Category Archives: Roads

Gardeners Arms Pub Sign

The Gardeners Arms pub, 107 London Road, Mitcham, had a heraldic style sign hanging from a post in the centre of the wall on the upper floor. In November 2017, the sign couldn’t be found by the new landlord.

There are three photographs on Merton Memories, and none show a sign attached, for example, this one from 1989:

Clip from Merton Memories photo Mit_21_11-2 copyright London Borough of Merton.

This undated black an white photo shows flower baskets hanging from the wall:

Clip from Merton Memories photo Mit_21_11-1 copyright London Borough of Merton.

The late Eric Montague, of the Merton Historical Society, took a slide of 109 & 111 London Road in 1966, and this included the pub, which has no sign.

A 1973 photo on the Collage collection also doesn’t show the sign:

1973

The only photograph found so far showing the sign is from Google Street View, from 2008:-

The sign is blurred when zooming in, but what can be seen is shield with a blue background, a white chevron with two objects above and three or more below. The shield has two supporters, one of which may be a gardener. The Surrey Coats of Arms, online at the Surrey History centre website, have been searched for Mitcham arms, and none of these have a field of blue with a white chevron.

Street View of 2012 shows no sign:

2012

Florogen Ltd.

Listed in the 1938 commercial directory as perfume manufacturers, at 132 Western Road, Mitcham. Telephone numbers 2027 and 2028.

A fire at Florogen Works, Western Road, on 30th May 1933 was mentioned in the Fire Brigade minutes on 13th June.

ad from Norwood News – Friday 17 March 1939
Image © Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. via the British Newspaper Archives

From the Norwood News – Friday 1st September 1961:

FLOROGEN LTD.,

have vacancies for female staff in their factory for the packaging of perfumes and toilet preparations.

Hours 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. or part-time, 2 p.m – 6 p.m.

Apply 132 Western-rd., Mitcham.

The company went into liquidation in 1963, as recorded in the London Gazette Publication date:22 February 1963 Supplement:42927 Page:1730:

FLOROGEN LIMITED

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the above- named Company, duly convened, and held at Century Hotel, Forty Lane, Wembley, Middlesex, on the 31st day of January 1963, the subjoined Extraordinary Resolution was duly passed:

” That it has been proved to the satisfaction of this Meeting that the Company cannot by reason of its liabilities continue its business, and that it is advis- able to wind up the same, and accordingly that the Company be wound up voluntarily, and that Harold Arnold Percy Miller, of 7 Chelverton Road, Putney, London S.W.16, be and he is hereby appointed Liquidator for die purpose of such winding-up.”

A. C. Goddard, Chairman