Memories of Mitcham
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 Mitcham, c1960 (ref: M296095) |
Year: 1958
Fair Green
I lived in that stange area of Mitcham known as Lonesome, situated between the level crossing at Eastfields and the bottom of Streatham Vale. It was a sort of 'No Man's Land'. My schooling from 1951- 1957 took place first at the wooden Infants School in Grove Road and then next door at the Junior School. It must have been someone with a perverse sense of humour who selected the uniform colours of brown and yellow. It used to take 20 minutes to walk from our house in Eldertee Way to the Fair Green. Once over the level crossing you came to 'the flats'. I remember delivering papers to Laburnum and Penfold Courts. After the flats there was a small alley which led to St Mark's Road. At the Fair Green the Majestic cinema stood, we used to go to the Saturday morning ABC Minors' Club after buying sweets at the 'Honeysuckle' sweet shop opposite. In the same parade of shops were a barbers (Sado's) an undertakers and a record shop (Cloakes?). There were the two pubs, The King's Arms and The Buck's Head, on opposite corners of the road leading to The Swan. The shops which I can recall are of course Tring's where you could buy toys and electrical goods, I got my first bike from there, Krett's bespoke tailors and Ralph's which I think is where Rag, Tag and Bobtails the pet shop is. After school we would go to the swimming baths. They used to hold up boards with the locker numbers on when it was time for you to leave, we were always complaining that we'd only been in there for half an hour. After swimming we always bought broken biscuits in Ralph's. There was a bicycle shop (Dyne's? ) opposite Woolworth's where we would gaze longingly at the air pistols and sheath knives displayed in the window. I also recall a pawn shop, but can't remember the name. The Fair Green itself was always a source of traffic congestion, even in those days and recent visits have, alas, shown that despite the many different schemes that have been tried it's far worse now than it ever was. On the corner of Montrose Gardens was a chandler's shop called Gutteridge's where I would buy straw and food for my Guinea Pig. Some days there would be a deliciously sweet sickly smell of toffee from Randall's (remember the peanut brittle and coconut ice?). Opposite Gutteridge's was Strowger's where we bought hardware, it had an amazing blend of smells, paraffin, putty, paint, grass seed. My aunt used to work at the Carlton Restaurant which I thought was posh, as other places which sold meals were called 'caffs'. Sam's next to Gaydon's Gent's outfitters where I was taken by a policeman for a cup of tea after seeing an old lady run over by a lorry outside the Buck's Head. The beautiful frontage of the Conservative Club next to the Mitcham news and Mercury office which was demolished and replaced by a supermarket. Francis's, another outfitters in London Road opposite the old Post Office. I now live in the south of France, but still visit my mum who now lives in Colliers Wood, I always try and spend some time to walk around Mitcham as it holds so many memories for me, but each time I visit just a little bit more has disappeared. Last edited: 13/11/2008 10:38 by Mike Walker |
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London Road
My mother, Muriel Lowrey, owned the Wool Shop at 185 London Road, next door to a hi-fi shop. I remember Eric Braund, who was a local postman. His wife Lilly helped my mother in the shop and Eric and I eventually formed a recording company called 'Group Four Recordings' and hired ourselves out, doing a fair bit at the Royal Festival Hall, I remember. Great days!! When we moved to London Road I remember I was finishing my days at the Italia Conti Drama School, based at that time in Clapham, and at the Royal College of Music - so it could have been about 1958/9. I also enrolled as a 'special constable' at Mitcham Police Station - I believe the crime rate soared during my tenure!! Has anyone else any recall of the shop [now demolished] - perhaps an ex-customer? Posted: 06/10/2008 13:29 by Ray Lowrey |
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Year: 1955
Memories of 1955
The delightful photographs of Mitcham revive many pleasant memories of my youth and growing up on the nearby St. Helier Estate in Carshalton. The year 1955, in particular, evokes strong personal emotions that have remained permanent. As a young 17 year old draughtsman, I worked for W. H. Armfield Ltd, a steel building company located in Morden Rd. It was here that I met my first love Jackie who worked in her father's Transport Cafe next door. We used to visit the Majestic Cinema and I remember walking home along London Road past the Post Office (or was it the Telephone Building), the Cricket Green and Leo's ice cream parlour to Mitcham Station, turning into Morden Road where Jackie lived. In 1956, I emigrated to Canada and pursued a career in Civil Engineering. I believe Jackie became a fashion model for Mary Quant Designs. I have never forgotten that brief time in my life and I return to England every year, always making a visit to Mitcham. The inevitable changes have taken place over the years although happily some parts of Mitcham remain as I remember them in the fifties. Derek Collins, Niagara, Ontario, Canada. Last edited: 06/10/2008 08:47 by Derek Collins |
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History of Figgs Marsh
