From the minutes of the
Fire Brigade, Lighting, Allotments and Recreation Committee
Tuesday, June 11th, 1920
pages 86 to 89

4. Chief Officer’s Report – The following report was submitted:-

                Central Fire Station
                     London Road
                     Mitcham
                     June 11th, 1920

Gentlemen –

I beg to present the following report for your consideration :-

FIRE ALARMS. – I would respectfully suggest that, before proceeding any further in the installation of additional fire alarms, the Chairman and several Members of the Committee avail themselves of the opportunity to inspect the system in operation in several adjoining districts, viz., Wimbledon, Merton, Epsom, Croydon, or Bromley. This system is the “Gamewell” system closed circuit.

All these districts give favourable reports of the efficiency of the systemn, and I have also had experience of the same installation at Bromley.

I have carefully studied the district as regards fire risks, and the most advantageous positions for fire alarms, and recommend that fire alarm boxes be placed at the following positions:-

To Ring into No. 1 Station

Church Road ………… At Lewis Road
Church Road ………… At Benedict Road*
Morden Road ………… At Hancock & Corfields*
London Road ………… At Streatham Road*
London Road ………… At St. Mark’s Road
London Road ………… At Tooting Junction
Streatham Road ……… Outside Pascall’s Factory*
Park Avenue
Western Road ………… Opposite Holborn Union
Links Road …………… At Corner of Frinton Road
Ashbourne Road …… At Corner of Heaton Road
Commonside East …… At Manor Road*
Lonesome ……………… At Greyhound Lane*

To Ring into No. 2 Station

High Street …………….. At Robinson Road
Devonshire Road ……… At junction of Robinson Road
Cavendish Road ………. At junction of Norfolk Road
Denison Road …………. Opposite Miller Road
Church Road ………….. At junction of Western Road

The advantages of this system are numerous. The cost is spread over a period of ten years, when the whole plant becomes the property of the Council.

The points marked with an asterisk are in the vicinity of factories, and auxiliary lines direct to the point from these factories could be suggested, the factories paying an annual rental, which would greatly reduce the cost of that particular point.

Accumulators for the lighting of motor tender and pump could be recharged by our own generator.

Electrical false alarms are impossible.

The whole system being in series, greatly reduces the mileage of external wiring,I have obtained an estimate for the installation of station plants and boxes for eighteen points, also for twelve points, which I attach for your consideration.

Minutes of meetings held by the Mitcham Urban District Council are available on request from the Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre at Morden Library.