Author Archives: Wade

Park Avenue

Road off east side of Streatham Road, presumably built at the same time as Caithness Road.

1911 OS map

1911 OS map

In the 1925 street directory, houses on the south west side were numbered odd from 1 to 111 and on the north east side, even from 2 to 112. Some of the residents listed included:

2, Leonard G. DAVEY (solicitor)
2A, Euan THOMAS (wholesale grocer)
yard next to 2A, Frank RUSSELL (plumber)
3, Albert E. NASH (piano tuner)
16, Edwin Sidney DALE
84, Miss Edith FOLKERD (teacher of music)

See Merton Memories photo from 1924.

In 1954, one of the 3-bedroom houses was for sale at £2,400 (£65,000 in 2018 values, adjusted for inflation).

1954 ad from the Norwood News, via the British Newspaper Archive


World War 1 Connections
Captain John Henry William FORSTER

Rifleman Hubert William JOSLIN

Corporal Reginald Henry OSBORNE

WW2 Civilian Casualties

17th April 1941

Wardens’ Post

Robert John HUGHES, aged 35, Air Raid Warden, lived at 58 Beecholme Avenue


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

Willow Lodge

1894 OS map

Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser – Saturday 18 July 1908

SALE MONDAY NEXT.

By order of the Lord of the Manor. Beddington Corner, Surrey. Robt. W. FULLER. MOON & FULLER Have received instructions to Sell by Auction at the Mart, Tokenhouse Yard, E.C., on Monday, July 20th, at Two o’clock, in one or more lots.

ABOUT 50 ACRES OF VALUABLE FREEHOLD LAND (including Willow Farm House, Willow Lodge, a double Cottage. Farm Building, and several glasshouses), having frontages of upwards of 1,500 ft. to Goat Road and Willow Lane and about 1,820ft. to Tramway Path.

The above occupies an important position close to Mitcham Junction Station and about five minutes’ walk from the Croydon and Tooting Electric Trams, and is at present let at rental, amounting to £263 per annum ; but possession can be had on short notice. Valuable water rights appertain to the property, and a portion is believed to contain a valuable bed of gravel. The land is adapted for development for building purposes, a portion being suitable for the erection of manufacturers premises, another portion for small villas and artisans’ dwellings, and other portions for watercress bed., market garden purposes, nursery grounds, floriculture, horticulture, and the erection of glass houses.

Printed Particulars, with plan, and Conditions of Sale may be obtained at the place of Sale ; of the Vendors’ Solicitors, Messrs. Witham, Kell, Munster & Weld, 1, Gray’s Inn Square, W.C.; of Messrs. Chart, Sons & Reading, Architects and Surveyors, Union Bank Chambers, Croydon, and Vestry Hall, Mitcham ; and at the Auctioneers’ Offices, 83, High Street, Croydon, and Purley. Croydon, Reigate, and Epsom.

World War 1 Connections
Air Mechanic 2nd Class Albert Gordon Hobart

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