LATER RESIDENTS OF FLORENCE STREET

Booth's Poverty Map of 1889 classed all of Florence Street as "Middle Class/well to do". Nevertheless, the 1891 census shows a definite change in the occupational make-up of the street's occupants compared with 30 years earlier. In 1861 there was at least one servant in almost every house – a sign of being middle class in Victorian London. By 1891 there were only four servants in the street. There were also many more manual workers, including a messenger, a couple of plasterers and a bricklayer. Most notable, many more houses now had up to four households per property; and this was still before any of the houses were formally divided into flats.

The Poverty Map of 1898/9 classed Florence Street as "Mixed – Some comfortable, others poor", which better reflects the census returns.

However, Florence Street continued to have some notable residents.

Edwin Hodges resided at No.8 from the 1860s. He built his business as a bullet-mould maker and then started making guns. In 1915 he founded a family business that lasted until 1964.
        
As still apparent on its exterior wall, veterinary surgeons resided at No.26. William Clark founded the business. He was followed by Mr Spooner in 1890, who then partnered with Mr Bushman in the early 20th century.

Mr. Wallace Cheeseman lived at No.27 from 1896-99 and having made the mistake of moving away then returned to 28 from 1901-2. In 1890 he founded the Fawcett Association, which was a union of postal sorting clerks established, and he was instrumental in setting up the Civil Service Federation.

In 1868 LM Kingsman set up Kingsman Engineering in the Florence Works next to No.34. It isn't entirely clear what sort of engineering was carried out in the early days. Various other businesses continued at this address through to the 1970s, including in 1955 "general, precision, mechanical and electrical engineers".

At No.46 was Klein Grant who was a leading doctor at the North London Medical and Surgical Association, which was based in Islington. He was accused of cheating patients financially and in response answered "I believe in treating the poor rather than expensive GPs and I have no pecuniary interest in the business."

Next door at No. 47 were Mary and Ann Byfield, two sisters of the eminent family of engravers and illustrators. They were proud to advertise themselves as "artist engravers on wood".

Not actually living in Florence Street but just around the corner in Cross Street and ultimately giving his name to a street was William Hawes, the founder of the Royal Humane Society. This Society saved people from drowning, particularly in London's rivers and lakes.