Nostalgic memories of Mitcham's local history
Share your own memories of Mitcham and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 81 - 90 of 155 in total
Although I didn't live in Mitcham, I do remember a girl who lived above the chemist in Fair Green . She and her friends were top modernists, very smart with handmade shoes, I think her name was Germaine and I think she had a friend called Bunny or Bonnie. They were often at the Wimbledon Palais ,they were top girls. Modernist pre dated mods - we wore handmade suits and shoes made at Gorgios in Southfields.We thought we were the business.
My grandmother Annie Alice Lawrence born 1886 Mitcham is buried in a family grave with her parents George Lawrence born 1854 Mitcham and Sarah Anne Lawrence born 1856 (Duke) Beddington. My grandmother Annie married Thomas Baker born 1885 Mitcham and was a Master Builder. My grandparents lived at Newton House, 1 Commonside West and had one daughter my mother Lois June Lawrence Baker born 1921 Mitcham.
I went to Mitcham Grammar in the fifties, turning left out of the school gates you could walk up to a small parade of shops. There was a small grocery shop on the corner owned by a rather corpulent elderly man. He had a huge white goose (well it looked huge to us!) which always stood outside the shop and would go for us boys if we got anywhere near it. It usually looked a bit scruffy with a "fringe" rather dirty feathers ...see more
In all my years of looking at books and memories of Mitcham there is no mention of my mum's coffee stall at Mitcham Cricket green opposite Burn Bullocks pub also known as the Kings Head. As a boy I remember being with my mum as she worked on my uncle's coffee stall. She would tell me that of all the famous people that would stop and have their teas and hot pies and ...see more
I googled Grove Road where I grew up at my nan's though we used to live in Penfold Court for a while, oh my, how this has changed. The properties in Grove Road look nothing like they used to look, and now there is a monstrosity of a station at East Fields where in the middle 1960s three years after leaving school I was the Crossing Keeper, and the land was just railway property with an old shed, but it was so clean, what's happened to Mitcham! It is changed that much!
Having heard about the demise of the trains that run from Wimbledon to West Croydon I hurried to see the last train to Croydon. It must have been the late 70s (?). The two coach train has seen better days as it pulled out for the last journey across Mitcham Common...and into local history
My family used to live in the nissan huts, as we called them, in Wide Way opposite Pollards Hill School. We lived there till I was nearly five, we had great time there, the community spirit was fantastic, unlike today.
I remember Mitcham very well. I lived in the Town Hall where my Dad was the caretaker. My surname then was Parkings. I used to go to Leo's and George's cafe with my friend Josie where I met my husband-to-be David Rogers. We spent Saturday evenings in the Majestic and also attended the local youth club and dance hall. We also used to go to Wimbledom palais which I believe is now a furniture shop. I was also a ...see more
When I left Singlegate School in 1952, my first job was wih the Mitcham Council Nurseries situated on a road south of the Common. I recall mostly weeding flower beds and washing pots. I did go on occasions in the van to help arrange floral displays for civic functions, several of which were in the Town Hall. I still wonder how in my lunch hour I walked to the 152 bus stop, travelled to Colliers Wood ...see more
My best memories of Mitcham was when I lived in Oakleigh Way opposite the field where practically all the children in the neighbourhood congregated, especially in the summer, from morning to night. The bigger girls looked after the little ones, and as young as we were it was quite usual for us to walk to the wooden childrens library, or the swimming baths, going down St. Marks Road and cutting through ...see more