1911 | Mitcham History Notes

Christlieb Traugott Lipshytz, born in Warsaw, in around 1859. His nationality and naturalisation papers held at the National Archives say he was from Russia.

In 1911, he lived at Gorringe Park House. According to his gravestone, see below, he was director and superintendent missionary since 1889 of the Barbican Mission for the Jews.

Clip from Merton Memories photo 49939 (c) London Borough of Merton

Clip from Merton Memories photo 49939 ‘Barbican Mission To The Jews’ (c) London Borough of Merton

Will:

LIPSHYTZ the reverend Christlieb Traugott of Gorringe Park House Mitcham Surrey Clark died 6 November 1922. Probate London 9 December to Henry Charles Hogan and Herbert Thomas Hogan journalists. Effects £4905 17s.

(Adjusted for inflation, £4905 17s. is about £220,000 in 2017 values.)

Auction:

WEDNESDAY NEXT.

6, MITCHAM PARK.

LEONARD DAVEY & HART Have been instructed by Mrs. Lipshytz to Sell by Auction WEDNESDAY NEXT, MAY 12th, at Two.

FURNITURE AND EFFECTS, comprising bedsteads and bedding, wardrobes, dressing chests, washstands, carpets, dining room suites, bookcases, and tables, harmonium, couches, easy and other chairs, hall stand, gas fires, books, china, glass etc. On view previous AFTERNOON and morning of sale. Catalogues at Auction Offices, Upper Green. Mitcham and 351, London Road, Thornton Heath.

Source: Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 08 May 1926 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

Gravestone in parish burial ground, Church Road

W. T. Bigsby and Sons was a varnish manufacturer based in Morden Road, Mitcham. The ‘W.T.’ was William Thomas.

This photo is from Newspapers.com :

1911 entry in Kelly’s commercial directory

It is believed that he was descended from a family of brewers in Deptford. In a 1794 directory of Kent there is a Bigsby & Ritchie, jun. Brewers, Mill lane, Deptford

In 1871 he identified himself as a varnish manufacturer in Deptford at a fraud trial at the Old Bailey. His son William also appeared in this trial.

See this 20th January, 1891 article in The Manufacturer and Inventor.

In 1911 he lived at Grove Lodge, London Road. It is shown as ‘The Lodge’ on this 1910 map, just south of Mitcham Grove House. Today this is the junction of Rawnsley Avenue and London Road.