Having been born in Tooting Junction and schooled at Gorringe Park Middle School, I have many memories of Mitcham. However, until recently I was unaware that my ancestors lived on Figgs Marsh back in the 1840s, something I found out via the 1841 census. Does any one have any knowledge about what would have been there around this time and why a large group of people would have been living communally there, as many other people were listed on this cenus as also living on Figgs Marsh. I am aware that the area has long had a prominent travelling community and wondered if this could hold any clues. If any one has any information that they feel could shed some light on this, it would be much appreciated. As I child I would often walk across the Marsh, stopping to play on the swings on my way to school and on the way back, completely unaware that my ancestors had lived there over a hundred years before! By the way, I remember my father telling me that a live lobster was found in the Three Kings pond many years ago- does any one know if this is true or whether it is an urban legend? Last edited: 29/09/2008 10:11 by Carey Nelson |
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grandads pig farm
My memories of Mitcham are primarily those of days spent at my grandparents' house. My grandad was Sidney Clark, my nan for some reason unknown to me was "Nanny Mick". My grandfather had a pig farm at the bottom end of Aberdeen Road. I can still remember as a youngster going out with my grandad in his lorry to local cafes and restaurants etc., to collect their waste product ,"pig swill", taking it back and boiling it up with what I think was bran, the smell was pretty horrible but the pigs loved it. Apart from the pigs there were chickens, racing pigeons, geese, cats and dogs, this place was so far removed from where I lived in Earlsfield, a densely populated area of Wandsworth, London. Going to my nan's was a real adventure for me. Although my memory is not particularly good nowadays I can still recall piglet deliveries and chasing "escapees" up and down Aberdeen Road, likewise errant chicks, and a scary memory of the gander who "ruled the roost" (who needed guard dogs?). My paternal grandmother, nanny Sponder, lived in Western Road with my uncle Jim (her second husband), a few doors from the Star public house (where I am led to believe my dad was born). These memories are a little more sparse, however I do remember she also had chickens, and quite vividly remember collecting their eggs. I also have fond memories of my uncle Perce (grandad's brother) and aunt Ive, who lived in Langdale Avenue. He bred canaries and budgerigars and was also secretary of the local pigeon racing club. The foremost memory here would be listening to the football results, interspersed with phone calls, and uncle Perce "clocking in" the pigeons as they returned from their races. As I grew up then obviously these "family elders" one by one sadly passed away, however nanny Mick stayed in Aberdeen Road quite late in her years along with her brother, my uncle Ernie, a lovable rogue who appeared to have only one well worn suit with a huge split in the back of the waistcoat which he wore at all time. Surprisingly he was my nan's landlord, and I believe also owned the house next door, he was a true eccentric. I still used to visit my nan into my late teens, me and my friends would quite often walk from Earlsfield up through Meads Path past the sewage farm, through Colliers Wood, past Frys metal works, and on up Western Road turning right into Aberdeen Road, I think there was a huge company called Harlands on the corner. We were always made very welcome with cups of tea and toast (proper cut bread on a toasting fork over a real coal fire) - lovely! Sometimes that would be the end of our journey and we would walk back home, other times however we would walk on right over the back of Mitcham Common to Croydon to what I seem to remember as a huge gun placement site, a legacy of the war years. Anyway that's my most memorable moments of life in Mitcham and it's been a joy sharing them. Last edited: 25/09/2008 11:21 by Roger Wilks |
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 Mitcham, the Majestic Cinema 1959 (ref: M296057x) |
Year: 1944
Mitcham
As a child I grew up in bomb ravaged Mitcham. I lived in 16 Ashtree Avenue, Mitcham. We were bombed as so many other people were. I attended the 'Star School, Benedict Road. until around 1947ish then the family moved to Battersea. The Star School was memorable for me in that Miss Gregory a Welsh teacher took particular delight in tormenting pupils, in particular myself. And Daddy Weston ditto, one day he walloped a kid that lived in 'Rocky', a lot of gypsy people lived there, this kid's father came in and punched 'Daddy Weston' in the face. Mr Rackley or Brackley the head master was dithering around as a small ineffectual man only can. I remember we kids cheering loudly. In those days the sun always seemed to shine for ever during the summer hols'. We roamed far and wide, across the vast Mitcham common, all the parks, we never had any cares, no one molested us. I moved to New Zealand in 1964 and made a new life for myself. In 1987 I returned with my NZ wife, we visited the Star School and they were celebrating their centenary, we were invited in to see the kids put on a "visit the period" drama, it was pure magic. The streets and houses are all the same as I remember them from over 40 years ago, my gran lived in Church Road, her house condemned in 1939 and she lived in until the 60s has gone. Richard Watson Last edited: 29/08/2008 09:15 by Richard Watson |
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Mitcham, the Majestic Cinema 1959 (ref: M296057x) |
Year: 1959
Dancing at The Majestic
