A life destined for the stage

Alfred Lane Craxford was born on February 28th 1859, the second son of William John Craxford and Charlotte Borrow. His parents at this time were already entertainers (his father was an actor, his mother an actress and dancer) performing regularly at the Britannia Theatre, Hoxton, London. We have recounted the history of the family's relationship with the owners and proprietors, Sam and Sarah Lane, in a separate article. ("The Making Of The Britannia Theatre")

Alfred had a brother, William Samuel, and a sister Charlotte Hope. His mother died in 1865 when he was six years of age and Charlotte was two. His father remarried in 1866 to Ellen Elizabeth Watson.

We have no detailed records of Alfred's early life or actual experiences but the 1871 census notes that Alf and Charlotte H Craxford were living at the Twickenham home of Mr and Mrs George Bowman. George had married Elizabeth Mary Craxford (Alfred's aunt) in Kent in 1867 and both were born in St Pancras district of London. He was described as an annuitant.

Life with the Britannia Theatre

It is clear that their sojourn away from the influences of the Britannia Theatre was not prolonged. By the early eighties both young men were actively involved with the organisation. William Samuel was first to marry, in August 1878 to a dancer of the company; and then Alfred Lane followed suit in 1882 with Georgie Pigott, a 23 year old singer and actress at the Britannia Theatre. They were married at St Peter's Church, West Hackney on October 9th 1882. It has been noted on a number of occasions that this branch of the Craxford family had a tendency to use the spelling 'Crauford'. By the time of the birth of their first child, Georgie had also changed her name - the certificate records her as 'Craxford, formerly Forde'.

Very little is known of the origins of the Pigott family. We do know that Georgina's father was named John George and his occupations have been listed as singer and comedian. There is also evidence that she had a brother (Alfred George Ford) and a sister (Maud Mary). The remarkable history of their respective lines is charted in a companion article (The Noble Forde-Pigotts)

Alfred Lane by this time gave his address as the Britannia Theatre and as has been described elsewhere had been made manager by Sarah Lane at the tender age of 22 years. During this time Albert (and other family members) had all become known privately and in public by the name Crauford and this is reflected on this playbill from 1888. In particular it is noteworthy that the proceeds of the performance on Wednesday October 8th 1888 were for the benefit of the two brothers and this appeared to be an annual event.

Playbill Images are copyright and have been supplied by Special Collections, Templeman Library, University of Kent. Visit The Special Collections Web Site

The other article also recounts how Sarah Lane bequeathed the Theatre to William Samuel and Alfred Lane. (The Britannia Comes To The Craxfords)

The next generation

Alfred continued to share the ownership of the Britannia Theatre with his brother until William's death in 1914. Alfred and William's wife, Fanny, were both named executors of William's will, and both were ganted separate Probate. Fanny died shortly afterwards in April 1916. Initially the two borthers had maintained the theatre's tradition of plays, variety and the annual pantomime. However, it became clear that live theatre was facing a very strong and persistent challenge from the new technology of the moving pictures. While he continued to own the place, Alfred ultimately leased the building to the Gaumont corporation and the Britannia functioned as a cinema until it was destroyed by bombing in the blitz of London in 1940.

Alfred and Georgie had three sons who survived to adulthood (a daughter died in infancy). His oldest son – also named Alfred Lane – became an actor. His second son, William Harold Craxford trained as an architect and also found a degree of success as a novelist (writing under the name of WH Lane Crauford) in the 1930s and 1940s. Leonard was a founder member of a firm of solicitors (Chambers Rutland and Crauford) working in Lincoln's Inn, London

Continued in column 2...

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Added: June 10th 2005
Last updated: March 28th 2012

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Lane Crauford

As noted above, Alfred named his oldest son Alfred Lane Craxford. He was born at the Britannia Theatre on August 3rd 1883. Later in life he became known as Lane Crauford. He attend University College School, which was then located in Gower Street. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began a promising acting career.

He wrote a textbook entitled ‘Acting: its Theory and Practice (with illustrative examples of players past and present)’. This book is still in print (1) although availability may be limited. The foreword of the book states that his paternal grandfather was “W.R Crauford, a well known Britannia actor, and his maternal grandfather was J.G Forde, the once famous patter-comedian.”

He suffered from ill health which curtailed many of his activities and he developed a tubercular abscess on his spine. He wrote a first hand account of his experiences of his illness, and the medical attendants who treated him, in his book "The Idle Hours of a Victorious Invalid". The book was received several critical reviews including this one published in the British Medical Journal in March 1926. (2)

Lane died in January 1928. (3) It is of interest that one of the witnesses of his will, which was drawn up in 1917, was Edwin Henry Forde, his maternal uncle. Of note, too, is the dual spelling of his surname, one of the few legal documents to record the same.

Into retirement

Alfred continued to be interested in his own family history and wrote the book "Sam and Sallie: A novel of the theatre" (4) which was published in 1933. There are several other letters to newspapers and magazines on file recording his guardianship of the memory of the Britannia.

Alfred was divorced from Georgie sometime around the commencement of the first World War. His youngest son, Frank Sydney, was born on October 4th 1915. While the other brothers and their descendents continued to use the name Crauford (and indeed at this time this alternative spelling started to appear on birth and marriage certificates), Alfred reverted back to the name Craxford. He retired to the south coast (around the Torbay area) where he lived until his death in 1944. (5)

Frank Sydney served in the army with the rank of Captain during the second world war and spent time in Africa and India. He then became the proprietor of a garage business in Torquay.

References

1. Acting: It's Theory and Practice: Lane Crauford: Hardback: Published 1930 Ayre & Co. Amazon.com
2. Notes on Books: A review of "The Idle Hours of a Victorious Invalid": British Medical Journal: 1 (3403) 534 March 20th 1926
3. Alfred Lane Crauford: England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes (1837 – 1984): Deaths 1928 Hampstead 1a 755
4. “Sam and Sallie: A novel of the theatre”: Crauford Alfred L. Cranley and Day, London (1933)
5. Alfred Lane Craxford: England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes (1837 – 1984): Deaths Mar 1944 Newton Abbot 5b 222