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Dear Maurice,
My maternal grandmother was Evelyn Alice Tagg [b 1891]at East Molesey, Surrey. Her father was Thomas Edwin Tagg[bap 1868] [Boatbuilder]of E. Molesey whose own father was plain Harry Tagg[bap 25 Jan 1846] [Boatbuilder & Waterman]of E. Molesey.
Harry had a twin brother, Thomas Tagg[bap 25 Jan 1846][Boatbuilder & Waterman] and I believe the brothers were rivals for they both had hotels too. Harry was well-known and had his business close beside Kingston bridge. In 1901 he launched an 80 ft steam vessel, 'The King', which survived till beyond WWII and took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. He also built a variety of other craft.
However, his twin eclipsed him by building two state barges for the Tsar of Russia, having a branch in Cairo, and sending skiffs to Rangoon. He it was who bought the Thames island which eventually bore his name, and he built a hotel there which later, after his death, became a casino. Possibly, this hotel led his brother to retaliate by buying [possibly building] another hotel near Kingston bridge, and calling it 'Tagg's Hotel'. Today it is called 'The Streets of London' and there is a photograph in one of the lounges showing 'Taggs Hotel'in wrought iron, between two chimneys.
When I was a boy, my mother told me there had once been two boatbuilding businesses in the family and that both had been lost because of drink. Possibly it was Harry's business that was lost because of alcoholism, and it may have been inherited because his son died at about thirty [ostensibly of consumption [beer?]]and my grandmother was also alcoholic. I don't suppose I've worked it all out correctly, but hope it will add to your own knowledge.
I certainly have Tagg blood, from Harry, not Thomas [who was the owner of Tagg's Island].
I should like to hear more from you.
Regards,
Peter Jeal
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