I have many happy memories of Friday, Saturday and (I think) Sunday nights learning to dance at The Majestic, run by Don Stevoni and his wife Pat (I think her professional name was Chandler the same as my maiden name, but no relation). I had lessons with Don, paid for out of my Saturday job at Woolworths, I was 15/16 at the time, and he was an excellent teacher - I remember my favourite dance was the Cha Cha Cha - music Tea for Two, Patricia, and the like - Oh happy days. I think they eventually moved on to Hayling Island. The assistant instuctor was someone called Bill (can't remember surname) he was a nice man who moved on to somewhere in Streatham. Does anyone have any information on the Stevoni's please? Or anyone else who used to attend - I remember a Sophie and Jack Coombes who had sons Peter and (I think) Brian. Last edited: 24/06/2008 09:41 by First Name Last Name |
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Mitcham, the Majestic Cinema 1959 (ref: M296057x) |
Year: 1950
Dancing at the Majestic
The restaurant at the Majestic was used as a ballroom dance school in the early 50s. The first that I remember was run by somebody named Bobby who later moved on to a school near Mitcham station. Later Don Stevoni and his wife ran a school there. Don besides being a dance teacher was also an antique furniture restorer in his leisure hours. Also Bernard Lee taught out of the Stevoni school for a while. Bernard's daughter Tanith (who we baby sat for a free lesson) later become a leading UK science fiction writer. Last edited: 09/05/2008 11:34 by John Borwick |
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 Mitcham, the Pond and Three Kings 1959 (ref: M296062) |
Year: 1964
Leos cafe/espresso bar
Although I lived in Tooting, all my cousins lived on the Mitcham side! I was a tomboy and used to hang around over Figges Marsh, playing rounders or smoking illicit ciggies in the red shed! The Teddy boys (later the mods) used to congregrate at the childrens playground on the marsh, or Leos Cafe. I remember going there to listen to the juke box and drink foamy espresso, but I can't for the life of me remember where it was! Was this Leos Ice Cream parlour on the cricket green? I seem to remember it being at the Morden end of Mitcham - perhaps all those fags addled my brain! At weekends we'd go the swimming baths or the library in London Road at the fair green end. My father in law, Joe, used to be the bingo caller at the old Majestic. Also, does anyone remember St Olaves youth club? I saw some great groups (bands) there, including The Spectres who later became Status Quo. I'm sure it was somewhere down St Marks Road somewhere.......awful, considering I used to be there most weeks!! The 60's culture must have gotten to me. They do say if you remember it you weren't there!! Posted: 02/05/2008 12:54 by Jackie Rice |
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Mitcham, the Pond and Three Kings 1959 (ref: M296062) |
Year: 1958
Three Kings Piece
I don't know why we called it Three King's Piece but in the mid 50's to the early 60's when I was growing up, that was what we called it. I lived in the flats in Armfield Crescent and when we went to Three Kings Piece we went the back way. Down St Marks Road to Baker Lane, on the corner was St Marks Chuch, to Hilary Avenue. At the end of the avenue was an alley-way. It had a high wall on one side with broken glass embedded on the top and the blank sides of houses on the other. I don't know what was on the other side of this long wall as the broken glass on the top of the wall was a deterrent to climb up and see what was there. At the end of the alley-way was Commonside East and the Three Kings Inn. Over the road opposite the Inn as Three Kings Piece with its pond and island. I don't think it was very deep, maybe a foot or two, with a lot of gooey mud on the bottom. It's been there for at least 300 years according to local history. I used to go to the pond at different times of the year as something was always happening. In Autumn it was at its most colourful with the trees on the island at the end of the pond changing its mantle and colours. The swans that lived on the pond usually disappeared around this time. We would use our home made nets, made of long thin bamboo sticks with one of Mum's old stockings threaded through a loop of wire stuck in the end of the bamboo. We would try to catch "tiddlers". If we caught any we would take them home in a jam jar that had a string tied around the ribbed top and looped over the jar to form a handle. It was very rare that we did, more in the spring though, then mostly "frogspawn." We would take the frogspawn home, no doubt to the horror of our Mums, so we could watch them hatch into tadpoles. When it got to the stage of the tadpoles growing legs we would be told in no uncertain terms to "take them back to the pond" where they would turn onto frogs. Winter came and we would go down to see if the pond would freeze over. More times than not it only had little bits of thin ice floating on the top, but a few times it froze over completely. Then we would hope that it got thick enough for us to walk on to get to the island. This never seemed to happen so I never got to see what was on it. In Spring we went to the pond with our stale bread, lucky that Mum didn't need it to make bread pudding. We knew that the swans had their nest there as in the spring we would see the cygnets following their parents about on the island and swimming on the pond. We would get great enjoyment out of breaking up the bread into small pieces to feed the swans. Now and again we would pop a piece into our own mouths. The swan population never seemed to increase, even though they had young ones every year, so I presumed that the young ones went off to other areas in the autumn when they were bigger. Summer, during the school holidays, was when the fairground came to Mitcham. They put up their rides and stalls at the end of the common between Commonside East and Commonside West over the road next to The Kings Pond. We were very excited when it came and our parents would take us on a Saturday night. I liked the night the best