| AdminHistory | Sydney Maddocks was born in Stepney in 1870 into a well-known family from Ratcliff. He joined the Commercial Gas Company in about 1889, and stayed with the company for some 46 years until his retirement in 1935. He became Registrar of the Company and contributed many short articles on the history of east London to 'The Copartnership Herald', the magazine published by the firm. In his lifetime, Maddocks was a widely acknowledged expert on many aspects of the history of east London, and these papers reflect that range of his historical interests.
He was also involved in the civic life of east London: he served as a trustee and manager of the Greencoat Schools in White Horse Street and was also a member of the Coopers' Company. Sydney Maddocks died in Southend, Essex in 1953. |
| CustodialHistory | These papers - along with books, maps and prints - were presented to the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney by Sydney Maddocks's son Hubert S. Maddocks after his father's death in 1953: see Report of Public Libraries and Museums Committee dated 17 June 1953 noted in the Council minutes of 15 July 1953. See also P/MDS/1/3. His manuscripts were originally listed as STE/866-867 before they were recatalogued. |