Tag Archives: 1896

The Victory

A Historical Timeline of The Victory Public House, Colliers Wood

Introduction: A Local Landmark Through Time

Situated at 198 High Street, the public house in Colliers Wood has stood as a significant local landmark for over a century and a half. This document traces the history and evolution of this enduring establishment, chronicling its journey from its mid-19th-century origins as ‘The Victory’ to its contemporary identity as ‘The Charles Holden’. The pub’s successive name changes serve as a mirror, reflecting the changing character of Colliers Wood itself. Its story is a microcosm of the area’s broader transformation, from a semi-rural hamlet known as ‘Singlegate’ to the bustling London suburb it is today.

1. Mid-19th Century Origins: The Birth of ‘The Victory’

In the mid-19th century, the location of a public house was a matter of strategic importance, determining its clientele and its role within the community. At this time, Colliers Wood was little more than a small village known as ‘Singlegate’, a cluster of dwellings huddled along the busy Merton turnpike road. It was in this context that ‘The Victory’ was established. Its position was deliberately chosen, located near the ‘Singlegate’ tollgate which, until its removal in 1870, controlled passage along the High Street for the ‘Epsom, Ewell, Tooting, Kingston upon Thames and Thames Ditton Turnpike Trust’.

The new pub would have served a dual purpose. It catered to the needs of the local population of the small hamlet, providing a vital social space. Simultaneously, it offered refreshment and rest to the steady stream of commercial traders and travelers navigating the turnpike road. This early identity, rooted in the rhythms of a semi-rural village and the flow of horse-drawn traffic, provided the foundation for an establishment that would witness and adapt to the profound changes on the horizon.

2. The Victorian & Edwardian Era: Becoming a Community Hub

The character and purpose of ‘The Victory’ were fundamentally reshaped by the rapid suburbanization of Colliers Wood in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The primary catalyst for this growth was the arrival of the Wimbledon to Tooting railway loop in 1868, which connected the formerly quiet village to the expanding metropolis and drew in a new residential population. As the area grew, the pub evolved from a simple wayside inn into a crucial social anchor for the burgeoning community.

Compelling evidence of its central position in local life can be found in the memories of the period. An adjoining piece of land became affectionately known as the “Victory Field”, serving as a cherished play area for the neighbourhood’s children during the Edwardian era. This simple fact illustrates the pub’s deep integration into the fabric of the community. ‘The Victory’ operated amidst a vibrant local culture, witnessing the spectacle of visiting circuses like “Sanger’s” and “Colonel ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody’s”, and the boisterous annual cavalcade of Londoners passing through on Derby Day. Social historians would note the particular colour of this event, where some Londoners, in high spirits, would adorn a horse’s forelegs with “a pair of ladies’ ‘bloomers’”. The pub was no longer just a stop on a major road, but the heart of a lively and growing London suburb.

3. The 20th Century: Witness to Modernization and Change

The 20th century heralded an era of intense modernization that irrevocably altered the landscape of Colliers Wood, and with it, the environment of ‘The Victory’. The 1920s were particularly transformative, with the construction of the landmark Underground station—on the former site of the old tollgate—and the adjacent bus garage. These developments solidified the area’s status as a key transport hub and brought a new wave of residents and commuters.

Throughout these decades, ‘The Victory’ would have adapted to serve a changing demographic. While specific records are scarce, its continued presence suggests it remained a community landmark through the profound upheavals of two World Wars and post-war reconstruction. During the Blitz, it would undoubtedly have served as a vital hub for a community under duress—a place of refuge from the nightly raids, a centre for sharing news, and a symbol of resilience. The pub also witnessed key shifts in local identity, including the gradual eclipse of the old name “Single Gate.” This shift in nomenclature, as historical records suggest, likely reflected a growing social distinction between the established hamlet and the new suburban estates being built around Christ Church. Standing as a constant in a world of relentless change, ‘The Victory’ was set for its own radical transformations in the century to come.

4. The 21st Century: An Era of Rebranding and Reinvention

The new millennium brought a trend of pub rebranding across London, as operators sought to attract new clientele and create modern identities for historic establishments. ‘The Victory’ was a prime example of this phenomenon, undergoing a series of dramatic reinventions that reflected both commercial strategy and a nod to local heritage.

