with both the 29th and 10th Squadrons. On that day he was flying a reconnaissance mission over Vimy Ridge when he was hit both in the stomach and the head, either of which could have killed him. His observer was also hit but fortunately was able to land the plane. The Tonbridge School website has several eulogies to him on their website for alumni killed in the war. He is praised both for his bravery and character; perhaps they are best summarised in a letter to Frederick and Mary Crow from a pilot who had preciously been his observer. “I had got to look on him as a younger brother. We have flown together a great deal and I looked upon him as one of the finest pilots in the Wing. On two or three occasions he saved my life by his coolness and courage. Every one in the Squadron had the greatest respect and admiration for him.” His commanding officer had recommended him for an MC for flying a dangerous mission over enemy lines at low levels, but it was not awarded. “Boy” was only 20 when he was killed he was buried at Bruay Community Cemetery and commemorated on the Leigh War Memorial.
Lewis Crow had returned to work with his father in Dorking in 1905; and was made a partner in 1909. He was active in both the community and local politics; founding the Leigh Rifle Club and Secretary to the Conservative Association. In 1908 he won the prize for Kent Surrey and Sussex in the finals of the Surveyors Institution, although it was by default as he was the only candidate eligible! In 1911 a riding accident left him lying in a ditch for eight hours with a badly broken leg, which failed to set properly. He was sufficiently disabled by this to be classified as unfit for military service. However during the war the war he was busy, sitting on many committees dealing with agricultural and valuation matters as well as being a Special Constable and the Secretary of the Red Cross Agricultural committee and other professional and civic commitments.
In 1914 Lewis had married Marjorie Livermore. Initially they lived outside the town at Fredley Cottage, Mickleham; but during the war years Marjorie found it too isolated. They moved to the Westcott Road in Dorking, naming the house “Brasted” after the village in Kent where the family had originated. After their three daughters and son left home they downsized, living at Sondes Place. Everyday Lewis walked to his office in South Street and was so punctual in his habits that others traders “set their watches” by his arrival time of 8.30.
During the inter-war period Crows flourished, and Lewis Crow continued to be actively involved with many professional and charitable and church organisations, including being one of the founders and later chairman of the Dorking Museum. Lewis Crow retired from the company in the early 1970’s, although he maintained an active interest in the business a celebration for his 90th birthday was held in 1975. Like his father he lived until he was 93.
Lewis’s son Frederick Maurice, known as Maurice, was born in 1927 and like his grandfather, father and uncles was educated at Tonbridge School. Left to his own devices he would probably have chosen to study classics at Cambridge like his uncle Percy; but his father insisted that he studied Chartered Surveyor’s Estates and Land Management. For several years he worked for firms of Chartered Surveyors and Land Agents in Kent to gain experience before returning to Dorking in 1954. Father and son, together with their partner WE Keasley, had the foresight to realise that they needed to change their client base if the business was to flourish. Traditionally Crows had acted on behalf of the landlord rather than the tenant; taking over and merging with other firms enabled them broadened their practise. Their most visible outlet in Dorking was still the market which ran for more than 700 years. Until the 1920’s it was held in the High Street, although some auctions were held near to Holmwood Station to enable the livestock to be more easily transported. The highlight of the year was the Christmas Fatstock Dinner, where prizes were presented and when auctioneers, farmers and butchers got together to socialise rather than to do business. As well as livestock they also auctioned agricultural equipment and other household chattels. When the market moved from the High Street it relocated in what is now St Martin’s Walk. The market eventually closed in about 1963 when it ceased to be viable; at the last sale there were more people working in the market than cattle sold.
Like his father Maurice was deeply involved in the commercial and charitable life of the town. He was a Rotarian and also instrumental in founding the Dorking Christian Centre. He was actively involved in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and Central Society of Agricultural Valuers. He instigated the Harrowland’s Home Appeal which was opened in 1989 by his widow.
Maurice realised that a small company like Crow’s that specialised in land and agricultural matter needed to broaden their horizons. He therefore merged with Watkins and Watkins in Reigate, who dealt in the housing market which in a densely populated county like Surrey was more lucrative. Tragedy struck on 18 September 1984 with Maurice’s sudden death whilst playing tennis. He left a wife and four teenage children. Although the company survived, and is now known as Crow Watkins, no one from the family has any involvement with the company. The Dorking office which comprised the agricultural side of the firm was sold to King and Chasemore and eventually relocated to Horsham. The partners on the agricultural side subsequently bought out that side of the business and the remnants of the Crow business are now incorporated in Monkhouse Bachelor. When the Crow Watkins sold the Dorking business the purchaser did not want the auction part of the business; although the livestock market had gone there were still regular weekly auctions of household goods and chattels. This was shared with White and Sons taking alternative weeks until the early 1980s when Crows took over the entirety. Maurice’s widow, Jane, re-established this part of the business running it as “Crow’s Auction Gallery”, now situated behind the Dorking Halls. She later became the first Lady President of the Dorking Chamber of Commerce.
Both Maurice’s son Frederick Laurence and Jane, who has since remarried live in Capel. The family are still active in local agriculture with Laurence involved in forestry and managing the woodland planted by his great grandfather and grandfather in both Surrey and Kent. Although the family no longer has any connection with the Auction Gallery the name of Crow is still visible in Dorking today 130 years after Frederick Crow first opened his office in South Street.
