One of the roads of ‘Rocky’. It ran from Phipps Bridge Road eastwards to Belgrave Road.
The Explosion of 1933 led to rehousing of a number of families from this area, to other parts of Mitcham. Although the houses in Queens Road were not badly damaged, it was identified as a Clearance Area in 1936.
1938 OS map, courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. Re-use CC-BY.
After the second world war, ‘hutments’ and prefab bungalows were built for temporary housing. These were cleared in the early 1960s for the Phipps Bridge Housing estate, and the name Queens Road was kept.
1952 OS map
1954 aerial view of Queens Road and its temporary housing – this clip is from Merton Memories photo 49269 and is copyright London Borough of Merton.
1954 aerial view of Queens Road and its temporary housing, looking east. This is a clip from Merton Memories photo 49278, and is copyright London Borough of Merton.
This receipt for coal in 1950 was for number 35 Queens Road which was at that time a Nissen Hut. It was for 10 hundredweights (half a ton) of HHA, which possibly meant Heavy Haulage Anthracite. The total cost was £2 7s. 8d., which in 2020 values is around £85.
3rd July 1950 coal receipt
World War 1 Connections
Lance Corporal Arthur James Block
Private Hubert George Truelove
From the Surrey Recruitment Registers:
W BOTTWELL of 22 Queens Road, aged 18 Years 1 Months, Carman. Joined on 11 May 1917 to the Royal Field Artillery.
S T S DALE of 38 Queens Road, aged 19 Years, Fitter. Conscripted on 17 April 1917 to the East Kent Regiment (3rd Batn).
W DAVIS of 7 Queens Road, aged 24 Years 7 Months, Carman. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 12 December 1915 to the Royal Fusiliers (35th Batn).
L DIXIE of 1 Queens Road, aged 19 Years, Labourer. Volunteered on 01 November 1915 to the Royal Fusiliers.
B FENNELEY of 8a Albany Terrace Queens Road, aged 37 Years 7 Months, Jeweller. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 11 December 1915 to the Artillery School (5th).
M GLOVER of 11 Queens Road, aged 29 Years 5 Months, Painter. Volunteered on 25 October 1915 to the Army Ordinance Corps.
W G HERRINGTON of 19 Queens Road, aged 22 Years 6 Months, Stoker. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 07 December 1915 to the Royal Fusiliers (15th Batn).
W F HOOKINS of 47 Queens Road, aged 33 Years 3 Months, Grave Digger. Conscripted on 11 December 1915 to the Middlesex Regiment (6th Batn).
J P HORNEGOLD of 27 Queens Rd Mitcham, aged 20 Years, Ticket Collector. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 17 November 1915 to the Royal Fusiliers (16th Batn).
J JAMES of 35 Queens Road, aged 20 Years 1 Months, Hawker. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 12 December 1915 to the East Surrey Regiment (3rd Batn).
J JAMES of 17 Queens Road, aged 18 Years, Gardener. Conscripted on 26 March 1917 to the 23rd Training Reserve Batn.
G JARDINE of 10 Queens Road, aged 37 Years 2 Months, Packer. Conscripted on 14 February 1917 to the Royal West Surrey Regiment (labour Coy).
W JARDINE of 10 Queens Road, aged 28 Years 2 Months, Labourer. Volunteered on 13 April 1915 to the Middlesex Regiment (18th Batn).
Ian JORDAN of 40 Queens Road, aged 29 Years 6 Months, Bricklayer. Volunteered on 7 January 1915 to the Royal Horse Artillery.
S MEARS of 49 Queens Road, aged 20 Years 6 Months, Doorkeeper. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 19 February 1916 to the Royal West Surrey Regiment (9th Batn).
G MUNT of 43 Queens Road, aged 29 Years 9 Months, Grave Digger. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 11 December 1915 to the East Surrey Regiment (3/5th Batn).
J MUNT of 50 Queens Road, aged 32 Years, Grave Digger. Conscripted on 23 October 1916 to the Labour Corps (depot).
W MUNT of 42 Queens Road, aged 28 Years 11 Months, Labourer. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 11 December 1915 to the Royal West Surrey Regiment (3/4 Batn).
W NEWSON of 34 Queens Road, aged 23 Years 7 Months, Labourer. Volunteered with the Derby Scheme on 11 December 1915 to the Royal Fusiliers (16th Batn).
M SIMANTS of 14 Queens Road, aged 18 Years, Labourer. Conscripted on 31 March 1917 to the 23rd Training Reserve Batn.
J SMITH of 24 Queens Road Mitcham, aged 31 Years 10 Months, Carman. Conscripted on 12 December 1916 to the 5th Labour Corps (301st Labour Co).
H TRUELOVE of 54 Queens Road, aged 31 Years 7 Months, Labourer. Conscripted on 10 December 1916 to the Royal West Kent Regiment (3rd Batn).
