Beatrice Ellen Bird’s off-licence was at 221 Streatham Road, on the corner with Caithness Road. This block of shops and flats above was built in 1911 and was called Grand Parade.
1930 clip from Merton Memories photo 51584 Copyright London Borough of Merton
1933 ad
Listed in the 1954 telephone directory as
Bird B.E. Ltd, Off Licence, 221 Streatham Road, MIT 2466 and 339 Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon ADD 1353
He had a grocery and provisions shop at 34 Church Road, at the corner of Church Place, opposite the Bull pub.
1959 clip from Merton Memories photo 50966 Copyright London Borough of Merton
Listed in the 1930 and 1938 directories as
Stenning Montague J. grocer, 34 Church rd
An indication of when he started trading from number 34 can be found in the advertisements of the Mitcham Parish Church Magazine. His first ad appears in the July 1924 issue, and in the January 1924 issue the shop has the name W. B. Trowbridge.
July 1924 ad in Parish Church Magazine
January 1924 ad in Parish Church Magazine
In this 1974 photo, number 34 is derelict, but part of ‘MJ Stenning’ can be seen on the railings near the ground.
1974 Image courtesy of Collage – The London Picture Library – http://collage.cityoflondon.gov.uk
Mitcham History Notes 