as all the stalls and rides were lit up, their bright lights glittered and gleamed against the sparkle of the colourful boards advertising their wares. The music coming from the carousel, the big wheel and the merry-go-round, as well as the dodgems, kept everyone in a holiday mood. My favourite ride was the carousel with the model horses where you dreamed of "galloping into the unknown" even though you were going around and around till the ride stopped. Also the ride that had chairs attached to chains hanging from the roof of the stall. As the ride gathered speed the chairs would gradually go further out until you felt you were flying through the air. If Dad was in a generous mood he would take us for a ride on the dodgems. One at a time of course, so he would have two or three rides, depending on how old my sister was at the time or if she was with us. There were only a few lights on the Main Roads so when it got really dark the fairground practically glowed. Once I went to the fairground during the day with a friend. The ground was littered with pieces of paper, used tickets, and other rubbish that got thrown away on the ground and not in the rubbish bins. You didn't seem to notice all the rubbish during the night visits to the fair. It was very disappointing and I never went to the fairground again during the day. It had lost its magic for me during the day and I preferred to remember our outings when we went at night with our parents, and all the bright lights. Posted: 13/04/2008 05:21 by Carole Baldwin |
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Mitcham, the Pond and Three Kings 1959 (ref: M296062) |
Year: 1959
Newton House, 1 Commonside West
Opposite the pond was my mum Lois's family home. My grandfather was a master builder and his name was Thomas Baker. My grandfather had his office in Newton House and as children my brothers and I liked to explore it but we were not allowed in the cellar. My ancesters the Slaters lived in Love Lane and grew lavender on their land. William Slater was a distiller for Potters & Moore and then he emigrated to Australia in 1858 and took with him Mitcham lavender which he grew on his land in Nunawading, near Melbourne, Australia and he named his homestead after his place of birth Mitcham Grove. Posted: 02/02/2008 00:36 by Monica Peck |
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Mitcham, the Pond and Three Kings 1959 (ref: M296062) |
Year: 1968
Paddling
I was based at St Helier Ambulance Station in Morden. On afternnon in 1968 we got a call to Three Kings Pond to a young lad who had paddled to the island and in doing so had cut his foot badly. I rolled up my uniform trousers but keeping my shoes on paddled out to the island where I bandaged his his foot and carried him off the island to the applause of the watching crowd Posted: 15/12/2007 22:19 by Richard Whiteland |
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Year: 1964
Childhood
I did get the privilege to revisit Mitcham again this year. The fair green has changed little, there is now a main road running striaght to Tooting Broadway opposite the fair green, where the Bucks Head pub was there is a paved off area and the Old Majestic still stands but is now a cinema. Can't remember name, I am sure it was once a bingo hall too. My aunts used to live in Tynemouth Road and living in Swindon, Wiltshire we would travel every year to visit my nan who used to live in Totterdown Street in Tooting. If anyone remembers the house it was the one right next door to the market and the Avery scales shop. The Bucks Head pub holds memories for me as my cousin had her wedding reception upstairs. I don't remember a lot about the day as I was only about six years old. She married at Christ Church in Colliers Wood. The room upstairs in the Bucks Head I remember had a pink textured ceiling and drapes all around the room. Can't remember the colour. Also there were lights on the walls. When I popped in there recently after my visit back, there were lights downstairs on the walls, not sure if they are the same as the upstairs has now gone, been converted into a flat. I was told the room was very unsafe and when my cousin got married there I remember the floor was moving with everyone dancing. Can anyone remember the room at all? Myself and my cousin Christine were bridesmaids that day and were given little heart lockets, our dresses were made by my aunt Daisy in Tynemouth Road, mine was yellow lace and satin and I had a posy of sweet peas which to today is still one of my favourite flowers. My aunts no longer live in Mitcham as aunt Daisy died in 1993, my remaining aunts now live in Bexhill, Sussex. Last edited: 05/09/2007 11:47 by Marion Lane |
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 Mitcham, Lower Green c1962 (ref: M296092) |
City Village
I grew up in Mitcham, born in 1976 and left there in about 1997. I feel like I have two Mitchams in my head - the old and the new. I felt a link with the place because my dad had grown up there and my grandad had links with Morfax and ran his own engineering company in the town later. My dad shared lots of memories with me about his growing up in the town and so I had a real feeling of place and continuity. During my lifetime I saw the Canons leisure centre built, the clock tower moved and the fair green pedestrianised along with the one-way system. I went to Links primary school (in Tooting really) and then Cranmer before going on to Tamworth Manor (formerly Pollards Hill) because they wouldn't let me into Rutlish. Mitcham always had an oddly villagey feel to it, very local if you know what I mean with lots of local characters and dubious goings on. That was its charm and its romance. I loved the feeling of being a London boy but at the same time having the quaint cricket green area and all the history and historic buildings. The place has changed so much though, even at the time of those changes I didn't approve. The place is hardly recognisable now, the heart has been ripped out of it. Such a shame, maybe that's why everybody leaves. Last edited: 05/06/2007 09:54 by Jim Pearson |
