Flower shop that was at 219 London Road
c.1987 clip from Merton Memories photo reference Mit_8_1-33, copyright London Borough of Merton
1982 ad for Courtesy Florals at no. 219
Courtesy Florals
(M.J. Harrington)
Flowers for all Ocassions
219 London Road
Mitcham
Telephone 01-648 3506
Was at 321/323 London Road, Mitcham, on east side of the road and south of Boundary House (Job Centre).
Went into liquidation in July 2016, as reported in the London Gazette
In 1982 it was at number 333A:
ad from the 1982 Mitcham Diary
“SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY
MOTOR SPARES
EXPRESS DELIVERY SERVICE
ALL PARTS SUPPLIED UNDER
MANUFACTURERS GUARANTEE”9-6.30 MON. – FRI9-5.30 SAT.
9.30-1 p.m. SUN.333A LONDON ROAD
MITCHAM, SURREY
01-646 1033/2430
363 and 365 London Road
1953 OS map
Listed in the 1938 commercial directory as motor cycle dealers, 365 London Road, telephone number 0829. Not shown in the 1930 commercial directory.
In 1954 phone book as Millars Motors (Mitcham) Ltd., Motor dealers, 363 London Road, telephone MITcham 0829.
Listed in the 1963 Borough of Mitcham List of Factories as Motor Vehicle Repairs, Sidecars.
This letterhead shows the outline of the building.
undated letterhead
This clip from Merton Memories shows the left hand side of the building where ’36’ can be seen which matches the ‘363’ on the letterhead.
clip from 1938 photo of tree in garage next to Millars Motors building at 363 London Road, from Merton Memories photo reference Mit_Work_Industry_18-1
Adverts
22nd September 1939 ad from Croydon Advertiser
1982 ad from Mitcham Diary
1955 Stationery
District Stockist
Agents for
A.J.S.
ARIEL
B.S.A.
COVENTRY
EAGLE
DOUGLAS
ENFIELD
EXCELSIOR
JAMES
MATCHLESS
MORRIS
NORMAN
NORTON
PANTHER
SUNBEAM
TRIUMPH
VELOCETTE
VINCENT H.R.D.
Sidecars:
NOXAL
SWALLOW
WATSONIAN
Part Exchanges
a
SPECIALITY
Insurances Arranged
The site at 359, 363 and 365 were built on around 2002 by Green Acre Homes (South East) Ltd whose planning application, no. 02/P0208, was for
Erection of a 3 storey building fronting London Road and comprising 3 x 2 and 6 x 1 bed flats and a 2 – storey building fronting Baron Grove and comprising 4 x 1 bed flats with associated car parking (the proposal involves demolition of all existing buildings on site)
Merton Council haven’t put online any documents for planning applications before 2005, so no other details are known.
Maps are reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
Shop that was established at 187 London Road (opposite Eagle House), in 1946 by brothers Alan and Colin Sproxton, using their service gratuities. The name “Home Radio” was suggested by their father.
September 1947 – the shop at 187 London Road, and their van. From Murphy News.
In 1959 Colin Sproxton took part in the Monte Carlo Rally.
Colin Sproxton in 1959 at the Monte Carlo Rally. Clip from Merton Memories photo reference Mit_People_124-1, copyright London Borough of Merton.
Home Radio initially sold electrical appliances, as shown in these adverts from 1960.
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The business grew with selling components by mail order. According to an article in The Radio Constructor magazine (pdf), Home Radio and Mitcham became known all over the world.
Colin Sproxton retired in 1964, the year of this catalogue cover:
1964 Home Radio catalogue
The back cover of this catalogue showed how to get to their shop by public transport. The map also showed their service shop in Locks Lane.
Their 1968 components catalogue, was advertised in Practical Wireless magazine, and said that it was:
Used and acclaimed by scientists, engineers, technicians, teachers & students
1968 Practical Wireless magazine ad
In 1969 they moved to larger premises to cope with the need to store large amounts of components for the mail order business. They went to the top floor of a new office block at 234 – 240 London Road, which gave them 2,400 square feet of space. The business was being run by Alan Sproxton and Ernest Layton at this time.
The Radio Constructor magazine described the dinner that was held at The Grange on 23rd April 1969 to celebrate the expansion of the business. A guest at the dinner was an old friend of the Sproxton family, Mr B. Mund Hopen from Bergen in Norway, who was in charge of the Norwegian Shipping Mission during World War 2. Mr Sproxton, in his after-lunch speech said that it was his opinion that three things saved Britain from defeat: radar, the tenacity and courage of the RAF, and the Norwegian tanker fleet which came over to Britain.
The company was wound up in 1982, as recorded in the London Gazette:
HOME RADIO (COMPONENTS) LIMITED
“That it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Company that this Company cannot, by reason of its liabilities, continue its business and that it is advisable that the same should be wound up; and that the Company be wound up and that Keith John Chapman of 1-2 Pudding Lane, London EC3R 8AB, be and is hereby appointed as Liquidator of the Company for the purpose of such voluntary winding-up.”
A. Sproxton, Chairman
