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Bromley Borough Local History Society

Edwardian postcards (John Curwood)
John Curwood – Newsagent and Stationer of Widmore Road Bromley
At the turn of the last century, John James Nicholas Curwood took over the newsagents at 108 Widmore Road from its previous owner W. Ransom. More than 65 years later, when the shop finally closed, the opportunity arose to save some of the old stock of postcards. These eventually came into the possession of BBLHS member Bob Withycombe and now a selection of them are shown on the following pages. 

Although the shop was at No.108, this was actually very near Bromley’s Market Square. At that time the houses on the north side of Widmore Road were numbered from 1 to 67, and on the south side, starting at Widmore Green, from 70 to 110. Within two years, following some rebuilding in the north east corner of the Market Square to eliminate a dangerous turning, the road was re-numbered in conventional fashion and John’s shop became No. 2 which can be seen on the far right in the photo below taken around 1905. 
In 1910 the watchmaker next door, John How, died and John Curwood extended his business into No. 4 as can be seen in the second picture taken in 1927. Both shops have since been replaced although the shops and pub beyond occupy the same buildings.                           
(All photos courtesy Bromley Local Studies Library)

Born in The School, Speenhamland, Speen, near Newbury, Berkshire, on 23rd January 1872, the son of school teachers, John Curwood worked first in the newsagent business in his home town before moving to Godalming and then Hastings. The Bromley shop was the first time he had run a business on his own and its reputation grew greatly over the years. John became a highly respected member of several local organisations including the Chamber of Commerce. He was also a sidesman and parish councillor at St. Mary’s Plaistow for many years.


Sadly, on Wednesday 18th May 1927 at the age of 55, after weeks of illness, John died at his home at 24 Aldermary Road, a few minutes walk from the shop, leaving a widow, Martha Ellen Curwood, nee Dixon. His funeral was held at St. Mary’s on the 21st May and he was buried in Plaistow cemetery. 


On Sunday 28th October the following year, Martha died, age 61. She too was buried in Plaistow cemetery, just along the road from St. Andrew’s church where she had been much involved over the years. The couple did not have any children but her funeral was attended by many relatives, including her two brothers and three sisters. It is unclear who then took over the shop. 


This picture of John Curwood seated in a deck chair accompanied his obituary in the local paper. But he was not the only Curwood in Bromley:
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