Sutton memories
Here are memories of Sutton and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Sutton or a Sutton photo.
Changes
I would like to thank those who have responded to this and I have equally replied. Sutton has fond memories. The girl I married is still my partner and we often speak fondly of Sutton and what it used to be like. We are very interested in hearing the stories of what it is like now. Is the tree still outside what used to be called 'Trueforms shoe shop'? Do they still have the little market in West Street? Can you drive up the High Street any more? If not, where do you go? Is the old cinema still there towards Carshalton? So much we would like to know.
St Barnabas Youth Club
I went to Sutton East Secondary Modern School, Throwley Road, and spent some happy years there and made many friends. I am trying to locate any of them, and anyone who went to the youth club. I have so many fond memories of school days and Sutton, we had moved around a lot, and I would love anyone to contact me. I remember visits to the two cinemas, shopping in Ghinns, and working at Dolton, Bourne & Dolton, the builders merchants, working with Norah, so many happy memories. Please contact me if you are one of my school friends or went to the youth club.
Elm Grove
So many good memories of Elm Grove. My paternal grandmother was Lillian Chard and lived at number 39 Elm Grove. As a family we also lived in Elm Grove when my parents were first married. Although I was born in St. Heliers, my sister, Rosalind was born at home. I remember Mr. and Mrs. Whiffen but also in Elm Grove was Charlie and Rennie Clark, Mrs. Egg (Egleton?) next door to my grandmother. I remember playing on the waste ground opposite - the "rec". I certainly remember the large number of nettles and being stung - often, my sister especially. Also playing with a black labrador called Tina.
A two up two down terraced house with the scullery attached to the rear. Outside toilet - no bathroom. Memories of my grandmother using the slipper baths at the Sutton public swimming baths in Throwley Way (?). There are pictures of me as a baby at the house we had in Elm... Read more
Elm Grove
My grandparents lived at 42 Elm Grove from the 1920s until the late 1970s, Mr & Mrs Whiffen. My father was brought up there, only leaving when the Second World War broke out. My paternal great grandmother also lived close by, Mrs Beauchamp. I lived in Catford but often visited and stayed on my own with my grandparents. I remember the corner sweetshop/general store run by Mrs Trevener. The fish shop was always a great excitement: peering in at the side door where they gutted and prepared the fish. Round the corner on the main road was a greengrocer where I was allowed to go on my own (aged 5 or so) and buy a single banana for my tea. I remember the bomb site opposite the front of Elm Grove where a gang of us would play! And I still have the scars from falling over on the tar and gravel surface of the street.
Childhood in Sutton
My memories of Manor Park were that on a Saturday morning we used to go to the Granada cinema for Saturday morning pictures. The cinema was right next to the park and we used to go in the park on our way home. I lived in Carshalton Road. My grandfather's name is on the war memorial in the park and also my uncle's name is on there, they both died in the First World War. I have wonderful memories of the years that I lived in Sutton. I went to school at Newtown School and then we moved to a different part of Sutton and I went to school at Sutton West Girls school. I sometimes go to Sutton to shop and OH how much it has changed, and not always for the better, but there are still some old places that were there when I was a girl. My grandfather used to run a public house in Sutton, it was called The Cross Keys, the building is still there... Read more
This is The Church I Was Christened in
This is the church that I was christened in and my older sister was married in, it was just down the road from where I lived in Carshalton Road. I also went to Sunday School there. It was a beautiful old church. Sadly I have not been there for a long time, but now I have seen the photo I will make an effort to visit.
Elm Grove
As a footnote to my previous memory of Elm Grove, could I have your wife's maiden name as I know many of the girls that would have gone to Sutton West Girls' School including my own sister Linda, do you think you might know her? I might even know your wife.
Manor Park
I was born in Cedar Road maternity annexe in Sutton in 1956 and lived in Eaton Road for my first 10 years of life. One of my biggest joys was visiting the library that was situated in Manor Park in a house that I think may still be there, it was only small but was a wonderful old place. The War Memorial in Manor Park has my grandmother's brother named on it, not sure of his Christian name but his surname is Hill. My grandmother was Florence Hills who married Angus Weller, they had 7 children, my mother was Joan. My father used to take me to Sutton swimming baths on a Sunday morning and we would walk home through the park to have a hot cooked breakfast on route, Dad buying his Sunday paper and buying me National Geographic magazine because I loved all the colour pictures of the animals. We used to have the Corona man that came to the door once a week, where you could purchase... Read more
The Ridgway, Sutton.
I have lived in The Ridgway for the last 42 years and many of these "Windebank" houses will shortly be celebrating their 100th Birthday. Has anybody any old photographs or matters relating this area from c1908 onwards?
My Home Town
My wife moved to Sutton 1950 aged 4, now aged 60 and living in Norfolk we are rekindling memories of such a warm and inviting town. Memories come flooding back. The railway station, the cinema, the old tree outside Trueforms where my wife worked for 10 years. We are seeking information and photos of what used to be Elm Grove and Lawsons Fish shop (now Barclays Bank we believe). Memories of Sutton from the Green in 1968 to the station. Also any photos of Clyde Road Secondary School for girls.
