Tag Archives: 1906

1906 : Death in Prospect Road

LIVERPOOL MERCHANT’S STRANGE DEATH.

An inquest has been held Mitcham on the body the man found dead in the scullery of a house in Prospect Road. Mitcham, which he had taken under the name of Percy Lewis. A detective gave evidence to the effect that the deceased’s real name is Thomas Beecher Grime, and that he came from Liverpool. Intelligence has been received from Liverpool that he left there with £400 in notes on the 15th inst. Another witness said the deceased was visited separately by two young ladies, who stayed some time. Medical evidence showed death was caused by syncope. The inquest was adjourned till to day (Monday) to establish deceased’s identity.

The Press Association’s Liverpool correspondent telegraphs that Grime was a well-known Liverpool coal merchant, who left his office in Wavertree, Liverpool, on August 15, remarking that he would be back in a few minutes. Since then no trace of his movements had been found. He was a native of Darwen.

Source: Derry Journal – Monday 03 September 1906
from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

Rhodes Cottage

A house on Cricket Green, when it was previously called Lower Green East. Demolished.

It was possibly next to White House, Cricket Green. It may have been owned by Walter Charles Rhoades. In the 1915 electoral register he is listed as living at 183 Bedford Hill, Balham, and owning “Two cottages east side of Lower green”.

The 1953 OS map shows ‘White House’ and the entrance to The Birches is just north of it.

The 1910 OS Map shows a building next to White House which may have been Rhodes Cottage.

1953 OS Map

1953 OS Map

1910 OS map

1910 OS map

This clip from a 1910 photo on Merton Memories shows a building to the left of White House, which may have been Rhodes Cottage.

1910 clip from Merotn Memories photo 51702. Copyright London Borough of Merton

1910 clip from Merton Memories photo 51702. Copyright London Borough of Merton

1903

1903


Electoral registers show this as Rhoades or Rheades Cottage.

From the minutes of the Croydon Rural District Council
Mitcham Parochial Committee
24th April, 1906
Page 80

Nuisances: “Rhodes Cottage” and “White House” Lower Green.
Inspector Rabbetts reported the existence of nuisances at these premises, arising from the defective condition of the drains. Resolved, That the Inspector of Nuisances be authorised to serve notice on the owner, Mr. A. R. Harwood, of London Road, Mitcham, requiring the abatement of said nuisances.


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.