Tag Archives: 1938

Cecilia

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Ladies’ hair stylist, 160 London Road, from pre and post WW2 period.

Earliest mention in newspaper archives is 1932, see below.

clip from 1953 photo on Merton Memories, copyright Phox Studios, image reference Mit_Streets_Lon_38-49

ad from 1938

1952 ad

Text of ad:

For All Hair
and Scalp
Troubles
consult
“CECILIA”
Ladies’ Hair Stylist

160 London Road, Mitcham

Jamal & Eugene
Specialists

‘Phone: MIT 3377

Agents for Coty and Max Factor
Peggy Sage
Revlon

Newspaper articles

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 08 December 1932

LEAP FROG.
MITCHAM BOY JUMPS THROUGH WINDOW.

Arthur Fowkes, a schoolboy, of 6, Bordergate, one of the new roads on the Mitcham Council housing estate, was playing leap frog with another schoolboyon Friday evening in front of the row of shops at the corner of Eveline-road and Figge’s Marsh. All went well until Fowkes, miscalculating his prowess as a leaper, jumped through the plate glass window of a ladies’ hairdressing establishment (Cecilia).

Arthur landed right side up among a thousand fragments of glass unhurt, but a trifle bewildered, A young woman assistant, who happened to be in the window at the time, was considerably shocked hy Arthur’s violent intrusion, but she was not hurt either, Fortunately the window had just been cleared for Christmas dressing, so none of the stock was damaged. Arthur’s playmate was simply surprised.

Mitcham Stadium

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Sports stadium, which occupied around 8 acres, north of Eastfields Road and opposite the football ground in Sandy Lane, was built in 1935 and was sold to property developer Wates Ltd in 1955.

1952 OS map

1953 aerial photo showing football and rugby posts on the field. Fernlea Road is on the left, with Sandy lane at the top.

Mitcham Borough council minutes of 6th December 1934, volume 1, page 89, record a letter received from Mr S.E. Parkes:

26. LAND, EASTFIELDS.

Read letter from Mr. S. E. Parkes stating that he had had under consideration a scheme for the
utilisation of the disused gravel pit in Eastfields Road for the purpose of a Rugby football ground, and asking whether any objection would be raised by the Council in connection with
the user of this land for the purpose under the provisions of the Town Planning Scheme.

Resolved, That Mr. Parkes be informed that no objection will be offered by the Council.

A detailed history of the stadium can be found at the Gandermonium blog.

Mitcham News & Mercury, 18th May, 1935

Norwood News, 6th September 1935, showing construction of one of the two stands. 300 tons of steel was used in each stand, and by comparison, the Majestic cinema had 350 tons.

Norwood News, 6th September 1935 advertising the opening of the stadium the next day.

In addition to rugby, Irish games such as hurling were played at the stadium.

Also charity events were held there such as this 1937 fete in ad of the Wilson Hospital:

ad from 1937 Mitcham Cricket Club Yearbook

In 1954, the stadium was called ‘A White Elephant’ in this article in the 1st July issue of the Mitcham & Tooting Advertiser:

The site was sold to Wates Ltd who built housing with Guyatt Gardens, Ormerod Gardens, Fowler Road, Priestley Road with Roper Way connecting to Eastfields Road.

Mitcham and Tooting Advertiser, 26th May 1955, page 1.

House for sale ad in 1965 referred to the former Mitcham Stadium.

Maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.