4.1. The ‘Colliers Tup’ (2005 – 2013)

In 2005, the historic name ‘The Victory’ was retired, and the pub was rebranded as the ‘Colliers Tup’. The timing of this change was particularly noted by local historians, as it occurred in the bicentenary year of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. This loss of a historic name connected to a key moment in British history was regarded by many as a “sad change” and a break with the area’s long-standing heritage.

4.2. ‘The Charles Holden’ (2013 – Present)

In April 2013, the pub underwent another, more historically resonant, transformation. It was renamed ‘The Charles Holden’, a direct tribute to the celebrated architect who designed the iconic, Grade II listed Colliers Wood tube station located directly opposite. This rebranding sought to ground the pub’s identity in the unique architectural heritage of its immediate surroundings. The interior and exterior were updated to reflect a modern, welcoming establishment.

Key Features of The Charles Holden:

Ambiance: A light and airy interior.
Layout: A flexible space offering a dining area, bar stool seating, and comfortable sofas.
Decor: The pub features freezes depicting Charles Holden and displays paintings by local artists.
Amenities: A large garden at the rear includes a bottled beer bar and a heated marquee.
Exterior: The original tiling at the front of the building has been carefully restored, preserving a tangible link to its past.

The pub’s modern operational structure reflects its place within a larger corporate portfolio, even as its name celebrates a local icon.

Detail	Information
Operator (from 2017)	Laine Pub Company
Previous Operator	New Pub Co (ex Massive)
Freehold Owner	Heineken UK

This new identity represents a fusion of contemporary pub culture with a deep appreciation for the architectural history that defines Colliers Wood’s 20th-century character.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Adaptation

The journey of the public house at 198 High Street is a compelling narrative of adaptation. From its 19th-century origins as ‘The Victory’, a wayside inn serving travelers at the Singlegate tollgate, it evolved into a beloved community hub and, ultimately, into the modern, architect-themed establishment, ‘The Charles Holden’.

The pub’s history and its multiple identities offer a unique lens through which to view the social, cultural, and economic evolution of Colliers Wood. Each name change, from the patriotic ‘Victory’ to the modern ‘Colliers Tup’ and the heritage-conscious ‘Charles Holden’, marks a distinct chapter in the area’s story. It stands today as a resilient and adaptive local landmark, a testament to the idea that to endure, an institution must be willing to reinvent itself while remaining a constant and welcoming fixture on the High Street.

Maps

Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY.

1894 OS map

1950 OS map

Newspaper articles

The Sportsman – Saturday 31 October 1868

THE VICTORY INN, MERTON, SURREY.

The fine weather of Tuesday last caused a large number of the lovers of the trigger to assemble here to witness a match between two cracks, who had signed articles to shoot for a “tenner” a-side, at fifteen birds each, from H and T traps, 21 yards rise, the use of one barrel only and 1¼ oz shot, and the usual boundary. The sport took place in a meadow adjoining the hostelry, and a more level ground or one better adapted for the purpose could hardly have been selected.

A referee having been chosen in the person of a well-known member of the fourth estate, Mr Bowler won the toss, and elected to commence, slight odds being laid on Mr Short, and accepted by the partisans of his opponent. The first bird escaped, but Mr Short grassed his, and at the end of five was two to the good. He killed two out of his next five, and became three ahead, and eventually won at the eleventh round by scoring six to his opponent’s two.

Another match then took place between Mr Croucher and Mr Robinson, for 2l. a-side, same rise, &c., eleven birds each. Mr Croucher met with liberal support from a host of friends, and justified the confidence reposed in him by “walking away” from his opponent, and scoring seven birds out of ten, Mr Robinson only booking three out of nine.

Mr James then tackled Mr Robinson for a fiver, at fifteen birds each, same rise, fall, &c. Mr Robinson again came off second best, Mr James killing eleven out of fourteen to his opponent’s nine.

A half-sov sweepstakes followed by three members at five birds each, when Mr Croucher won at the fourth round, by dropping three out of his number. A “grunter” was then put up to be competed for by twelve members at 5s. each, five birds each, from H and T traps, &c. Mr Croucher and Mr Rouse killed four each, and agreed to divide.

