Road at south eastern end of Graham Avenue and Graham Road, connecting to Sandy Lane. Possibly built around 1905 and 1907, as not listed in the 1904 directory. There is a news article in 1907.

This 1952 OS map shows houses numbered from Sandy Lane as even on the north west side from 10 to 54 and odd on the south east from 1 to 95. Numbers 2, 4, 6 and 8 were demolished due to bomb damage in WW2. They were rebuilt after the war.

Number 2 was a grocer shop run by John J. HAYSON as listed in the 1930 and 1938 commercial directories. He moved his business to 21 Eastfields Road after the shop was destroyed by bombing in the war.

News Articles and Ads

Earliest Article

This was the earliest article found on the British Newspaper Archive, and tells of 3 boys charged with stealing from a gas meter. From the Croydon Guardian and Surrey County Gazette – Saturday 29th June 1907.

THREE MITCHAM BOYS CHARGED.

Alfred Baggs (15), 71, Fernlea road, Mitcham. Charles Gregory (14), of 41a, Glassford street. Tooting, and Frederick James Noris (14), of 15, Fernlea-road, Mitcham, all errand boys, were charged with being concerned together in stealing from 11, Fernlea road, Mitcham, a brass padlock, value 2s, the property of the Mitcham and Wimbledon Gas Company, Ltd. They were further charged with wilfully damaging an automatic gas meter to the extent of 7s. 6d.

— Detective Squire said that in consequence of information received, he went to 11, Fernlea road, an unoccupied house, with a gas inspector. He there saw that the lock had been wrenched off, and the meter damaged. He then went in search of Gregory, and found him on Figgs-marsh. When told the charge, he said “That’s right, sir but Baggs broke the lock off.” Witness then went to Bagg’s house and told him the charge. He said “No, not me.” When confronted with Gregory he remarked “Yes. We were all there in it.” Witness then went with the two boys to the house of Noris, who denied that he was there, but when he saw the other boys he said “That’s right.”

— Harry Wild, an inspector, in the employ the Mitcham and Wimbledon Gas Company, gave evidence relating the damage done.

— A fine of 2s. and 4s. 6d. costs, with 2s. 6d. damage, was imposed in each case.

From John Bull – Saturday 26th December 1942 :

“WHAT A SCRAP !”

Here’s another revealing glimpse of the army with which The Great Miscalculator tried to frighten the world. It comes from Corporal L. Truckell, The Rifle Brigade, in a letter to a relative at Fernlea Road, Mitcham, Surrey:

It was misty and down in the dip we suddenly saw a whole column of transport, troops and guns. In the early dawn we were not sure at first if it was the enemy, but we soon found out that they were “Ities,” and we let them have it. What a scrap! I got so excited I picked up a Bren gun and, firing from the hip, let fly right into the back of the trucks loaded with troops. We were so warmed up watching the tracer bullets going into the trucks that we didn’t bother about what was coming back at us. The “Ities ” scattered as fast as their trucks would take them, although, if they had but known it, we were only a platoon, and had they made a fight of it we should have been hopelessly out-numbered. When we went in to mop up we got several field-guns and over a hundred prisoners. We buried their dead and tidied up. Our losses were nil. We had a bit more excitement when a Stuka dropped a 1,000 lb. bomb, too near to us for it to be comfortable, but our luck was in and it failed to go off. Don’t worry and keep smiling – I’m fine.

World War 1 Connections

Private Harold Edgar Carter

Private George Francis Drewett

Lance Corporal Percy Herbert Sellers

Able Seaman Clarence John Wharton

From the Surrey Recruitment Registers:

H E BATEMAN of 83 Fernlea Road, aged 18 Years 1 Months, Coalboy. Conscripted on 11 January 1917 to the 22nd Training Reserve Batn.

Harold G CARTER of 3 Fernlea Road. Conscripted on 25 February 1918 to the Royal Fusiliers (53rd Ysb).

A S EDWARDS of 79 Fernlea Road, aged 18 Years, Baker. Conscripted on 8 November 1916 to the Norfolk Regiment (2/6th Batn).

A W ELLIS of Llanberris Fernlea Road, aged 26 Years 11 Months, Printer. Conscripted on 12 December 1916 to the Royal Sussex Regiment (1/6th Batn).

C E HOAD of Snowdon Cott Fernlea Road, aged 17 Years 11 Months, Labourer. Conscripted on 2 April 1917 to the 30th Training Reserve Batn.

W H KIRKHAM of 35 Fernlea Road, aged 21 Years 9 Months, Barman. Volunteered on 8 June 1915 to the East Surrey Regiment.

J MORLEY of 57 Fernlea Road, aged 21 Years 2 Months, Labourer. Volunteered on 6 December 1915 to the East Surrey Regiment (3rd Batn).

H C PETLEY of 83 Fernlea Road, aged 39 Years, Etcher. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 11 December 1915 to the Middlesex Regiment (25th Batn).

A TOURLE of 27 Fernlea Road, aged 25 Years 8 Months, Confectioner. Conscripted on 14 January 1916 to the 5th Labour Corps (301st Labour Co).

A E TRUCKELL of 47 Fernlea Rd, aged 30 Years, Grinder. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 12 December 1915 to the Royal Garrison Artillery.

H TURNER of 67 Fernlea Road, aged 17 Years 11 Months, Engineer. Conscripted on 28 October 1916 to the 21st Training Reserve Batn.

G WEBB of 17 Fernlea Road, aged 20 Years 2 Months, Machinist. Volunteered on 9 November 1915 to the East Surrey Regiment (11th Batn).

C F WELLER of 39 Fernlea Road, aged 18 Years, Sawyer. Conscripted on 21 June 1916 to the Royal Sussex Regiment (3rd Batn).

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From the Military Service Tribunals:

Mitcham & Tooting Mercury, 30th November, 1917
Mitcham Tribunal

Mr A.W.C. Carter aged 41, married, Fernlea-road, Mitcham, a master builder, appealed on financial and business grounds. His staff consists of his young son, two discharged men and one man over 50 years of age. He was classified C1 and was a special constable. He has had total exemption so long as he resumed his present employment. He had seven children and a delicate wife. A certificate from the inspector of the Mitcham specials, stating that the applicant was very efficient in the discharge of his duties. Applicant said he did a great deal of sanitary work.

The Chairman : I suppose the position is as before? – Yes, sir.

Ald. Chart : About how many houses have you to attend to? – About a thousand, sir.

Three months’ exemption.

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Maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.