Tag Archives: 1935

Rock Terrace

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A terrace of houses built near the crossroads of two field paths. One path went from the parish church, north-westerly across the fields; the other ran east to west along Fox’s Path.

This OS map of 1866 shows where these two paths met, and, while Rock Terrace is not actually named, the buildings outlined in red may well be it.

Later, the terrace was extended and the road was named Belgrave Road, with the path leading to the church being called Belgrave Walk.

Earliest reference found so far in the newspaper archives is for an auction of 9 houses in Rock Terrace.

Freehold ground-rent of £21 per annum, arising from nine houses in Rock-terrace, Mitcham — £115.

Source: Morning Advertiser – Wednesday 29 August 1866 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

This 1910 map shows the outline of houses in Belgrave Road. Given that Batsworth Road was laid on the original path from Fox’s Path, then the 9 houses referred to in the auction may well have been the whole terrace.

News Stories

1922 Rock Terrace Recreation Ground

A major event was the Explosion of 1933.

King George V Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 1935

Note that Lady Worsfold, residing at Hall Place when this photo was taken, moved to the White House at the cricket green the following year when her husband, T. Cato worsfold, died.

Rock Terrace and Queen Street (sic), Mitcham, Jubilee Tea. From Mitcham News & Mercury, 31st May, 1935.

Rock Terrace and Queen Street (sic), Mitcham, Jubilee Tea. From Mitcham News & Mercury, 31st May, 1935.

Merton Memories Photos

Church Class

Off to the Races – this photo was reproduced in Eric Montague’s Mitcham Histories: 8 Phipps bridge, on page 113 with the caption that it was around 1910.

De’Arn Gardens

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Road off the north side of Love Lane, west of Taffy’s How. It’s a T-shaped cul-de-sac.

August 2019, from Apple Maps

1953 OS map, reproduced by permission of National Library of Scotland (re-use CC-BY)

Possibly built in the 1920s. A newspaper article from 1931 refers to the road:

SERIOUS CHARGES.

Arthur R. Booth (47), haulage contractor of De’Arn Gardens, Mitcham, was charged on Friday with obtaining £100 each by false pretences from Alfred J. Rawlings, of Leyton, and Herbert Smith, of Shoreham, Kent. The prosecutors answered an adver- tisement offering partnership for £100 in a lorry transport business. Booth, they said, told them he had large transport contracts. They each paid the amount named, but were I greatly disappointed with the results. At the garage in Mitcham there was no evidence of the big business alleged, end they had difficulty in getting their wages. Rawlings said he received only half what was agreed to be paid. He and Smith eventually went to the police. Booth, who denied the charges, remanded on bail for a week.

Source: West Sussex Gazette – Thursday 26 November 1931

On 15th March 1935, Gordon Victor DEARN of 77 Love Lane, registered a strip of land with the Land Registry. It is believed that the name of the road had the apostrophe added to make it sound more desirable.

Odd numbered houses, on the left or west side, have the postcode CR4 3AY, and even numbered house on the east side have CR4 3AZ.