Mr Franks at his fourth shot brought down his bird, but on the boy going to gather it it flew away, and not feeling satisfied with the referee’s decision, Mr Franks declined to take further part in the proceedings. A smaller pig was next put up, six members competing at five birds each. Mr Short and Mr Rouse killed three each, and agreed to divide. Several impromptu matches afterwards took place, and upwards of twenty-five dozen of Shrimpton’s birds were disposed of. Score:

MATCH, for 10l. a-side : fifteen birds each.
Mr Short ……………….. 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 —6
Mr Bowler……………….. 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0—2

MATCH, for 4l. ; eleven birds each.
Mr Croucher……………….. 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 —7
Mr Robinson ………………. 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 —3

MATCH, for 5l. ; fifteen birds each.
Mr James …… 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 —11
Mr Robinson … 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1—9

SWEEPSTAKE of 10s. each.—Mr Croucher, 0 1 1 1; Mr Robinson, 1 0 0 0; Mr Short, 0 0 0.

SWEEPSTAKE for a fat pig.—Mr Croucher, 1 1 1 0 1; Mr Rouse, 0 1 1 1 1; Mr Short, 1 0 1 1 0; Mr Robinson, 0 0 1; Mr James, 1 1 0 0; Mr H., 0 0; Mr Scott, 0 0; Mr Charles, 0 1 0; Mr Storer, 0 0 0; Mr Eagles, 0 1 1 0 0; Mr Franks, 1 1 1 0, disq.

SECOND SWEEPSTAKE, for a fat pig.—Mr Short, 1 1 1 0 0; Mr Rouse, 0 1 1 0 1; Mr Robinson, 0 0 1 1 0; Mr Franks, 1 0 1 0 0; Mr Croucher, 0 1 0 0; Mr James, 0 0 0.

Wimbledon News – Saturday 07 August 1915

SCENES AT A COLLIER’S WOOD PUBLIC HOUSE.

The “Victory” Inn, High-street, Collier’s Wood, was the scene of some lively proceedings on Bank Holiday, which resulted in the appearance before the Croydon County magistrates on Tuesday of Frederick Nunn, aged 38, who was in khaki, on charges of breaking a plate-glass panel, value 30s., with assaulting John C. Ball, the licensee, and assaulting Leonard Boniface, the barman.

— John C. Ball, giving evidence, said prisoner had been “barred” from the house for three years on account of his conduct. On Monday night he entered under the influence of drink, began to argue with another man and a fight ensued. With the assistance of the barman witness ejected him. Prisoner made a series of rushes to get back into the house and in the course of the struggle took the barman by the arms and threw him through the heavy glass panel of the door.

— Dr. Mason, of Colliers Wood, said the barman had to have three stitches in his shoulder, there being an incised wound two inches long. Mr. Ball had a slight wound on the inside of his right cheek.

— Prisoner who said if he were let off it would never occur again, was remanded until Thursday.

— At Thursday’s hearing no further evidence was called.

— Prisoner said he thought the prosecution was trying to make a mountain out of a mole-hill.

— He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

Norwood News – Friday 24 February 1961

Licensee dies Mr Waker Bradley, licensee of the Victory public house, Colliers Wood High Street, died recently. He was 57. Mr. Bradley. one-time Wandsworth Council chief clerk of works, had been at the Victory six years. He leaves a wife. two sons and a daughter. The funeral was on Wednesday.

Other than those noted, all licensees named below are from the “Pubs of Sutton and the surrounding area” map

1839 : Henry Leach
1851 : Henry Holt
1862 : John Berryman
1870 : Samuel Smith
1878 : Henry Sawyers
1896 : Francis Tomlin
1903 : Edward Ernest Wingfield – licensed victualler record
1915 : John C. BALL – newspaper
1925 : John C. Balls
1955 to 1961 : Mr Walker BRADLEY – newspaper

In the 1903 licensed victualler records, the pub had stabling for 3 horses, a WC and urinal, and was tied to the Thorn Brewery, Nine Elms, Lambeth.

George Parker Bidder QC obituary

Leave a reply

The following obituary is from the
Wallington & Carshalton Herald – Saturday 08 February 1896, via the British Newspaper archive.

Listen here: .

Death of Mr. G.P. Bidder, Q.C.

Public references.

