Moses Line

Moses Line arrived in Chislehurst in 1849 at the age of 21 with the 1851 census showing him living at 164 Prickend with younger sister Elizabeth D Line. Moses met and married Sarah Wood in 1852 and between them produced ten children. They were Elizabeth, Emily, Harry, Arthur, Herbert, Mary, Eva, Sidney, Louise, and Percy, all of whom were baptised in the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Moses was a grocer and draper at the age of 23. Ten years later he expanded by venturing in to the wholesale trade. In 1876 he formed a partnership with a member of his family Wood Line, to produce mineral waters from a factory based in Park Road. The overwhelming initial success was such that they were unable to keep up with demand, and so in 1879 placed an advertisement in the Bromley Record apologising to customers for the shortage of supplies whilst at the same time announcing that the business would shortly be undergoing major expansion.

Meanwhile, Moses’ grocery and drapery businesses underwent expansion with the addition of an outfitters in 1880. By 1887 he was trading as H. Line and Son, the businesses comprising of a family grocers, provision merchants, oil and Italian warehousing, general and fancy drapers, boot and shoe shop, milliners, and an outfitting department which not only supplied made-to-measure clothes but ‘off the peg’ too. Trading at 1,2, and 3, Chislehurst West at this time the premises boasted a supply warrant to the Empress Eugenie.

‘Lines Cottages’ were thought to have been built at the rear of the premises adjacent to Queens’s Terrace and Regent House, a three story property located next door to the original premises, to accommodate the growing enterprise. It is thought that Moses, at one time owned most of the shops on the north side of what is now the High Street.

In 1886 the partnership of the Chislehurst Mineral Water Works changed to that of Line Shaddock and Co. Under the new partnership the Mineral Water Works continued to flourish and not only did they have a depot at Blackboys yard in Sevenoaks but also one at Spital Street Dartford. In 1890 state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment ensured further expansion, with at least three additions to the factory buildings necessary to accommodate the continuing growth in trade.

The Mineral Water Works was a company ahead of its time. Operating one of the first steam powered lorries in existence for transporting stock from the factory in Chislehurst to their depots in Sevenoaks and Dartford, it was apparently a daily sight for residents of what is now known as Royal Parade as it passed through on its way to Sevenoaks. The success of Moses Line was obviously down to his integrity and entrepreneurial qualities, however, the population growth of Chislehurst could also be a point to consider. There was every indication that the population was doubling every 10 years, during which time Moses would have seen many significant changes.

Considered to be the main part of Chislehurst, ‘The Village’ of the 1800′s was centred around what is now known as Royal Parade, with today’s High Street originally known as Prickend. As the population and housing grew, so shops began to be developed on the South side. Along with the original Queens Head and the Wesleyan Chapel on the corner of what is now Park Road, the very first premises of Moses seems to have been one of the earliest buildings on the north side. From the point where the later built White and Bushell’s hardware store was situated, there were no other developments before the White Horse pub at the top of White Horse Hill.

The once country lane which was Willow Grove became a prime location for a number of imposing residential houses one of which, Blacklands, became the Line family home in the late 1800′s. This house was located on the north corner of what is now Willow Vale and Willow Grove. During this time houses were being built along the entire western length of Park Road, located on either side of the Mineral Water factory, with further development on the eastern side as well as in Queens Road.

Moses was greatly involved with the building of the new Wesleyan chapel, in what is now called Prince Imperial Way, and was commemorated as a benefactor in a window situated in the church. He remained a trustee of the church from the time it was built until his death. A well respected member of the community Moses had a reputation for both his kindness and care for others. Every year, a summer treat was laid on for the children of West Chislehurst using the Mineral Water Company’s horse drawn drays to take them to the fields behind the White Horse Hotel. There they would be treated to a picnic and a free supply of the company’s lemonade.

Moses died at his home Blacklands, Willow Grove on 24th May 1892. He was buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas Church with the Rector, the Rev. Canon Murray officiating.

His eldest child Elizabeth died two years before Moses at the age of 25. Arthur was involved with the family outfitting and clothing department while Harry and Herbert were both connected with the Mineral Water business. Mary became a music teacher and Eva a housekeeper in the family home. Sidney took over the fishmongers at 10 Royal Parade previously run by W Cooling, whilst sadly, Percy died in Jacksonville Florida having been shot, allegedly while trying to stop a brawl.

Within ten years of Moses’ death only the mineral water works remained in the family, which continued as Line Shaddock and Co until 1926 when it became Line and Co. The grocery business taken over by W Uridge later became Home and Colonial. The drapers was in the ownership of H R Judd and Co. It is thought he outfitters may have been incorporated into J Wise a boot maker, who operated from No.2 High Street, part of the Line premises.