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Mitcham, Lower Green c1962 (ref: M296092) |
Year: 1959
The Cricketers Arms and the Town Hall
I always remember the Cricket Green as the lazy hazy days of summer. My father played cricket here, I don't remember the name of his team, but we had to sit and watch him. I liked it when the crocuses poked their heads out of the ground at the beginning of the season. They would appear in glorious colour in all the corners of the green, with the cricket pitch in the middle. We were never allowed to play on the green. If we wanted to run around or fly our kites on a bit of grass we went to Commonside East or Commonside West, just up the road, where there was plenty of room and no one to tell us off. The cricket green was reputed to have been played on since the 17th century, but the first recorded match was in 1711. Along one side of the green was the clubhouse, but we never went in there. On the Main Road side the Town Hall sat, like a miniature Houses of Parliament. The bus depot that was the cricket green stop was here, about a hundred yards from Leo's Ice Cream Parlour. Just out of sight in the lower right hand side was a horse trough and drinking fountain, which we often used when we watched the cricket. I think there was also a war memorial too. Next to the bus stop is the Cricketers Arms, where a lot of the male spectators went when they had a break in the cricket matches. The Town Hall next door, as I knew it, was used for a few social events for the townspeople, mainly fundraisers or rummage sales. The Lavender Parade, with the Lavender Queen and all her attendants, stopped at the green next to the Town Hall. After wending its way from Figgs Marsh Common, down London Road, around the Fair Green then onto the Town Hall Green. At the green they would have stalls like toss-the-penny, coconut shy or shove-halfpenny. The maypole was set up and we would watch the local dance acadamies plait and unplait the many colourful ribbons hanging from the pole, whilst dancing to Old English Country Fayre Music. We would also have the Morris Dancers doing their thing, with bells tied around their legs just under the knees. They had long sticks that also had bells on I think, but they brandished them at each other in the dance and took turns jumping over them as well. The Lavender Queen, apart from her attendants, also wearing lavender coloured outfits, had other flowers represented as far as I can remember. I think it was roses, daffodils and maybe bluebells, all very pretty and colourful. They sat on trucks and open air cars all dressed up with bunting and balloons. Others marched in the parade as well, with some local brass bands playing tunes as they went along. I had a Rosebud doll given to me when I was about ten. It did not have any clothes on it so my Mum found a lady who made an outfit the same as the Lavender Ladies. It had a crinoline type dress and hat with a huge rim of fabric on the top front of it, similar to the ones popular in the days of Charles Dickens. After that was put on the doll I was not allowed to play with it. It sat on the broad windowsill in my bedroom, for all to see, but not to touch. Whether they still have the parade I do not know, maybe someone will remember, or maybe it is long gone and forgotten, like the horse trough that has probably been removed to give way to busy modern traffic. Last edited: 29/05/2007 10:15 by Carole Baldwin |
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 Mitcham, Upper Green East c1955 (ref: M296043) |
Year: 1958
The Bucks Head and London Road
Opposite the Majestic Cinema, you can just see the Tudor brickwork of the Bucks Head Inn, on the London Road corner. It was very rare that my Dad would go in, but we would be sent there at certain times of the year. A seafood stall, parked beside the pub on a Sunday, would sell cockles, whelks, winkles, mussels, shrimp and jellied eels. My Dad would give my sister and I , or my brother Robert, some money to buy half a pint of winkles and quart pint of shrimps for tea. After getting them home it would be our job to use a needle, take the eyes out of the winkles, then stick the needle in it's "head" and slowly unwind the winkle from its shell. Mum would put them in a dish and add vinegar. Lo and behold if we "broke" the winkle as we were getting them out of the shell. They were a special treat and we would miss out on them if we did not do it right. The shrimps were for Mum and Dad. We carefully took off the shell casings, got the little black vein out, once again being very careful, as there were not many of them. They were just the best Sunday teatimes as we would have real butter on our bread for the winkles and finish with a slice of jam and bread or sometimes if we were lucky, Mum had bought a small piece of walnut butter cake from Marks & Spencers if she had gone to Tooting on Saturday. I remember quite a few of the shops and buildings along the London Road from the Bucks Head. Nearly opposite the Bucks Head on the other side of the road was the Off Licence. Woolworths was next, where I invariably spent my pocket money savings buying Mum either Lily of the Valley, 4711 Eau de Cologne or African Violet perfume for her birthday or Christmas. Dad always got hankies with his initial on them, a tie or socks. Further along was the Coal Merchant, then the Rag and Bone man - always told they were gypsies, as they had old caravans and horses for their carts parked inside the yard. Just along from the