Tag Archives: 1953

51 and 52 Commonside West

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A pair of cottages that were demolished in 1967.

The south end of the building can be seen in this 1966 photo by Eric Montague of the Park Place North Lodge.

1966 photo by Eric Montague of the Lodge buildings as seen from Park Place. Reproduced by kind permission of the Merton Historical Society.

Clip from Merton Memories photo 50712

Clip from Merton Memories photo 50712 Copyright: London Borough of Merton.

1953 OS Map

From the minutes of the London Borough of Merton
Volume 4
1967 to 1968
Education Committee
page 280
26th June 1967

(12) Former News of the World Sports Ground – No.s 51/52 Commonside West – The Chief Education Officer referred to Minute 2642(3)/3/67 and reported that the cost of demolishing two cottages formerly known as 51/52 Commonside West (situate within the curtilage of the the former “News of the World” Sports Ground) and the brick at the rear of the properties would amount to £75, exclusive of levelling and fencing the site.

Resolved – That No.s 51/52, Commonside West be demolished as soon as possible and the sites thereof levelled and fenced as necessary.

The hut for the 2157 (Mitcham) Squadron of the Air Training Corps was built on this site in 1969/70.

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

326 London Road

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Kellaway House
326 London Road
MITCHAM
CR4 3ND

Currently (2022) the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). This building is on the locally list (see the list as a pdf).

Photo taken May 2022

Photo taken December 2005

Originally called Raydon. In 1926/7 it became the Conservative Party district headquarters, see Merton Memories.

Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother visited the CAB at this address on 14th November, 1956, see Merton Memories photo.

The Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan (pdf), page 35, says

A late 19th Century detached house the last survival of a row of detached and semi-detached housed that used to be located on the west side of London Road between the Upper and Lower Greens. The building, which now provides offices for the Citizens Advice Bureau is distinctive with white gault brick front elevation with projecting brick quoins and redbrick dressings and details.

Note from this map that the adjacent building, number 328, was built on land that was once part of Sibford House. Currently there is a common entrance to both 326 and 328, and so it could appear that they are both on the same plot.

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