Treasures of Commissioner’s House: Hidden Finds
Treasures of Commissioner’s House: Hidden Finds
The Commissioner’s House is in the midst of an extensive renovation project, and the team is uncovering some long-forgotten items and treasures.
In this blog, we are focusing on two different discoveries: window shutters in the Victory room and a floorboard with a scribbled message.
Previous Treasures of Commissioner’s House blogs have covered a workman’s letter, historic wallpaper, and an intriguing playing card.
With the Floorboard in the Serving Lobby
During work on the Commissioner’s House in late November 2025, the floor in the Serving Lobby was taken up. Underneath, a pencil-scribbled note was discovered. While most of the message is legible, there is some damage from nail holes, wood splintering, and water damage.
Left Message
“Mr Warren the Admiral’s Butler is a bloody shit + (and) absolute (?) nasty (?) bugger”
signed, Jame(s?) (G?)
Right Message
“This floor was laid May 3 1879 by G Pearce + (and) J Duckworth Carpenters & J Giles Labourer & they could not get any water for love nor money. The Butler is a Damned shiting (sic) bugger + (and) he can kiss our asses”
Researching the Find
Volunteer researchers Gary and John took on the task of finding out more about the people who left the note.
They identified five people of interest: The Admiral, Mr Warren (the Butler), G Pearce, J Duckworth, and J Giles.
In May 1881, the Admiral Superintendent of Chatham Dockyard was Rear Admiral Thomas Brandreth, who was in post from 31 January 1879 to 30 November 1881.
1881 Census
Admiral Brandreth can be found in the 1881 Census living in Chatham Dockyard with his wife, daughters and household.
No one named ‘Warren’ is listed for the Commissioner’s House, nor is there a butler shown on the census register, although several domestic staff are shown. However, John Warren is listed with the occupation of ‘Butler domestic servant’. He was living with his family at 23 Paget Street, Gillingham, approximately a mile’s walk to the Commissioner’s House.
Carpenters
In the 1881 Census, Pearce is a common surname in Kent. Although ‘G Pearce’ returns 74 results in Kent, with only four in the vicinity of Chatham. Of these, George Pearce junior, occupation given as carpenter, appears living on Front Row, St Mary, Chatham. He is living with his father (George Pearce senior, a beer retailer), George junior’s wife, Eliza and six children.
Duckworth is an uncommon name in Kent, making it easy to narrow down “J Duckworth”. George and Gary were able to identify John Smurfitt Duckworth, aged 23, from Sunderland, living at 86, Morden Street, Rochester St Margaret, Kent, as a carpenter. He continued to work as a carpenter, joiner, undertaker, and funeral furnisher through to at least 1911.
Giles is a relatively common surname in Kent in the 1881 Census but the researchers were able to narrow it down to James Giles, labourer, living at 82, Pier Road, Gillingham (about 40 minutes’ walk away from the Commissioner’s House).
Whilst renovating the Victory Room, the team exposed a set of hidden shutters after removing a panel from the room.
The team believe they are original to the house from some time in the 18th century. They were closed and hidden from view by a panel in the room and bricked up from the outside.
Thank you to Gary and John for the fantastic research.
