Tag Archives: 1934

Dust Destructor Chimney

From the Mitcham and Tooting Advertiser, 15th September, 1955.

A LANDMARK familiar to thousands of Mitcham residents disappeared last Thursday with the felling of the 125 ft. high refuse destructor chimney at Phipps Bridge.

This was the first major step in clearing the area adjoining Homewood Road for Mitcham Corporation’s proposed £1,750,000 redevelopment scheme to house 636 families.

During the previous week-end, two steeplejack brothers Mr. Arthur Collard and Mr. John Collard. began work on what was for them the end of another chimney. By Thursday they had cut away half the 18-ft. wide base, leaving timber props in place of the 3-ft. 6-in. think brickwork.

At 2.26 p.m. the props, soaked in 20 gallons of paraffin, were set alight. As flames leapt high, the 21 year old chimney belched smoke for the last time. Nine minutes later, it heeled over with a muffled roar 460 tons of brickwork fell to the ground beneath a vast cloud of dust.

The deputy borough engineer, Mr. W. B. W. Wignall, and a number of Mitcham councillors, including the chairman of the Housing Committee, Ald. D. W. Chalkley, watched the chimney crash down a few yards from their feet.

“PERFECT DROP”

And from his New Close home which overlooks the site Mr. Tom Good, now in his seventies, saw the end of the chimney he had helped to build.

“It was a perfect drop.” said Mr. Arthur Collard. With him was Alec, his 13 year old son, “who always comes to watch the interesting jobs.”

Built in 1934, in the last year of the old Mitcham Urban District Council, the chimney and destructor cost £9,869. A council spokesman told “The Advertiser” afterwards: “It would probably cost three times that sum to build at present-day
costs.”

The destructor was last used at the beginning of 1953. The amount of refuse handled by the corporation had grown so much that it was decided to tip all refuse on Mitcham Common.

Oscar Berridge Shelswell

Listed in the 1915 Kelly’s Directory as

Shelswell, Oscar Berridge M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond. surgeon & medical officer to the Holborn Union, Mitcham workshouse, Sibford, Lower Green west

which meant that he lived at Sibford, and was employed at the workhouse.

He was married in 1892.

From the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required) :
Banbury Guardian – Thursday 09 June 1892

MARRIAGE OF MISS A. E. L. WILKINSON AND MR. O. B. SHELSWELL.

The picturesque village of Stainton-in-Cleveland Yorkshire, was en fete on the 1st inst., the occasion being the marriage of Mr. Oscar Berridge Shelswell L.R.C.P. (Lond.), M.R.C.S. (England), of Mitcham, Surrey, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Lucy Wilkinson, second daughter of the Rev. T. H. Wilkinson, Vicar of the parish, and until recently Vicar of Ratley, Banbury. The ceremony was performed by the bride’s father, assisted by her brothers, the Rev H A Wilkinson, B.A., and the Rev. C. T. B. Wilkinson B.A.

The service was fully choral. The bride who was given away by her eldest brother, Mr. C. J. Wilkinson, M.R.C.S., of Bolton, was attired in a dress of rich ivory corded silk trimmed with lace and natural orange blossoms, coronet of the same, and long tulle veil secured by pearl pins. Her bouquet, the gift the bridegroom, was composed of white lilac and lilies of the valley.

She was attended by four bridesmaids Miss Agnes Wilkinson (sister of the bride), Miss Augusta Berridge (cousin of the bridegroom), Miss Emily Rayner, and Miss Mary Hobson, who wore costumes of maize crepon, with fichus of white chiffon, fancy Leg-horn hats trimmed with white chiffon and Marguerites. The bridegroom presented each with a dainty pearl and diamond spray brooch, and they carried bouquets of Marguerites and lillies of the valley.

Mr. Burton Luxmore, of London, acted as best man. The bride’s mother was attired in myrtle green silk trimmed with blue and silver brocade, handsome white China silk shawl, and lace bonnet to match.

The path by which the bridal procession returned to the vicarage was spanned by floral arches, and strewn with flowers by the school children, the return of the party being greeted with a feu de joie in the vicarage grounds.

Later in the afternoon the newly-wedded couple left en route for the Continent. The bride’s travelling dress was of fawn corduroy, trimmed with jewelled passementerie.

In the evening to celebrate the happy event, the school children, Sunday School teachers, and members of the Girl’s Friendly Society were entertained to tea in the vicarage garden, after which an adjournment was made to a field, kindly lent by Mr, John Jackson, where various sports and races were indulged in. Prizes were subsequently distributed by Mrs. Wilkinson, and the proceedings were brought to conclusion by dance in the village school-room. The wedding presents were numerous and valuable.

Ad from 6th November 1914:

GENERAL, able to do plain cooking, and HOUSEMAID. Early dinner. Good outings. Swiss not objected to. £18 — £20.
— Mrs. Shelswell, Sibford, Mitcham.

Ad from The Motorcycle 30th September 1920 via archive.org

SUN-VITESSE, October, 1919, 2-stroke, 2-speed
countershaft gear, used short runs only, tyres
good, fine running order; trial any day any time:
£48.- Shelswell, Cricket Green, Mitcham.
Terminus 88 ‘bus. Tel. : 822 Mitcham.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 08 March 1934

DR. O. B. SHELSWELL

SUDDEN DEATH OF FORMER MITCHAM DOCTOR.

News reached Mitcham on Tuesday of the sudden death at Forest Green, near Holmbury St. Mary, Surrey, of Dr. O. B. Shelswell, father of Dr. A. H. Shelswell, Lower Green, who practised in Mitcham for a great many years, and was a friend and colleague of Dr. Love.

Dr. Shelswell retired about ten years ago to spend his eventide in the charming country place where he died. He was a few years younger than Dr. Love. He leaves a widow, two sons and one daughter.

Dr. Shelswell came to Mitcham as a young man and was medical officer to Holborn Schools and Institution for a time. He lived in Glebe Villas until he built Sibford, where his son now resides. He was the personification of kindness and the older residents of Mitcham retain very pleasant memories of his skill as a physician and his fine qualities as a man.

During the war Dr. Shelswell rendered great service as a medical officer at the military hospital set up in old Holborn Workhouse, and he was given the O.B.E. He took no part in public affairs. His garden was his chief hobby. Gardening was a passion with Dr. Shelswell. So was chess, which he played with exceptional skill. Another favourite recreation was croquet, which he played from time to time with the late Mr. G. Farewell Jones.

A few years ago Dr. Shelswell met with an accident in Mitcham which shook him badly. He was knocked down by a motor car near the Three Kings Pond and his injuries necessitated hospital treatment. The seizure which ended his life was the second since his retirement.

The funeral of Dr. Shelswell, who laboured for forty years in Mitcham, will probably take place at Forest Green on Saturday afternoon. He was seventy-six.