Bucks Head was the bike shop, then a shop that sold kitset model. In its window was a model train or two with bridges, mountains, tunnels and little buildings, that lit up when it was dark. To get the trains to move you had to put a penny in the slot on the window frame. Further along was the Butchers, with sawdust on its floor. Then the Swimming Baths, where I used to train from 7am and then walk to school down Western Road. In winter they covered the pool with a 'moveable floor' taking down the diving boards and using it for social dances. Further along was the Baptist or Methodist Church, not sure which one, but it was opposite Eagle House where we had a youth club when I was a teenager. Next door was Bond Road Primary and Junior School where I attended from 1951-1957. Next to that was the Express Dairy where we got the milk, cheese and babýs' orange juice. Across the road was the UK Tea Co., a small grocer where I remember Mum having to use 'ration books' for tea, sugar and a few other things. Sometimes Mum would buy half a pound of broken biscuits and you would just hope they were not all plain ones. Further down the road was the optician, the bespoke tailors, the greengrocers - where we sometimes managed to get my favourite fruit - pomegranates. (Lucky for me while living on an island in the South Pacific I could pick them off a bush). Also at the greengrocers we would buy bamboo sticks to make a kite using newspaper and string, or a net with Mum's old stockings and wire for catching "tiddlers" in the ponds. Then of course was the sweet shop, with all its large jars of colourful lollies and the scales where the shop lady would weigh our purchases. Flying saucers with sherbet inside, sherbet dabs, liquorice wood, black and red liquorice sticks, humbugs, gobstoppers, jelly babies, dolly mixture and so many more we could pick out for a few pennies. Orange Maid ice blocks, jubblies, ones like traffic lights, and ice cream cones. Sometimes we were treated to "Tizer" soda pop on a Saturday night. Next door was the old Mansion House that was the Adult Library, where I spent a lot of time. The Junior Library was next door on the bomb site beside our flats in Armfiled Crescent. I think I must have read all the pictorial travel books, as well as all the Enid Blyton, Famous Five and Secret Seven books. On the other side of the road was Trings Toy Shop. My one and only new bike was bought from Trings. It was a red and white Triang Tricycle. I must have been three or four years old as I was not at school. It came with a long pole that hooked onto the bike so Mum or Dad kept me in check and I did not ride away. I always loved going in there with my parents. We were allowed to look but not touch. I never knew why we went in there so often, as we never bought anything, or so I thought. Many years later, when I wanted to buy expensive items I found out about putting them aside in the shop and paying a little off every week. That was how my parents paid for our Christmas presents from the toy shop. The penny had finally dropped. Posted: 28/03/2007 14:36 by Carole Baldwin |
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Mitcham, the Majestic Cinema 1959 (ref: M296057x) |
Year: 1963
The Majestic Cinema
Between the tree and the cinema you can see the roof and top floor of one of the blocks of flats in Armfield Crescent so we did not live far from the cinema. When we were small we were given a shilling to go to the Saturday morning pictures - The ABC Minors we were called. We even had a song we sang before the films began. Sixpence was used to get into the cinema and we had sixpence to spend on lollies or ice cream that was sold from the counter between the entrance and the doors into the theatre. It was always noisy in that area where you would meet up with other kids you knew and see where they were going to sit. I remember the westerns with Hoppalong Cassidy, The Cisco Kid and The Masked Ranger with Silver, his horse, and his sidekick Tonto. I also remember the cartoons Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Donald Duck and all those Warner Bros characters. I have them on DVD and my grandchildren watch them now. As I grew up and went to work we went to the pictures at night. One of my most memorable and probably life changing for me was the film "South Pacific" with Mitzi Gaynor. I saw that film a few times and was determined to go to the South Pacific. Well, I finally did that by getting a one way ticket on a slow boat to the South Pacific on my twentieth birthday in 1966 and set sail in March 1967. I am still roaming the islands of the South Pacific, be they large or small, and I have not made up my mind where to put down my roots in the evening of my life. Just across the road from the Majestic was a music shop where I bought my first record. It was a 45rpm and one of many that I eventually purchased from 1963-1967. I still cart them around with me to wherever I live at the time. Also have the 33rpm's too, including "South Pacific", which of course I played on the deck of the ship on my portable record player as we sailed through the South Pacific on the way to Tahiti where the film was made. Next door to the Majestic was the Westminster Bank - I ended up working in their Head Office in Lothbury EC1. Next to that was the Pie & Mash shop. We never bought anything there but would go in to see the jellied eels squirming all around in a large bin on the counter. We did this when we waited for the bus to Croydon on a Saturday as the bus stop was just outside the shop. Posted: 07/03/2007 14:31 by Carole Baldwin |
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 Mitcham, Fair Green 1959 (ref: M296057) |
Year: 1961
The Fair Green