Cheam Ladies Swimming Club
The Cheam Ladies Swimming Club used to train here in the winter months when the Cheam baths were closed. Pop Worsell was our coach and trained us. Fanella Webb and Pam Turner represented GB and I won county championships.
Family Ties to Sutton
I was born and brought up in Sutton until we moved when I was 8. I remember going to swimming club on Friday evening in the old swimming pool and visiting the library when it was in an old house through the park. I am particularly interested in any memories people may have of the old brass plaque in the entrance to the swimming pool stating that the pool was built by Humphries the builder, as he was my great great grandfather. He also started and ran the Sutton Mutual which enabled people to have loans and mortgages at preferential rates. The offices of this organisation were opposite Sutton railway staton in the 60s. They were eventually taken over by a larger corporation. If anybody has any memories of either of these it would be wonderful if they could share them with me.
Lindsay Norris
Sutton
I am a Sutton girl, and have lived here all my life. I can remember the army barracks on the A217 but my husband says I am dreaming, can anyone out there confirm I am right?
Childhood Memories
I lived in Sutton when I was a very young child and my mum had a very special friend that we visited most days. We knew here as Grannie Cairnes. I remember going there and I remember going to the market where they had a great big talking parrot that we used to feed, I remember really looking forward to that. Then, as a teen, I remember going to Sutton shopping on Saturdays with my mates. I went for a quick look around last year and it has changed quite a lot, but the memorable places were still in my mind.
Memories of Surrey
Queen Vic North Cheam
Surfing the net I came across this photo of the Queen Vic and the memories came flooding back. I lived in Morden and every Sunday evening I along with friends went to the Jazz club there. Mostly the music was provided by Mike Daniels but also Chris Barber played there. The club room was crowded with both us young revivalists jiving around and sitting in the front were some old timers who had seen trad jazz first time around. I remember the club was run by a couple who had, I think, a pub/hotel at Berrylands (Berrylands Hotel ) and I remember our crowd going over for a drink on more than one occasion. I met my wife at the Cheam Village Hall dance and took her on many occasions to the Jazz Club. I am 70 now and I doubt if the Jazz Club is still running at the Queen Vic which I believe was demolished and replaced by a not as good looking establishment. I would love... Read more
Worcester Park
I grew up in Worcester Park but during rationing mum was registered at Sainsburys at North Cheam so we often used to walk there. I rode my tricycle in and out of the elm trees along the way. I only remember being in the Queen Vic once. It was New Years Eve 1971 and the place was so crowded you could barely move so we left and went to the pub at the top of Lindsay Road in Worcester Park. I went to school at Nonsuch County and rode my bike up that long hill or if I rode the bus waited at the stop in front of the old house in Cheam village. I have lived in the US for over thirty years but still have very fond memories of "home".
Ridge Road School
Although I lived in Worcester Park, we were bussed to Ridge Road school in a private coach laid on by the council. This was 1943-1945, and it saved us using two buses for the journey (213 and 93). Miss King was one teacher, and although seeming strict we probably learnt more under her rule (occasinally on edge as I recall). I gave up using the coach in 1945, or it had stopped running. I was all of nine years by then, and had found new friends at the end of Trafalgar Avenue in Charminster Road. I remember Barbara's parents house had an unusual black wooden barn on stilts in the back garden, and wonder if it is still there behind No. 10 Jumping off the top of the front gate post was not for the faint hearted. My way home was, a walk along a track between the sewage works and Merton Cemetery, then left on the undeveloped grass Green Lane, leading to the... Read more
1946 to 1952 on London Road
I lived on London Road near Lloyd Road from about 1946 to 1948 and then on Hemingford Road until 1952. Walked along London Road to Ridge Road School (Mrs. Clarke was my favorite teacher) and went to the Granada on Saturday mornings for sixpence or less. Tracy's Newspapers was a great place to buy sweets and there was a fish and chip shop on the other side of Lloyd Road. There was a stream at the bottom of Lloyd Road where I played being a pirate. Mother and Dad enjoyed the Queen Vic on weekends! It looks like the lumber yard next to Tracy's where my Dad and I shopped for supplies is now a McDonald's. Glad Dad doesn't know that! Later on I went to Cheam Secondary before moving to the US. Special friends were Barbara who went to St Cecelia's RC School and Cliff Feather from Cheam. I really enjoyed walking down Wordsworth Drive and around to Nonsuch Park for picnics and finding conkers. Somewhere off Malden Road... Read more
Nothe Cheam in The Thirties
My parents moved to North Cheam from Balham in, I think. 1936. My father lived there until his death in 1970. After I left school in 1949, I used to travel up to London, via Morden underground station which was a twopenny-halfpenny bus ride on a 156 or 93 bus from the top of Staines Avenue. I have no fond memories of that journey - particularly the part from Morden station to Waterloo. Coming home was even worse. My father used to call in at the Victoria ('the Vic') for a pint on Sundays although his preferred pub during the war years was the Lord Nelson, a little futher down the London Road towards Morden. As a youngster, I attended the Saturday morning pictures at the Granada and this was also a favourite family venue on Thursday evenings when my mother and I would meet my father on his way from work, outside the cinema. It didn't seem to matter what time the programme started. We just went in in the middle... Read more
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