Horace Herbert Robinson: The Collector of Nightingale Road

The Collector of Nightingale Road: The Story of Horace 'Robbie' Robinson

Born in Palmers Green, London, on August 15th, 1896, Horace Herbert Robinson, known to all as 'Robbie', joined Lloyds Bank as a young man in 1914. After marrying his longtime friend, Mildred Manton, in 1929, Robbie embarked on a lifelong career with the bank that spanned over four decades.

In 1940, he moved to Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, ultimately settling at 76 Nightingale Road in 1948. He remained with Lloyds until his retirement in 1956, stepping down as the respected manager of their bustling Great Portland Street branch and living out the rest of his days in the Hertfordshire community he had grown to call home.

A Veritable Museum

From an early age, Robbie was a compulsive collector of anything that took his fancy. Collecting became his principal hobby throughout his life, with the result that his house on Nightingale Road became a veritable museum.

Myddelton Passage Etchings: A unique historical record

On first turning on to Myddelton Passage it looks like a typical London road. Houses along one side stand opposite a brick wall, that, although old, looks rather plain.

It is not until you begin to walk along the path that you will notice etchings in the bricks. Random numbers, initials and letters can soon be seen. Although sporadic, at first, they begin to fill entire areas of the wall.

Could they be some form of code or something else, entirely?