Tag Archives: 1921

York Place

Terrace of 7 shops, on the north side of the Fair Green, west of the London Road. It became part of St Marks Road, until demolished to make way for Majestic Way in the late 1980s.

york-place

early 1900s

Eric Montague’s Mitcham Histories : 7 The Upper or Fair Green, Mitcham, page 108 said that in 1828 at number 4 lived William HILLS, a local builder who the last parish beadle. Montague suggested that York Place was built in the first two decades of the 19th century.

1921

1921

1964

1964

From the Dentists Registry entries from 1879 to 1893, William James Jones was in practice as a dentist with the pharmacy at 1, York Place before 22nd July 1878.

From the 1891 street directory:

from High Street to Killick’s Lane

NORTH SIDE

1 W.J. Jones, chemist & stationer
2 Post Office
3 William Saynes, beer retailer
4 Joseph Shepherd, corn dealer
5 G.B. Bennett, tobacconist

7 William Shepherd, machine agent

Number 3 was the Lord Napier pub, before becoming George York’s funeral business.

In the 1915 street directory, these retain the numbers as above, but are part of St. Marks Road:

NORTH SIDE

1 John K. Harvey, chemist
2 Mrs L.C. Williams, dining rooms
3 George York, undertaker
4 H. Tedder, hair dresser
5 William Whittington, tobacconist
6 William Augustus Martin, butcher
7 S. & E. Rimmel, grocers

In the 1925 street directory, the shops have been renumbered odd:

1 John K. Harvey M.P.S., chemist
3 William Scratchley, dining rooms
5 George York, undertaker
7 H. Tedder, hair dresser
9 William Whittington, tobacconist
11 A. Bacon, hosier
13 S. & E. Rimmel, grocers

From the 1954 telephone directory:

1 J.K. Harvey, chemist & druggist, MIT 0892
3 Thorpes Radio, MIT 3964
5 George York, undertaker, MIT 2926
7
9
11
13

(Scratchley’s Dining Rooms is in the 1954 phone book at 310 High Street, Sutton VIG 4125)

Sydney Gedge

1886

1886

From the British Newspaper Archives:

The Graphic – Saturday 24 July 1886

MR. SYDNEY GEDGE, of Mitcham Hall, Surrey, is the eldest son of the late Rev. Sydney Gedge. He was born in 1829, and educated at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, and at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he took a ” first ” in the Moral Science Tripos. In 1865 he was admitted a solicitor, and in 1871 was elected Solicitor to the London School Board. Mr. Gedge married, in 1857, Augusta, daughter of Robert Herring, Esq., of Cromer.

Weekly Dispatch (London) – Sunday 20 March 1921.

MR. SIDNEY GEDGE RECOVERING FROM HIS ILLNESS.

Mr. Sidney Gedge, the 92-years-old solicitor and former M.P., who lives at Mitcham, now overcoming a severe attack of influenza, is one of the most remarkable men in London and also one of the greatest optimists. Despite his age, he is chafing at his enforced inactivity. The Times contained an ainnouncement yesterday that he has been compelled lo cancel several engagements. Mr. Gedge is still in full harness. He is a frequent visitor to the City, and was at a board meeting when taken ill a week ago. During his illness the leading articles from The Times were read him. Yesterday he was able to them himself. A lifelong cyclist, it is only within comparatively recent years that he gave up pedaling to the City. He lives the life of a man many years younger. He is not a nonsmoker, and prefers the youthful cigarette occasionally.

Gloucester Citizen – Friday 6th April 1923

DEATH OF MR SYDNEY GEDGE.

The Press Association regrets to announce that Mr. Sidney Gedge, Mitcham Hall, Surrey, who was 93 last October, and was a former M.P. for Stockport and Walsall, has died at Mitcham. Deceased was prominent lay churchman, and he was a licensed preacher of the dioceses of London and Southwark.

From Mitcham and Tooting Advertiser
4th February 1954

Their names will not be forgotten

The late Mr. Sydney Gedge, of Mitcham Hall, a one-time Member of Parliament and constructor of Mitcham Park, is remembered in Gedge Court on the Baron House Estate opposite his old home.

Photo taken 9th April 2020.


Merton Memories Photos

On a tricycle at Mitcham Hall
1929 Mitcham Park