Tag Archives: 1934

Rowan Terrace

Rowan Terrace was a row of 8 cottages near Homewood Road, that were demolished in the 1930s.

The 1925 street directory gives details of how to find this terrace.

from 71 Church Road to Belgrave Road
South Side
Hawthorn Cottages: no.s 5,6,7,8
… here is Century Road
North Side
no.s 4,3,2,1
Benedict Terrace: no.s 1,2,3,4,5,6
… here is Rowan Terrace
… here is Homewood Road

This 1952 OS map gives us house numbers, so the Post Office is number 71 (deduced from adjacent number 73).

A photo of this post office, from Facebook, confirms number 71 as a post office.
71 Church Road

The alley at the side of the post office was known as Jessop’s Alley, later Adams or Adams’s Alley after the Adams family that ran the post office. ‘Adams Grocers’ can be seen on this photo.

As Rowan Terrace is described in the street directory as being between Benedict Terrace and Homewood Road, this 1932 OS map shows a row of 8 buildings between the back gardens of Homewood Road and a footpath (marked as F.P. on the map).

1932 OS map

1932 OS map

The 1934 Health Report identified this terrace as a clearance area. It says there were 8 cottages, which is the same number as seen on the 1932 map.

CLEARANCE AREA NO. 7.

Eight cottages known as 103, 105, 107, 109, 111, 113, 115, 117 Rowan Terrace. An objection having been made to this Order a local inquiry was held on April 24, 1934. The Order was confirmed.

Source: Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Mitcham, Wellcome Trust, page 33


Garages were built on the site of Rowan Terrace. These can be seen in this aerial photo from 1937

1937

1937

Pear Tree Close

Built by Mitcham Borough Council and completed in 1934, to rehouse some of the people made homeless by the Explosion. Due to the white rendered walls of the houses, it had the nickname ‘White City’.

1937 Aerial photo from Historic England:

The development consisted of 9 blocks of a total of 48 terraced houses, which included odd numbers 103 to 121 Love Lane and 12 to 17 inclusive in Westfield Road.

This 1932 OS map shows the area occupied by nurseries before Pear Tree Close, Taffy’s How and Walnut Tree Avenue were built.

1932 OS map

1938 OS map

The average cost per house was £36 for the land, £27 for the road and sewers and £305 for the building.


From the minutes of Housing Committee
11th December 1947
page 151

No. 20 Pear Tree Close

The w.c. pan at the above house was broken by a cat jumping through the open window and knocking over a bottle which cracked the pan. I shall be glad of the Committee’s instructions as to whether or not the tenant is to be charged.

I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
B. THRUPP
Housing Manager

Resolved – That the cost of repair be borne by the Council


Minutes of meetings held by the Mitcham Borough Council are available on request from the Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre at Morden Library.