A terrace of houses built near the crossroads of two field paths. One path went from the parish church, north-westerly across the fields; the other ran east to west along Fox’s Path.
This OS map of 1866 shows where these two paths met, and, while Rock Terrace is not actually named, the buildings outlined in red may well be it.
Later, the terrace was extended and the road was named Belgrave Road, with the path leading to the church being called Belgrave Walk.
Earliest reference found so far in the newspaper archives is for an auction of 9 houses in Rock Terrace.
Freehold ground-rent of £21 per annum, arising from nine houses in Rock-terrace, Mitcham — £115.
Source: Morning Advertiser – Wednesday 29 August 1866 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)
This 1910 map shows the outline of houses in Belgrave Road. Given that Batsworth Road was laid on the original path from Fox’s Path, then the 9 houses referred to in the auction may well have been the whole terrace.
News Stories
- 1873 : Guy Fawkes Orgies
- 1876 : A Drunken Woman
- 1879 : Alleged Assault
- 1879 : Coffee and Club Room
- 1879 : 14 days in jail for stealing a hayfork
1922 Rock Terrace Recreation Ground
A major event was the Explosion of 1933.
King George V Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 1935
Note that Lady Worsfold, residing at Hall Place when this photo was taken, moved to the White House at the cricket green the following year when her husband, T. Cato worsfold, died.
Rock Terrace and Queen Street (sic), Mitcham, Jubilee Tea. From Mitcham News & Mercury, 31st May, 1935.
Merton Memories Photos
Off to the Races – this photo was reproduced in Eric Montague’s Mitcham Histories: 8 Phipps bridge, on page 113 with the caption that it was around 1910.
Mitcham History Notes 