The Fair Green was one of the first places my sister Valerie Cooper (nee Hook) worked in her capacity as an apprentice horticulturist for the Mitcham Council. When she went for the job they told her that she would have to do the same work as the men. If it meant climbing trees and pruning them , she had to do it too. If it snowed and the roads had to be cleared she would have to go out with them with the shovels and clear the snow. She also did a lot of the planning of garden beds and designs for the Parks department of the council when she had served her apprenticeship. She did the flower clock at Figgs Marsh as well as the World Football cup design at Figgs Marsh when England hosted the matches. She also did the flower beds etc at "The Canons" which she was very proud of. Valerie was the first woman gardener employed by the council where she worked from 1957 to about 1965 when she moved to Doncaster with her husband and family. When we lived there the Parks and Garden Department always did a good job of the area but I have not gone back to Mitcham since I set sail for the South Pacific in 1967, so I don't know what it is like now. Posted: 07/03/2007 13:54 by Carole Baldwin |
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 Mitcham, c1955 (ref: M296006) |
Year: 1963
The Swan Inn
This photo looks like the 'Swan Inn" at the Mitcham end of Figgs Marsh where I caught the bus to Tooting Broadway to get the Underground to London. The trees of Figgs Marsh Common can be seen in the background. The road split in two here, the east side to Streatham and the west side to Tooting. The common was used for Football (soccer) matches on Saturdays and demonstrations in huge tents. I remember going to one put on by the dairy - no cows though- milk came in bottles didn't it. Half way along Figgs Marsh was the Childrens playground, Bowling Green, Tennis Courts and a cafe/restaurant that was closed more than open. The gardens and floral displays at the front of the area were looked after by my sister Valerie Cooper (nee Hook), who was the first woman apprentice gardener (horticulturist) from 1957 to the around 1965. When my friend, Pat Arnold and I, went to the pictures in Tooting, we would sometimes get off the double decker bus at the Figgs Marsh/Swan bus stop. Opposite the stop was the fish and chip shop. In winter (when it was not raining) we would go in and order two bobs' worth of chips (two shillings), keeping warm from the heat of the cooking, before we went on our way. Adding salt and vinegar to our chips, (got to have vinegar) the chippie wrapped them in newspaper. We went out the shop tearing a hole in the paper wrapped chips, taking off one glove, shoving it in my coat pocket, then eating the chips as we walked along the main road to the flats in Armfield Crescent. They always stayed hot even to the last one. For those interested in history, The Swan Inn was built about 1808 and was supposed to be used as a first 'port of call' by people travelling south from Streatham and Tooting to go to the Epsom Races. The 'toffs' in London got wind of it and used it on their travels, but otherwise it was just a country pub. Its first extension was in 1890, one of a few alterations, but it is still on its original site. I remember a horse trough that used to be outside the pub too, but that has probably disappeared now. Last edited: 15/03/2007 13:30 by Carole Baldwin |
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Mitcham, c1960 (ref: M296095) |
The 40/50s
It was the 118 bus Colin. It went from Clapham Common to Mitcham Cricket Green. I also remember well those wonderful Leo's ice lollies. After those awful slabs of lard between 2 wafers that went soggy they were magic - Walls's! My family moved from Northborough Road to Rosemead Avenue in March 1940 as all the Lcc schools were closed. My sister and I went to Pollards Hill School. Both of my brothers went there or to Alfred Mizen some 10 years later. I went on to Rutlish in 1946 on the 152 bus from Fair Green up Western Road past the school and the gas works when we all held our noses. The first love of my life went to Western Road School, her name was Lileen Townsend and her father was a coal merchant. She gave me my first kiss ....aah. I recall the first post war Mitcham Fair at Three Kings which took over from the fair which was held on the road to Thornton Heath. Every schoolchild in Mitcham got one free ticket for a 'ride'. We ALL wanted bumper cars or dodgems - I got a swingboat ticket. In 1940 we were deeply involved with the blitz and the battle of Britain. We stood at the corner of Rowan Road, Northborough Rd, Wide Way and Manor Rd, hiding behind the letterbox and telephone box. The letterbox had funny paint on top to detect gas. Our house was first damaged by a land mine in the back garden of no30 Rosemead Ave. Then by a flying bomb that actually lodged in the branches of an enormous oak tree at the corner of Manor Way and Rowan Road. My Father claimed it saved our lives. It was then again badly damaged when a "V" demolished houses in Rowan Road opposite Sunnymead Avenue. I remember those round-roofed pre-fabs and I am sure they were built by Italian prisoners of War who used to talk to us through the wire fence. we did see German prisoners too but I don't know where they went. Last edited: 02/02/2007 21:43 by Paul Croxson |
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Mitcham, c1960 (ref: M296095) |
MAJESTIC CINEMA
