The Loxton and Ward families have a connection with the Bird in the Hand Public House , Sydenham Road, Croydon through the donors grandmother Hilda Annie Loxton (nee Ward) who was at one time the proprietor. The 1886 street directory lists the Bird in the Hand as 51 Sydenham Road North with George Ward, her father, as proprietor. Her name first appears as such in the 1909 street directory, as Mrs Loxton. She married Frederick Percival Duckering 12 June 1928. Thereafter the entry in the 1932 street directory reads Mrs Duckering at 239. She last appears in the 1937 street directory at 291 and 293. By 1939 the entry reads F J Stratford. From museumofcroydoncollections.com

FS: England & Wales Marriage Reg. Index records Walter Ernest Loxton marriage Oct/Nov 1901 Croydon, Surrey page 510, Vol 2A ALN 5, possible spouses Annie Maria Crocker, Hilda Annie Ward or Cecil Richard Youngs

FS: Surrey Parish Registers records Walter Ernest Loxton age 24 born 1877 father Charles Loxton married 14 Dec 1901 Croydon Surrey to Hilda Annie Ward age 23 single father George Ward

FindMyPast original parish register records: 1901 St James Church Croydon, Surrey, no. 182 December 14, 1901 Walter Erenst Loxton, age 24 bachelor, engineer residing Blakan Villa, Milton Road, father Charles Loxton, station clerk. Hilda Annie Ward age 23, spinster residing Bira in Hand, father George Ward, publican. both signed and witnessed by George Ward and Susanna Sandback. See original on file.