Tag Archives: 1938

The Canons

Photo taken 22nd June 2020


Occupants

From The Times, 24th June 1920

THE CANONS, an interesting old house with historical associations. Total area about nine acres. The residence and about 5 1/2 acres, let on lease expiring Lady Day, 1940, at £180 per annum, the remainder let on yearly tenancy at £14 per annum. Long frontages to Cricket Green and Madeira Road.

To be offered for SALE by AUCTION, in the Hanover Square Estate Room, on Wednesday, 14th July, 1920, in convenient lots.

The Canons was occupied by Leonard Elphinston Brunel HOMAN, from 1911? to 1938. He died on 28th September, 1938, at aged 75. He left just under £25,000 to his widow Sybil Eustace Holman. This is equivalent to £1.5 million in 2016 values.

See also Mrs Derek Homan.


Reported in the London Daily News of 29th May 1911, that James George Henry Glass was a director of the Bengal Nagpur Railway Co.

From Ancestry National Probate Register

GLASS James George Henry of The Canons Mitcham Surrey died 21 April 1911 at Naples Italy Probate Landon 20 May to Donald James Cumberlege Glass esquire and George Rupert Thomas Upton barrister-at-law.

Effects £216,885 6s. 9d.

This is equivalent to about £23 million in 2016 values.


World War 1 Connections
2nd Lieutenant James Fraser Glass

Benninga Margarine Factory

Margarine factory that was in Mortimer Road from 1932 to 1965.

1952 OS map showing outline of Benninga factory

According to Eric Montague’s Mitcham Histories : 14 Upper Mitcham and Western Road, page 93, the factory was built on the site of the Holborn Union Workhouse Gas Works.

From the Daily News (London) – Saturday 23 April 1932

NEW BRITISH FACTORY

AMSTERDAM.

— A factory and 175 acres of ground near Mitcham, Surrey, has been bought by the Dutch margarine firm of Benninga. A British company will he founded with a capital of £50,000, and It is expected that production will begin in the autumn. The factory will have a producing capacity of 200 to 300 tons a week.

— Reuter.

Benninga was a Dutch company that set up factories in Hull and Mitcham to avoid import tariffs.

1965 Winding Up

BENNINGA (MITCHAM) LIMITED
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Members of the above-named Company, duly convened and held at 20 Cannon Street, London E.C.4, on the 12th day of August 1965, the following Special Resolution was duly passed ; ” That the Company be wound up voluntarily, and that Mr. Peter Ewen, of 17 St. Helen’s Place, London E.C.3, and Mr. Stanley Shaw, of 13 Wood-cote Close, Kingston, Surrey, be and they are hereby appointed Liquidators of the Company for the purposes of such winding-up.”
(364)
A. J. Penfold, Secretary.

Merton Memories Photos
1938 delivery of equipment from Amsterdam via Hull
Undated, possibly of offices
Staff photo
Home Guard drilling at factory


This ad from 1938 introduces the brands VITSU and LARDEX:

Norwood News – Friday 4th February 1938
Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

It also refers to the works as the BENNINGA SUNSHINE FACTORY.

1962 ad

Text of ad:

Ask your Grocer for
BENNINGA’S
PRODUCTS
THE BEST THAT MONEY CAN BUY

B.B.M. & WAYSIDE
MARGARINES
BENNINGA’S LARD
COOKING OILS
GREEN CIRCLE DRIPPING
VITSU SHREDDED SUET

Are manufactured by:
BENNINGA (MITCHAM) LTD.
(Incorporating Juvit Ltd.)
MITCHAM — SURREY
MITcham 3061 (7 lines)

Established 29 years — good for a century

BBM was Butter Blended Margarine


Aerial photos of whole site before demolition

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and of the ‘tunnel’
Benninga Tunnel 01

Benninga Tunnel 02

Benninga Tunnel 03

Benninga Tunnel 04