Category Archives: Roads

Drewett Memorial Shelter

Leave a reply

A shelter that was originally on the west side of London Road at the Fair Green. It was erected in 1928 as a memorial to councillor J.D. Drewett. In 1952, as part of a redevelopment of the western side of Fair Green, the shelter was moved to the Western Road end. In 1990s it was removed after having been repeatedly vandalised.

Newspaper Articles
Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 27 June 1929

THE DREWETT SHELTER. Mr. A. N. Drewett and other members of the family of the late Coun. J. D. Drewett wrote thanking the Council for the manner in which his memory has been perpetuated by the erection of the memorial shelter on the Fair Green. It was resolved to add the letters “J.P.” to the inscription.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 02 October 1952

Shelter may be moved lmprovement scheme Mitcham borough engineer (Mr. Riley Schofield) submitted at last week’s meeting of the council two schemes for the reconstruction of the Western Road side of the Fair Green Gardens. A scheme designed to harmonise with the layout of the upper enclosure would. he said, involve the moving of the Drewett memorial shelter from the London Road to the Western Road end of the gardens. The estimated cost was £3,900.

The second scheme, designed to fit in with the conditions at present existing, would not involve the moving of the shelter. The estimated cost of this scheme is £3,600.

Both schemes are to be further considered. The shelter was erected in 1929 as a memorial to the public service of the late Mr. J. D. Drewett, councillor and county councillor, a native of the borough and one of its local historians. It is used mainly by the old men of the town who gather to gossip there. It is a double-sided tiled-roof building. A dozen of them made it clear to an “ Advertiser ” reporter that they preferred the shelter where it is now. “We can see all what goes on round about from here,” was the substance of their remarks. “Down yonder (Western Road) there’s nothing to see at all.”

Wilson Hospital was built by Stanley Dale

Leave a reply

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 27 October 1927

WILSON COTTAGE HOSPITAL.

To Be Built by Mr. Stanley Dale.

Cranmers To Be Demolished.

The Trustees of the Wilson Cottage Hospital met on Tuesday to receive tenders for the building of the hospital block and caretaker’s lodge.

Tenders were received from thirteen firms of contractors and the tender of Mr. S. Dale, Upper Mitcham, was accepted. Instructions have been given for the work to be commenced at once.

The contract includes the demolition of the old Manor House—in which Archbishop Cranmer did not live—and all other work in connection with the erection of the hospital except the laying out of the gardens, which will be placed in the hands of experts.

Mr. Dale’s tender (the lowest) was £21,684. The highest tender was £27,930, by Messrs. Bowyers, Ltd. (Norwood). The other local tenders were: Mr. Herbert Hann (Colliers Wood), £22,343; Mr. E. J. Saunders (Croydon), £22,399; J. Smith and Son (Croydon), £22,499; C. Sayers and Son (Mitcham), £23,600.

The architects’ estimate (Messrs. Chart, Son and Reading) was £22,500.

OPEN NEXT NOVEMBER.

The contractor has lost no time in making a start and the “Advertiser” is officially informed that it is hoped to have the hospital ready for patients early in November next year.

HISTORIC BELL SAVED.

A bell, bearing the initials W.E. and the date 1662, belonging to Cranmers House, has been retrieved from the ruins by Mr. Isaac Wilson, the donor of the hospital, and at his request will be placed in a specially built turret on the apex of the centre block of the hospital.

At the meeting of the Urban Council on Tuesday an architect’s drawing of the front of the completed hospital was on view. It showed a handsome central two-storey block containing reception hall, staff’s apartments and administrative offices, with one-storey wings (ward and operating theatre) on each side and a broad curving carriageway through pleasing and wooded grounds. It is Mr. Wilson’s wish that as many of the fine trees in the grounds as can be saved may be saved and his wish will be respected.