Author Archives: Wade

Ruth Cole

In an ad from 1934, Ruth Cole, ladies’, children’s and gentlemen’s hairdresser, was at 6, Upper Green East.

In the 1952 Shopping Week booklet, the business was listed as a member of the Mitcham Chamber of Commerce, at 195 London Road, Mitcham.

Hairdressing
Cecilia, 160 London Road, Mitcham.
F. T. Hendry, 145 Streatham Road, Mitcham.
J. Jacobs, 5 Belgrave Road, Mitcham.
Ruth Cole, 195 London Road, Mitcham.

The business may have moved to the London Road due to bomb damage during the Blitz.

In the 1971 telephone directory, the shop is listed as Ruth Cole, Ladies Hairdressers, 195 London Road, Mitcham, 01-648 3828.

This photo from around 1987, shows the shop still being used as hairdressers, and called Goldilocks, next to Ossie’s Taverna.

clip of c. 1989 photo on Merton Memories, photo reference ref Mit_​8_​1-39

Google StreetView of April 2018 shows 195 London Road as a convenience store.

Walpole’s Stores

General stores that was on the north side of Western Road, as it met Upper Green West and the Nag’s Head pub.

The name Walpole’s Stores can be seen twice on the front of the building and on its right hand side wall.

Walpole’s Stores

older view of the stores when in use

In the 1896 and 1901 directories, Walpole Brothers is listed at Upper Mitcham. In the 1904 street directory, George Walpole is listed as grocer, but not in the 1911 directory.

Referred to as The Broadway Stores by Eric Montague in the book Old Mitcham.

The newspaper articles below are via the British Newspaper Archive

News Articles

Croydon Guardian and Surrey County Gazette – Saturday 09 June 1906

MITCHAM
RAILWAY FRAUD

— George Walpole, of Walpole Stores, The Broadway, Upper Mitcham was summoned by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company, at Tower Bridge Court, for railway fraud. He pleaded gullty.

— Mr. Austen, who represented the railway company, said that there was a special examination of tickets at London Bridge, and defendant tendered the fare from Queens-road Station, Peckham. After he had been questioned, he said to Mr. Sumner, the chief ticket inspector, ” I can see you are determined to find out. I joined the train at Mitcham Junction without a ticket, and on arriving here and seeing you were examining all tickets, I tendered the fare from Queens-road, thinking it would be all right.’

Defendant expressed sorrow, and was fined 20s. and 23s. costs.

From this news article, it would seem that the Western Road/Upper Green West was known as the Broadway, Upper Mitcham, whereas the Broadway, Lower Mitcham was that part of London Road south of the White Hart.

Croydon Guardian and Surrey County Gazette – Saturday 10 March 1906

NO LIGHT.

George Walpole, of the Broadway, Upper Mitcham, was summoned for driving a cart without a light at London road on Feb. 16th.

— P.S. 26 W gave evidence, and defendant, who admitted the offence, was fined 2s. and 4s. 6d. costs.

Croydon Guardian and Surrey County Gazette – Saturday 27 December 1902

WANTED (after Christmas) a strong, respectable GENERAL; age 20 to 25; clean and willing; knowledge of cooking required; good references. Apply, Mrs. Walpole, Broadway, Upper Mitcham.