W WALKLETT of 5 Queens Road, aged 32 Years, Rigger. Conscripted on 8 September 1917 to the Royal Engineers.
J A WHITEMAN of 41 Queens Road, aged 20 Years, Labourer. Conscripted on 06 November 1916 to the East Surrey Regiment (4th Batn).
Occupants from electoral registers:
1936 Health Report
CLEARANCE AREA No. 12.
Fifty-four houses known as 1 – 51 and 2 – 56 (inclusive), Queens Road.
Source: Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Mitcham, Wellcome Trust, page 44.
Stories
The road was disconnected from Belgrave Road in 1996, as described in this Section 316 Planning Application, number 96/P0786 :
Closure of the eastern end of Queens Road, 55 metres in length, from its junction with Belgrave Road and use of the highway as open space, alterations to the Cranleigh Court vehicular access off Phipps Bridge Road and provision of new vehicular access to Frensham Court off Phipps Bridge Road.
Croydon Guardian and Surrey County Gazette – Saturday 10 May 1913
YOUNG MEN IN DRINK
– Arthur Block (24), of 17, Queens-road, Mitcham, and Thomas Adaway (21), of 26, Belgrave-road, Mitcham, were charged- at the Croydon County Police Court on Monday before Alderman R. M. Chart (in the chair). Mr. E. and Mr. W. E. Davis, with being drunk and disorderly at London road. Mitcham, Saturday afternoon. They pleaded guilty and it was stated that they threatened to break some shop windows. They were each fined 20s. and costs or 14 days.
From the Wallington & Carshalton Herald – Saturday 1st January 1881
WHY PAY RENT, when for £25 down and 19s. 3d. per month for 14 years you can own a substantial 5-roomed HOUSE and washhouse, with bay window to parlour, and good gardens? Lease 97 years. Ground rent £2 15s. Situate Beaconsfield Terrace, Queen’s Road, 600 yards from Phipps Bridge and Mitcham Church. Apply at No. 7. Also CORNER SHOP and five rooms. Gateway entrance. £30 down; £1 4s. per month for 14 years; ground-rent £3 10s. per annum. Lease 97 years.
Streatham News – Friday 31 May 1918
A MITCHAM RAID FOR DESERTERS.
When the nine men taken in a Mitcham round-up were before the Croydon magistrates on Tuesday, Captain H. O. Carter, of the National Service Department, said he hoped the sanitary condition disclosed during the raid would receive the attention of the local authorities. The houses in Park-road and Queen’s-road, Mitcham, formed a warren which to him suggested a breeding-ground of death. A woman and seven children were living in one room, and all the premises were filthy. – The Chairman asked why some of the women were not brought before them for harbouring the men. Captain Carter replied that it took the police and military all their time to collar the men, as they scattered in all directions.
Streatham News – Friday 14 July 1922
MANNERS IN QUEEN’S ROAD, MITCHAM.
At the Croydon Coanty Bench, on Saturday, a Mitcham neighbours’ squabble was related to the justices, when Ellen Vine, of 33, Queen’s-road, was summoned by Elizabeth Hazell, of New Close Lodge, Phippsbridge-road, for assault, on June 27th.
Complainant stated that as she was going into her house defendant made a sneering remark, and jeered at the fact that witness and her husband had at one time lived apart. Witness took no notice of the insult, where upon defendant struck her and used most vile language. ‘I am innocent,’ was the declaration of defendant, when called upon to give evidence. ‘I have lived in my house for years and never had an angry word. It is all through her.’ (Indicating complainant). “The amenities of Queen’s-road are both special and peculiar,’’ remarked the chairman (Sir Arthur Spurgeon) Both parties were bound over for six months.
Streatham News – Friday 20 January 1928
A RIDDLE.
My first is in rain, but not in hail;
My second is in boat, but not in sail;
My third is in sweet, and not in sour ;
My fourth is in second, but not in hour.
My whole is the name of a favourite flower.
Solution: Rose.From DAVID NEWSOM, 34 Queen’s-road, Mitcham.
Streatham News – Friday 28 November 1930
A MITCHAM DISPUTE.
Alleged Blows with Cup, Saucer and Plate.
A discussion over a funeral was given as the cause of a quarrel at Mitcham which led to a summons before Croydon County Bench on Wednescday. Frank Willoughby, Queen’s – road, Mitcham, was summoned for assaulting Violet Davis, Seaton-road, Mitcham. Miss – Davis alleged that defendant called at her house -and after calling her names, struck her on the face with a dinner-plate. Her mother supported her allegations, and denied that her daughter assaulted Mr. Willoughby first. Defendant said his father-in-law had asked him to call at the house to dlscuss funeral arrangements. Davis told him when he calied, however, that he had no right to call. During the argument Davis threw a cup and saucer at him, catching him on the arm. He did not touch her. “I have never insulted a woman in my life,” he declared. The matron said she found a bruise on Davis’ face. Both were bound over for six months.
Maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Mitcham History Notes 