You can view this timeline either in 2D, 3D or as a text only version. You can change how you view the timeline by clicking the 'Spanner' icon in the far right corner of the timeline. ;xNLx;;xNLx;The timeline is divided up into five categories: Key Geffrye, World and Local Events; Animals of the Geffrye; Ghosts of the Geffrye; Hidden Geffrye and finally Local memories of the Geffrye. ;xNLx;;xNLx;Click on any of the stories to find out more.
In 1613 Robert Geffrye was born in Cornwall. He was baptised at St Michael's Church, Landrake, on the 24 May.
By 1637, Robert Geffrye had completed his 7-year apprenticeship.
Robert Geffrye married Priscilla at the chapel, Mercers' Hall, in Cheapside.
In 1673, Sir Robert Geffrye was knighted by King Charles II.
Dame Priscilla Geffrye died at the age of 42.
On 4 July 1667, Robert Geffrye was appointed Master of the Ironmongers' Company.
During 1689 Sir Robert Geffrye was made president of Bridewell and Bethlehem hospitals.
Sir Robert Geffrye stated in his will that his fortune was to be spent on building and maintaining an almshouse
Sir Robert Geffrye died at the age of 90
Sir Robert Geffrye was the founder of the Ironmongers’ Almshouses.
The Ironmongers' Company advertised in The Postman newspaper that they were looking to buy land to build the almshouses.
The Geffrye's gardens used to slope from east to west.
In the 1700s almshouse residents cooked and ate in their rooms.
Almshouse residents never had easy access to heated water.
The almshouses were used as homes for the elderly poor from 1714-1912.
In 1714, twelve of the fourteen almshouses were built
The almshouses provided enough space to house 50 pensioners
In the early years of the Ironmongers’ Almshouses, the front garden was preserved as the well-ordered haven on show to passers-by.
There were 4 members of staff who lived in the almshouses.
When the almshouses were built in 1714, Shoreditch was surrounded by fields and countryside.
Residents would have bought tallow candles to light their rooms at night.
Every year on the 23 March the Ironmongers' Company celebrated 'Ladies Day'
The rules of living in the almshouses had to be observed by the residents of the Ironmongers' Almshouses.
When the almshouses opened in 1714 there was a Great Hall in the middle of the almshouses.
The sculpture of Sir Robert Geffrye, founder of the Ironmongers’ Almshouses, stands above the chapel door.
Thomas Betton, like Sir Robert Geffrye, was a member of the Ironmongers’ Company and a generous benefactor.
Residents had to look after and clean their home.
William Hesse was a chaplain of the Ironmongers’ Almshouses, who died on 19 November 1792, aged 31.
In 1796 resident Lydia Thompson left money in her will to the almshouses.
Only 2 applications to become almshouse residents survive today.
Sir William Randal Cremer (1828-1908) held the seat of MP for Haggerston for several terms, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903.
By the 1840s, most residents were single people.
From the 1840s, furniture making was one of the largest trades in the East End of London.
By around 1840, all residents had to prove they could contribute towards their pension with 5 shillings a week.
Maria Chapman was a matron of the Ironmongers’ Almshouses, who died on 18 January 1840, aged 64.
Reverend Henry Baker started his time as chaplain for the almshouses in 1854.
Nurse Mary 'Dumps' Davies lived with the Baker family from 1860 until she died.
Miss Beale died in 1901 at age of 81 she was the longest resident of the almshouses, having lived there 41 years.
In 1861, the parish population in Shoreditch had reached 129,364.
In 1865 the North London Railway extended its tracks to right behind the almshouses.
On 9 November 1866, Ernest Baker was born
Ernest Baker was one of the almshouse chaplain Reverend Henry Baker’s 9 children.
Ernest Baker was a mischievous boy, who according to his sister ‘took nothing seriously.'
Reverend Baker was chaplain of the Ironmongers’ Almshouses in the late 1800s, and father of Ernest, Lena, Cecil and 6 other Baker children.
In Ernest’s diary entry for 4 January 1882, he writes about his brother Cecil’s guinea pig, called ‘Pudding Pig’ and ‘Hot Plum Sow’ by the family.
On 23 January 1882, a hurt bleeding hen was thrown into the back garden behind the Bakers' home.
On 30 January 1882, Ernest Baker, the almshouse chaplain’s son, writes in his diary about his family’s pet tortoise, who met a sorry end.
Almshouse residents were encouraged to keep their rooms clean to prevent unwanted animals.
The groundskeeper rang the chapel bell when a resident died.
When Miss Freeman died, Ernest Baker the almshouse chaplain's son wrote in his diary about going to search in the almshouses for her body.
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