Tag Archives: 1960

Nelson Arms

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Pub rebuilt in 1910.

2012 Google Street View

Contents
Timeline
Maps

Location:15 Merton High St, London SW19 1DF

I. ORIGINS & FOUNDATION (Early 19th Century)

1829 | Establishment

  • Foundation: The Nelson Arms is established, planting deep historical roots in the local area.
  • Context: It emerges during a period of dense licensed trade along the High Street, driven by industrial employment and transit traffic.

II. THE EDWARDIAN REINVENTION (1905 – 1910)

1905 | The “Local Hero” Context

  • Cultural Atmosphere: The centenary of Lord Nelson’s death is celebrated locally with reverence.
  • Significance: He remains a “local hero” to the community, influencing the pub’s strong thematic identity.

1910 | The Grand Rebuild

  • Event: The pub is completely rebuilt.
  • Significance: This reconstruction transforms the building into a specialized “Nelsonian” landmark rather than a generic public house.

III. ARCHITECTURAL DISTINCTION (1910 – Present)

The “Garters” Murals

  • Feature: The exterior is adorned with iconic tiled murals depicting Lord Nelson and HMS Victory.
  • Artistry: These distinctive ceramics are attributed to “Garters of Poole”.
  • Impact: The murals turn the pub into a destination for architectural tourism, distinguishing it from its competitors.

IV. RESILIENCE & SURVIVAL (Modern Era)

Late 20th Century | Survival of the Fittest

  • Contrast: While the King’s Head converts to offices and the Royal Six Bells closes due to flooding, the Nelson Arms survives the erosion of the traditional pub network.
  • Strategy: Its specialized branding and unique architectural identity provide the resilience needed to withstand market pressures.

Present Day | A Living Landmark

  • Status: The Nelson Arms remains a functioning public house.
  • Legacy: It stands as a “Tiled Success Story” and a tangible link to the area’s historical density of licensed trade.

Maps

Ordnance Survey maps are reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY.

1894 OS map

1950 OS map

1960 OS map

River Wandle Improvement Scheme of 1959

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The following articles are from the Clapham Observer, via the British Newspaper Archive, who say that the copyright holder is unknown.

17th April 1959

14th August 1959

30th October 1959

From other newspapers:

South Western Star – Friday 12 February 1960

Search for bomb at brewery

As we went to press, a group of bomb disposal experts were still digging to find the exact location of an unexploded bomb on the banks of the River Wandle. The bomb is believed to have been dropped in 1942 when a small hole was sighted in the kitchen garden of the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth High St. A bomb disposal unit called at the time decided the bomb was comparatively harmless in the garden and left it. Now, some 18 years later, a big improvement scheme has been planned for the Wandle, and the bomb has now to be found before work can start.

Norwood News – Friday 02 February 1962

Part of river plan ready

WORK on section of the River Wandle improvement scheme which affects Merton High Street to Phipps Bridge Road, Mitcham, and the London County Council boundary to Chuters Mill, Wimbledon. bee now been substantially completed. Negotiations for the acquisition of the water rights at Chuters Mill, Wimbledon, Surrey County Council were told on Tuesday, have been completed and work on the section from Chuters Mill to Connolly’s Mill, which Is estimated will cost £55,000, is to start in the near future.

Norwood News – Friday 01 June 1962

Wandle work

Work on the second section of phase three of the Chuter’s Mill to Connolly’s Mill stretch of the River Wandle improvement scheme has started. Tenders have also been invited for the fourth and final phase of the scheme and Surrey County Council hope that work on both these sections will be nearly finished by the end of the year. They hope that all the improvement scheme will be “substantially completed” by August, 1963.

Streatham News – Friday 05 October 1962

Land for sale

Mitcham Council are to sell about 125 square yards of land in Ravensbury Park, Morden Road, to Surrey County Council in connection with the improvement scheme for the River Wandle.

Streatham News – Friday 25 January 1963

WANDLE WORK GOES AHEAD

Latest progress report on River Wandle improvement scheme is that the contract for the work comprising the second part of Phase III — Chuter’s Mill to Connolly’s Mill, Wimbledon — has now been completed. The contract for the first section of Phase IV — Phipps Bridge to Eagle Leather Works, Mitcham – is proceeding according to pro-ramme and should be completed within the next two or three months. Tenders for the work on the final length of the improvement – Eagle Leather Works to Croydon borough boundary – have been invited, while tenders have been received for the supply of the two automatically controlled sluice gates to be installed on this length of the scheme.