The inhabitants of Mission were profoundly moved on Saturday morning when they learnt
that perhaps the most distinguished inhabitant of the famous village, Mr. George Parker Bidder, Q.C. of Ravensbury Park, had passed away suddenly during the night at his town residence, Queen Anne’s Mansions. The primary cause of death was the formation of a clot of blood at the heart supposed to have been occasioned by some internal injury resulting from an accident in the streets of Manchester. He had been conducting an important arbitration case at the Assize Court in that city on the 9th of last month, and was going back to his hotel when he was knocked down and run over by a horse and van. The injuries received were not regarded as of such a character as to prevent his resuming the case on the following day, but at the close of the proceedings he was so exhausted as to necessitate his immediate return to London. On the 17th January he made his last public appearance in Mitcham at the inquiry with reference to the entrance to the proposed Lower Mitcham schools. He travelled to Mitcham
specially for that purpose, although he was then wearing surgical bandages.
After a few days rest he again resumed his professional work when he conducted the case
on behalf of the trustees of the Tower Hill schools in their claim against the London
and Blackwell Railway Company. These proceedings terminated on Saturday the 25th ult. and almost
immediately afterwards the effects of the injuries of the accident began to manifest
themselves more seriously. By order of his medical advisor he was compelled to go to
bed at the beginning of last week, and though to all appearances he was progressing rapidly
towards recovery, and the physician in attendance had given him permission to dictate instructions earlier this week concerning an important case, a sudden relapse occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, and before his medical advisor could be summoned the eminent counsel had passed away. His death was very pathetic, but quite peaceful. His devoted wife was reading to him as he felt somewhat restless during the night when Mr Bidder suddenly complained of a pain which he thought must be due to indigestion. Mrs Bidder hastily summoned the nurse and turned to give him a little stimulant when to her consternation she found that her husband had turned quite pale. A doctor was in the mansions and he was called and arrived in two or three minutes only to tell the watchers that he was dying. Mr Bidder, apparently hearing that, put out his arm and embracing his wife he died with his head on the shoulder of her who had so ably seconded the efforts of her honoured husband. On the news being telegraphed at Ravensbury Park it soon became known in the village the bell at the parish church was tolled and many of the tradesmen at once put shutters to their shop windows, and such marks of respect have been pretty general
until after the funeral. Much sympathy has been expressed throughout the week with Mrs
Bidder and the family. Miss Bidder, Mrs Devenish, Miss Minnie Bidder, Miss Ina Bidder, now in
Calcutta, Messrs George, Harold and Morris Bidder. The concert which was to have been
held at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday in aid of the new church has been postponed out of
respect for the deceased.