Glad someone remembers the Majestic Cinema at Fair Green. We lived in Norbury, just over the border in Croydon, but my Dad was a Cinema Manager with the ABC chain, and regularly did relief stints at the Majestic when the regular Manager was away. The cinema had a Hammond organ, and Dad remembers allowing the late Roy Budd, then a teenager, to practice on it regular - Roy later became a successful jazz musician and composer of TV and film music. My link with the Majestic is that for a time in the late 50's/early 60's I was a member of the 20th. Mitcham Sea Scouts, based in a school near Wide Way, and every year all the Scout groups used to hold their St. George's Day parade in the Majestic, and we would then march back across Mitcham Common with flags flying. Although living in Croydon, we were actually closer to Mitcham than Croydon ( Pollards Hill was actually on the border, I think ) and as some of my school friends lived in Mitcham, I remember idyllic summer days playing and riding our bikes on the common - and Mitcham Fair was the event of the year ! I remember the ABC Minors - I was one, but I went to the ABC Rex Cinema, in Norbury ( closed in 1962 ) as that was where Dad was normally based and I got in free ! Also remember the Granadiers - only from Norbury, they attended the Granada, Thornton Heath, not Tooting - but wasn't the Granada, Tooting famed for its live concerts and organ recitals on the BBC radio ? Correct me if I am wrong ! Where there any other cinemas in Mitcham other than the Majestic - I don't remember, but I do remember there was something of a fuss in the local press when it closed : as it happens, I think it closed at around the same time as the Rex, Norbury - both cinemas became Bingo Halls before finally succumbing to their eventual fate. Be pleased to hear from anyone who may remember my old man - LEN MARSH - from the time when he was one of the Managers at the Majestic. Can anyone tell me what the Majestic became ? I also remember the regular traffic congestion at Fair Green, even in those days - I frequently rode my bike from my home in Norbury to Mitcham to see friends or go to Scouts. If my memory serves me correctly, a Trolley Bus route went through Fair Green - 630, 654 ? From Dad's point of view, the Majestic was a problem for him because he had no car ( not many people did in those days ! ) and to get to work at the cinema, he had a long walk down our road to Wide Way to catch the 130 bus to Fair Green ( or was it the 130 might have been the 119, I cannot remember ! ) - not too bad on a nice sunny day, but not so funny in the wet, nor when he was coming home late at night and faced with a long walk, up hill, to Norbury after getting off the bus at Rowan Road ! I think I was the only kid in my class at Norbury Manor School whose dad worked unusual hours, and weekends - when I said my Dad came home at midnight some nights, my Teacher cuffed me for impertinence ! Any memories of the Majestic or my Dad, please let me have them. COLIN MARSH - 07979 718765 Posted: 29/11/2006 22:39 by Colin Marsh |
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Mitcham, c1960 (ref: M296095) |
Saturday morning pictures
My lasting memory of the majestic cinema was going to Saturday morning pictures: with my sister Linda and all our mates watching Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Superman, The 3 Stooges and all the cartoons. I still love Tom and Jerry now! The funniest part was going up in the gods and dropping our lollysticks on the kids below, and spitting on them - charming kids eh! And all for sixpence. I saw my first film there in 1953, it was called Genevieve. You were either an ABC minor, or a granadier if you were common and went to the Granada in Tooting. All those black jacks and fruit salads, could get sick for tuppence then. Does anyone remember thorpes record bar just along from the cinema? Bought all my Beatles LPs there, and still got them! Lastly I remember the pet shop along a little bit more, running my fingers through the grains, ah! Last edited: 20/09/2006 16:27 by James Dawson |
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Mitcham, Upper Green East c1955 (ref: M296043) |
Growing up
I was known as Digger Dawson back in the days. My mates and I used to have a crafty fag on beehive bridge when in our early teens. I will always remember Armfield Crescent, Fair Green, the cricket green, leo's lollies, broken biscuits, St. Marks School. The place has changed a lot since then. Last time I was there I got lost! Trams were running and my mate Dennis Brown was being a right anorak and taking down bus numbers. Memories of Bob Rogers, Mick Gray, Dave Cabot, Pat Brunton - to name a few. The best was trying to eat an orange jubbly, they were enormous! Lovely. Last edited: 20/09/2006 16:30 by James Dawson |
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Mitcham, Upper Green East c1955 (ref: M296043) |
Year: 1963
Childhood days
Mitcham a lovely little place, here you used to catch the buses to Sutton and beyond, the picture house and opposite the pictures used to be a sweet shop where I can remember Mars bars used to cost 2/6 in old money, gobstobbers that used to fill your mouth for 1d. The walk home to the flats up St Marks Road. The trolley buses that used to run to West Croydon and the antics seen when the pole came off. Lovely days. The teddyboys used to hang out round Huttons shop. Now living in Norfolk I wonder what Mitcham looks like. Last edited: 01/08/2006 10:53 by David Buettner-Banks |
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Mitcham, c1960 (ref: M296095) |
Year: 1963
My home town
Memories, Used to go to school at Western Road, the cinema on a Saturday morning, Roy Rogers and Silver. Ahh memories, now I'm 60 and living in Norfolk. I remember fondly Huttons Fish Shop, Leos Ice Cream at the cricket green, the lovely ice lollies with cream on the top then red substance and a coca cola bottom. The buses turning round at the cricket green, the Cricketers pub where me dad used to have a pint of bitter and me a packet of Smith crisps, the fire engine station behind. Lovely memories............... Last edited: 01/08/2006 11:05 by David Buettner-Banks |
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