Tag Archives: 1932

26 St Marks Road

Previously called Home Close, number 26 St. Marks Road, is currently (in 2025) the Mitcham branch of the Royal British Legion. It became the branch of the Legion in October 1931, see newspaper article below.

2024 Google Street View of 26 St Marks Road

1932 OS map St Marks Road

1952 OS map St Marks Road


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

Newspaper articles

Sutton & Epsom Advertiser – Thursday 04 November 1948

LEGION H.Q. EXTENSION

Members built it in their spare time

MITCHAM branch of the British Legion is hoping to open the new extension to headquarters at St Mark’s Road Mitcham — a clubroom and bar — within two or three weeks.

Work was started on this extension about a year ago and it has been done by members in their spare time. All the materials used were second-hand. This allowed the branch to keep the cost, which was borne by local legion club, to a reasonable figure.

Mr F Cane, chairman of the branch told an “Advertiser” reporter on Tuesday that it had been decided to open the bar and clubroom to provide a centre for members in the evenings in the hope that it would increase their interest in legion activities. The bar in the main headquarters premises was too small and was to be used in future as a lounge where members could bring their wives.

The building of extension was only one step towards their goal he added. They hoped later to extend it and to build a large hall over it in which they could hold dances children’s parties and other functions.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 21 December 1933

COLONEL CHART RESIGNS
No Longer President Mitcham British Legion.

Lieut.-Col. Stephen Chart, D.S.O., has resigned the position of president of the Mitcham branch of the British Legion.In his letter to the secretary Col. Chart stated that he was unable to give the time to the duties of the position which he felt was required of the president. He also expressed his disagreement with the action of the branch on Armistice Sunday in separating from the main procession to the Parish Church. . As Clerk to the Urban Council Colonel Chart accompanied the members of the Council to the Parish Church, while the rest of the branch of the British Legion marched to St. Mark’s Church, the vicar of which is an old Army padre and chaplain to the branch.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 20 October 1932

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 20 October 1932
Image © Successor rightsholder unknown.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 26 January 1933
Image © Successor rightsholder unknown.

Streatham News – Friday 16 October 1931
Image © Successor rightsholder unknown.

W. J. Emson – insurance broker

Insurance agent W.J Emson & Co. had a shop in Mitcham for about 50 years, from around 1937 to 1987.

According to the 1921 census, William John Mulready EMSON, age 39, born in 1883, was a police sergeant at the Mitcham Police Station, and lived at the police quarters in Lower Green West (where Vine Cottages is now), with his wife Lilian Rose Emson, aged 38.

This and from 1932 shows him using all of his initials “W.J.M.” and the address as 21 Langdale Avenue, which was his home address as shown in the 1939 registry, with his wife Lillian R. Emson.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 21 January 1932

By 1937, his business was from a shop on the corner of Langdale Avenue and London Road at no. 251, as can be seen in this ad. Note that the third initial has been dropped.

1937 ad from Mitcham Cricket Club yearbook

He was listed as a subscriber to the cricket club’s yearbook in 1937, from which it is assumed he was a member of the club. These ads ran up to 1968.

The 1952 Chamber of Commerce guide lists W. J. Emson & Co., at 177 London Road, Mitcham, near the corner with Downe Road.

He passed away in September 1961, and his address on the probate record on Ancestry was 4 Glebe Court, Mitcham.

This ad from 1968 is from the Mitcham Cricket Club yearbook.

1968 ad

The business was listed in the 1971 phone book at 177 London Road, Mitcham, 01-648 9351.

Merton Memories has a c.1987 photo which shows the business at 35 Monarch Parade.