The 1861 Romford census shows us the first entry for Fordham and family, in Romford, as a grocer, in North Street. Sometime in the next ten years, he moves his business to South Street, and continues there until at least 1902.
In 1871, Fordham Scruby is listed as a grocer, with his wife Emma, at Marks Place, two entries from the Fox & Hounds, in South Street. You can trace the movements of a person through the census. Their eldest daughter, Mary, is 14, born in Linton; William , aged 12, is born at St Ives, Huntingdon; and successively the rest of the family are born in Romford, i.e. Henry aged 10, Laura aged 9, Annie aged 6, and Ernest aged 4.
In 1881, Henry, now aged 21, has set off, and is working as a grocers assistant in Rayleigh. Fordham is listed as a grocers shopman, in the High Street, in the 1881 census, and apparently, nowhere near to the Fox & Hounds, but this could be the way the enumerator has decided to walk? The next entry is listed as Marks Place.
In 1882 and 1886 Trade Directories, a Joseph Scruby is listed as a wholesale & retail grocer & tea & provision dealer & wine & spirit merchant, in the High Street, Romford. The 1861 enumerators walk through the town, suggests that Joseph is a Master Grocer, next door to the White Hart, in the High Street.
In 1891, Fordham & Emma Scruby, both aged 62 and born in Orwell, Cambridge, with his daughter Mary, aged 35, born Linton, Cambridge; and sons Henry and Ernest, as assistants, are both born in Romford. He is a grocer, in South Street, two doors from the Fox & Hounds.
By 1894 , the Directory listing now lists Fordham Scruby, as a grocer in South Street; and the 1902 Directory again lists him, now specifying the address as 7 South Street.
Fordham & Emma are both 72, in the 1901 census, and born in Cambridgeshire, with his son Henry aged 41, born in Romford.
Again, two doors away, is the Fox & Hounds, at Number 3 South Street; here you will find two more street scenes of South Street which almost certainly show Fordham Scrubys' shop.
Newspaper article relating to the death of Fordham Scruby in 1906, having outlived Emma (1902).
Death of Mr Fordham Scruby.
A Well known Romford Tradesman
We regret to have to record the death of one of Romfords oldest and most respected tradesmen, Mr Fordham Scruby, which took place at his residence in South Street, on Monday, at the age of 77. Mr Scruby had been ailing for some time.
Fordham Scruby, a popular Romford Tradesman
Kindly provided by Stuart Harris
It states "Mr Scruby had lived for about half a century, and was formerly engaged with his uncle, who carried on a provision merchants business in High Street. For the next 19 years the deceased had conducted a similar business in South Street. He was of a very amiable disposition, and was highly respected by many who knew him. He leaves two sons and three daughters."
Henry (his eldest son) went missing (presumed dead) whilst travelling aboard the Emperess of Ireland travelling from Liverpool to Canada in 1911 whilst going to see his brother Ernest who had emigrated there earlier.
Here is a street scene which includes the Fox & Hounds & almost certainly, Fordham Scrubys grocers:
Fox & Hounds, 3 South Street, Romford
Kindly provided by Colleen