Former Youngs pub, now known as Gorringe Park, the current address is 29 London Rd, London SW17 9JR, just south of Tooting railway station and on the corner of Grenfell Road.

According to WhatPub.com the freehold is owned by Charles Wells, and is managed by the Yummy Collection. Although referred to as being in Tooting due to its SW17 postcode, the pub is in Mitcham, and pays business rates to Merton Council.

Number 29 was originally no. 4 Gorringe Park Terrace. There are three shops, with flats above, to the left of the pub that were numbered 1, 2 and 3.

Helen Osborn wrote in her book “Inn and Around London – A History of Young’s Pubs”, page 117, that the pub was probably built in the 1870s. The earliest mention found so far in the British Newspaper Archives is the Annual Licensing Meeting of 4th March 1876.

Among the memories shared on the Facebook group Mitcham History were of the large collection of Toby jugs on display; the Private or ‘Snug’ bar; and of the 10.30pm dash over the road into Tooting for the 11pm closing at the Railway Bell pub.

From the publicans register in the Youngs Archives, reference YO/FIN/LED/PUB/6 March 1958, the licensees were P.J.C. Thomson and H.C. Singleton.

Street Directories and Licensed Victuallers Records

In the 1891 street directory, the road was called Mitcham Road. The occupants were:

1, C.A. Smith, cycle maker
2, Francis Edward Gale, grocer
4, Gorringe park hotel, Robert Turner

The 1892 Licensed Victuallers record shows W.J. Harris, Gorringe Park, Lower Tooting, as the owner. The pub was fully licensed.

The 1898 street directory now shows the road as London Road:

1, Arthur Davis, cycle maker
2, Felix Ledger
3, William White, coffee rooms
4, Gorringe Park Hotel, Charles Arthur Codlin

The 1902 Licensed Victuallers record shows Young & Co., Wandsworth, as the owner. The licensee was Elizabeth Codlin, who lived on the premises. It wasn’t licensed before 1869. The Poor Rate Assessment was £140, and the pub was tied to Youngs. Sleeping and stabling wasn’t available, although there was a urinal. Ordinary class trade. Its nearest licensed house was the Railway Bell beerhouse, County of London, 100 yards away (over the railway bridge).

The 1904-05 street directory:

1, Arthur Davis, cycle maker
2, William Cheeseman, house agent
3, G.N. Curtis, plumber
3, James Blackbourn, hair dresser
4, Gorringe Park Hotel, Mrs Elizabeth Codlin

The 1912 street directory:

1, Arthur Davis, cycle maker
2, Alfred Edwards, confectioner
2, Herbert J. Godfrey, auctioneer
3, Todman & Co., plumber
4, Gorringe Park Hotel, Arthur Crisp

The 1913-1914 street directory:

1, Arthur Davis, cycle maker
2, Alfred Edwards, confectioner
2, Herbert J. Godfrey, auctioneer &c
3, Harry Sparks, house decorator
4, Gorringe Park Hotel, Buckland & Co

The 1915-1916 street directory:

1, Arthur Davis, cycle maker
2, Mrs V. Rowland, newsagent
3, Harry Sparks, house decorator
4, Gorringe Park Hotel, Buckland & Co

The 1925 street directory:

1, Arthur Davis & Co., cycle maker
2, Richard H. Pinnock, tobacconist
3, Frank Edwards, fruiterer
4, Gorringe Park Hotel, William A. Buckland

After 1925 and before 1930, the properties in London Road were renumbered:

Gorringe Park Terrace No.>	London Road No.
1	23
2	25
3	27
4	29

In the 1930 commercial directory:

23, Arthur Davis & Co., motor cycle repairers
25, Rd. H. Pinnock, tobacconist
27, Frank Edwards, greengrocer
29, John Thomson, Gorringe Park Hotel

In the 1938 commercial directory:

23, Arthur Davis & Co. (Allen Bros. proprietors), motor cycle repairers
25, Rd. H. Pinnock, tobacconist
27, Frank Edwards, greengrocer
29, Thomson & Clay, Gorringe Park Hotel

From the Youngs Archives

Photos

There are two photos in the Youngs Archives collection at the Wandsworth Heritage Services, Lavender Hill.

A black and white photo, used by Helen Osborne in her book, who said it was between the wars. It is filed under the reference YO/PH/PUB/073/001 and also in YO/PH/ALB/5-10.

The second photo, in colour, is possibly mid 1980s, as there is a Volvo 240 car parked outside in Grenfell Road, with the registration A899 THV, which was registered on 27th October 1983. Just out of shot on the left can be seen part of a Youngs horse drawn dray, which had been making a delivery from the brewery.

Press Releases

12th December 1988

Actress Nerys Hughes joined in the fun at the Gorringe Park.

A real Scottish piper, named Mario, helped create a party atmosphere and licensee Alec Hodgson donned a tartan cap and waistcoat for the occasion. Alec and eight of his regulars had earlier volunteered to have their heads shaved as part of the fundraising for Great Ormond Street Childrens’ Hospital Wishing Well Appeal. A 24-hour darts marathon helped swell the funds. Constable Tom Cooke from Tooting police station personally added another £100.

Alec’s wife Maureen said “We’re really pleased with the result. We regularly have events to raise money for charity, usually for St George’s Hospital. Our next project will be for Deen City Farm, which does a lot of work for mentally handicapped children.”

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