Mr George Parker Bidder was the eldest son of the celebrated engineer who bore the same name and who was known in the early part of the century as the calculating boy. The future lawyer was born in August 1836 and educated at King’s College School and at the Universities of Edinburgh and Cambridge and his close and persistent study at the latter university secured for him marked academical distinction, he being 7th Wrangler in the mathematical tripos in 1838. Called to the bar in 1860 his thorough grasp of questions requiring special knowledge and skill soon placed him in the front rank of his profession and before parliamentary committee he was frequently engaged as council.
He took silk in 1874 and shortly afterwards became a bencher of his inn, Lincoln’s Inn.
He was recently elected master of the library and was next in rotation for the offices of
Treasurer in 1897. For several years he had been one of the leading council at the parliamentary bar and his name had been prominent in all the struggles between the water companies and the London City County Council. In nearly all the important opposed bills he acted either on behalf of the promoters or for some of the opponents and in particular represented the interests of the Midland Railway, the London Brighton and South Coast Railway Company, the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, the Butte Docks Company, the North British Railway Company and a large number of water companies. The extraordinary calculating powers of the father were inherited in a large degree by the son who, it is said, could mentally multiply fifteen figures by fifteen figures and perform with apparent ease many similar feats. He has also been very successful as a cryptographer and published some years ago in one of the monthly magazines what is perhaps the only attempt at scientific method of analysis of ciphers. Mr Bidder was chairman of the Danish Gas Company, the Cannock Chase Colliery Company and the Sydney Harbour Colleries Company as well as being a director of the Rock Life Assurance Company and the West Lancashire Railway Company. In 1878 the deceased permanently took up his residence at Ravensbury Park of which he was the owner, yet having been acquired by his father the late Mr GP Bidder, CE. Mr Bidder’s residence in Mitcham was distinguished by an active and zealous interest in local affairs and the service he has rendered to the locality has been of almost incalculable advantage. Many years ago when the Brighton Railway Company promoted a bill in parliament for the purposes of obtaining powers to enable it to take a considerable part of Mitcham Common, Mr Bidder gave his services as counsel to the inhabitants
gratuitously to resist the application and worked so well for the cause that he had taken
up that the application was refused. After that, in conjunction with other gentlemen,
he spent a large sum of money in defending the rights of the Commoners against the attempted enclosure of common land at Bennington Corner in the well-known action of Bidder and Bridges, but in that case unsuccessfully. He was also prominent in other agitations connected with the Common and when the scheme for placing it under a Conservancy Board was propounded, was one of its strongest supporters. After public inquiry and in the face of much interested opposition, the Board of Agriculture approved of the formation of a Conservancy Board and Mr Bidder was unanimously elected the first chairman, a position he was peculiarly qualified to fill. With characteristic energy and zest he entered into a scheme for improving the Common and though his efforts have not always met with the appreciation they deserved at the hands of the people of Mitcham, no one who can remember what the Common was a dozen years ago and compare it
with its present state will deny that the work of the conservators has been attended with good
results. He, in conjunction with Mr A. H. Smee MRCS and others, successfully resisted attempts
to get the sanction of Parliament to schemes for extracting water from the Wandle by means
of waterworks and amongst his other appearances, in protection of the interests of the parish, may be mentioned his opposition to the scheme to place a huge cemetery just on the borders of the parish at Rosehill Sutton, which would have involved a constant stream of funerals through the parish and the strenuous opposition he manifested to the proposals of the Carshalton local board to obtain a site for their sewage out for works in Mitcham parish.
We’ve obviously obtained a lease of Mitcham Green in order that it might be preserved and regulated for purposes of recreation and the public advantage which has accrued can only be estimated by those who live in Mitcham. It has enabled cricketers of all classes to enjoy the national pastimes without less or hindrance. The policy which was pursued there was extended so soon as the larger area of the Commons could be dealt with. For many years Mr Bidder filled the office of church warden at the parish church of Mitchell and it was during this period that the beautiful east window, said to be the most beautiful in the country, towards the cost of which he distributed largely, was put up. Mr Bidder was also a trustee of Tate’s Alm Houses and at one time represented the parish upon the late Croydon Rural Sanitary Authority. He was a Master of Arts, fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and an associate member of the Institute of Civil Engineers and an associate of the Institute of Surveyors. Mr Bidder has for many years held the commission of peace for the county and on the formation of the county council at once offered his services to his neighbours to represent them on that body. One paragraph in his address in 1888 is worth quoting now. He said one matter of local interest would at the proper time have my special attention vis the securing to our district more adequate representation having regard to its population and importance. You are perhaps aware at the recent meeting of the magistrates that quarter sessions I did my best to obtain the rectification of what appears to me to be the injustice which at present we suffer under from having only one representative allotted to us. I should strive before the next election to obtain a reappointment of representatives which would place us on a more equal footing with other parts of the county. Mr Bidder was elected by a majority of 150 over another old resident now for some years dead and that he did not forget his promise in that the records of the council will testify. Indeed this question of the unjust representation of suburban Surrey on the council was one of the points upon which he felt very strongly and more than once he referred to it and sought but in vain to persuade his colleagues to consent to a rearrangement. When the question of the future meeting place of the council came to be discussed he was perhaps the strongest advocate of the council chamber remaining in London. Holding as experience has since proved that there will be more difficulty in getting all the members to attend committee and council meetings if they were held in the country than there would be if held close to the terminal of the great railway companies and so easily getatable from all parts of the county. At the second election of the council in 1892 Mr Bidder was opposed by Mr George Parker, a socialist. The inhabitants showed their
appreciation of the difference between the merits of the two men by giving Mr Parker three votes and returning their old member with a majority of over 600. At the last election in 1895 Mr Bidder was returned unopposed. On the formation of the parish councils the deceased manifested much interest in the movement and besides attending public meetings where the matter was discussed became a candidate for a seat on the first council and being elected was asked by his colleagues to accept the position of chairman which he did and by his legal knowledge helped him to help to steer them safely and quickly through the difficulties inseparable from the establishment of a new body such as that. Prior to 1892 Mr Bidder had been regarded as a strong liberal but like many other good men he could not accept the home rule programme and at the time and at the general election of 1892 with other liberal unions in the division issued a circular calling upon his neighbours to support the conservative candidate Mr Bonsor and so to defeat the schemes of those who were anxious to bring about the separation of Great Britain and Ireland.

Mitcham History Notes

Some notes about history of Mitcham, Surrey