Road off east side of London Road, south of Tooting Station.
The 1896 map shows the area before being developed.
1896 OS map. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland (CC-BY)
1947 OS map. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland (CC-BY)
The road was made up in 1902. From the minutes of the Croydon Rural District Council, Volume 8, 1902 to 1903, 18th September 1902, page 394:
Grenfell Road Tenders
The Council opened and considered the undermentioned tenders received for the making up, forming, kerbing, and metalling of Grenfell Road, Mitcham:-
Stockwell & Co., Bromley = £600 8s.
Adams, T., Wood Green, London = £527
Iles, E., Mitcham = £476
Free & Sons, Maidenhead = £454
Wheeler, W., Southwark, S.E. = £336Resolved, That the tender of Mr. E. Iles, of Mitcham, be accepted, and that the necessary bond be entered into in accordance of conduct.
A water trough outside the Gorringe Park Hotel was in the way of this however, as can be seen from the minutes of the Croydon Rural District Council, Volume 8, 1902 to 1903, Road and Buildings Committee, 20th November 1902, page 571:
The Surveyor reported that in order to complete the work of making up Grenfell Road it had become necessary to remove an obstructive water trough erected in connection with the Gorringe Park Hotel. The Owners of the Hotel (Messrs. Young & Co.) stated that the water trough was the property of the tenant, who, however, had refused to remove it.
—The Committee instructed the Surveyor to formally call upon the tenant of the Hotel to remove the water trough.
The street directory of 1910-1911 shows only one property occupied on the south side, and a gap between 3 and 25 on the north side. Between 25 and 27 became Sirdar Road. Planning application by J. WILSON in 1903 for 8 shops and tenement houses is likely to refer to the terrace from 27 to 39 as they are all listed in the directory as businesses.
From the minutes of the Croydon Rural District Council
Volume IX 1903 – 1904
23rd April 1903
page 68
No. 2483, Wilson, J., 8 shops and tenement houses, Grenfell Road, Mitcham
See also the 1911 OS map.
1910-1911 Street Directory
from London Road to Bruce Road
SOUTH SIDE
2, William STIMSON, hair dresser
— here is Bruce Road
NORTH SIDE
1, Albert Henry WATKINS, baker
1, William THORPE, boot maker
3, George BERRIDGE, grocer25, Joseph WILSON, estate office
27, A. W. Pulman, confectioner
29, William A. TICKNER, fish shop
31, Mrs LANGFORD, dairy
35, H. & C. CHAFFEY, butchers
Walter SWEET, oil & color man
1915
from London Road to Bruce Road
SOUTH SIDE
2, Daniel KERWOOD, confectioner
Snelling & Gathercote Ltd. concrete slab manufacturers… here is Bruce Road …
NORTH SIDE
1, John C. HUGHES
3, Mrs KNAPP, wardrobe dealer
15, Raphael SHIREWITZ, ladies’ and gents’ tailors
25, Joseph WILSON, estate office… here is Sirdar Road …
27, F. BOWDITCH, confectioner
29, Sydney HANNAM, fried fish shop
31, Hill House Laundry
33, David MORRIS, dairy
35, William TYRELL, butcher
36, Walter SWEET, oil and color man
39, Peter HEARN, greengrocer
News Articles
The newspaper articles below are via the British Newspaper Archive
Newcastle Journal – Wednesday 26 December 1917
CROYDON SHOOTING DRAMA.
Mother and Her Daughter’s Honour.
Elisabeth Petersen (35) Sirdar Road, Tooting Junction, wife of a soldier on active service, was charged Croydon with attempting to murder Walter Sweet, oil and colour man, of Grenfell Road, Mitcham, by shooting him with a six-chamber revolver.
On Saturday, Sweet was before the court charge of indecently assaulting Mrs Petersen’s 12-year-old daughter. The child alleged that when she went into the shop buy some sugar, Sweet took her to a back room, and behaved improperly when she was on his knee. A doctor said that the girl was highly nervous, but there were no signs any actual assault. The Chairman, in dismissing the case, told Sweet that the Bench did not for one moment believe that the girl had invented the story, but that there was no corroboration.
Sweet, giving evidence in this case, said that when he returned home from the court on Saturday, and was serving a lady customer, Mrs Petersen came into the shop and said she wished to see him alone. He refused, and sent his daughter for the police.
Prisoner then fired at him three times, but he got under the counter and escaped, and later she fired again at the shop window.
PC. Bliss said that when he closed with the woman she said: “All right. I have not shot him, but I meant to. I am sorry I did not. I will shoot him, for that is he all deserves.” She had a number of live cartridges in her possession.
Arthur Wm. Smith, commercial traveller who went to the constable’s assistance, said that the woman was very excited, and was apparently labouring under a feeling of great injustice.
Detective Fern said that that morning Mrs Petersen said: “I see my folly now. If I had had anyone to console with me on Saturday on my way home in the tram I should never have done such a thing. I drank a bottle of stout to give me courage. She said that she had to use both hands to fire the revolver.
A son said that his mother’s health had broken down through her trying to keep on his father’s business. His father was called two years ago and was expected home soon.
The woman was committed for trial. Bail was allowed, and Miss Nash, the probationary officer undertook to live with the woman until her husband returned.
(Note that in some newspaper articles, the surname PETERSEN is shown as PETERKEN and in this copy, both were used.)
Croydon Times – Wednesday 05 November 1913
OBSTRUCTION
Peter Hearn, Grenfell-road, Mitcham, was summoned for wilfully obstructing the passage of Grenfell-road by placing there five baskets and a quantity of rubbish on October 18th.
P.c. 704 W gave evidence to seeing five baskets and one or two small boxes of rubbish outside defendant’s greengrocery shop at about one o’clock in the morning.
Defendant’s wife appeared, and the Chairman told her a fine of 2s. 6d. and 2s. 6d, costs would have to be paid.
World War 1 Connections
Private Henry Frederick BOSTON
Private Percy George ROE
Private John THURLOW
Serjeant Hubert William WATTS
Ad for Wainberg’s of number 3, Grenfell Road : Shoe maker and repairer.
June 1949 ad
Minutes of meetings held by the Croydon Rural District Council are available on request from the Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre at Morden Library.
Maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Mitcham History Notes 