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Unveiling of the Mitcham War Memorial

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From the Mitcham and Tooting Mercury, 26th November, 1920

UNVEILING OF MITCHAM’S WAR MEMORIAL.

The war shrine, situated on the Lower Green, Mitcham, was unveiled last Sunday by Major-General Sir H. E. Watts, K.C.B., C.M.G. (formerly commanding the 7th Division and 19th Corps, B.E.F.). The weather, although very cold, was fine, and about 5,000 people were present at the unveiling.

Alderman R. M. Chart (Chairman of the War Memorial Committee) said that this shrine was to commemorate the self-sacrifice of those who made the supreme sacrifice, and show our undying sorrow felt by those who have lost dear ones in the late war. Two years ago the war terminated, and in February, 1919, a committee was formed for the purpose of raising funds for the war shrine. There was some difficulty as to the most prominent place for the shrine, and on Peace Day, when the temporary memorial was put behind the Vestry Hall, it was proposed that that should be the site for the permanent one. It is also proposed now that a fencing should be placed round the shrine, but with facilities for the public to place flowers on it, which he (Mr. R. M. Chart) was sure they would do from time to time. He also said that every effort had been made to obtain the names of men who had been killed in action or died of wounds, and, at present, there were 557 names inscribed on the shrine, and since then more had come to hand, and would be inscribed in due course. The speaker then said it was his duty and pleasure to introduce Major-General Sir H. E. Watts, K.C.B., C.M.G., who had well served his country in the late war. He was commanding in the first and third Battle of Ypres.

Major-General Sir H. E. Watts, K.C.B., C.M.G., said, after what Mr. Chart had said, there was not much more to say, but there was one incident that he would like to remind them of, and that was the late Earl Kitchener’s appeal of “Your King and Country need you,” at the beginning of the war, in which all men flocked to enlist. “Why !” because they knew that they were going to fight for freedom and endure the hardships of war, which was a fine example of self-sacrifice and unselfishness. All honour was due to them who came forward at the country’s call. The men, women and children were also a great help, for, while we soldiers were fighting, those at home endured many hardships, but without murmuring. He then unveiled the memorial, and the “Last Post” was played by buglers of the East Surrey Regiment.

The hymn, “Nearer my God to Thee,” was sung, and then the invocation and prayers were said by Rev. C. A. Finch, the Vicar of Mitcham, after which Rev. J. F. Cowley, the the Zion Congregational Church, said a few words.

Rev. J. F. Cowley said that, in doing honour to those who laid down their lives for us, there should be no mistake, for if they had not done so, no English home would be intact and safe to-day, but the unspeakable happenings in Belgium would have happened in England, and, perhaps, have been even worse, because it was against England that the Germans were so bitter and revengeful. He said we should thank God and our fallen heroes for such a merciful deliverance, and also think God for such sons, fathers, brothers and sweethearts who so cheerfully laid down their lives to save us from shame and dishonour. They must not forget to honour and thank the mothers who gave the best, they had got; and in the future, when one was in despair, they should just go to the shrine and remember what, Englishmen could and did do for their country, because they thought that, if it was worth living for, it was worth dying for. Those present then proceeded to place their floral tributes on the shrine, during which Mr. Rudyard Kipling’s “Recessional” was sung.

The Jubilee Lodge, R.A.O.B., sent a wreath in memory of fallen “Buffs.” Other lodges also sent wreaths.

The special constables were present under the command of Inspectors Webb and Freeman. Colonel Bidder, D.S.O., was present, and a detachment of ex-Service men lined up round the inside of the ropes. The music for the hymns was played by the Mitcham and Wimbledon Military Band, conducted by Mr. H. Salter.

Ravensbury Manor House

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House that was home for Lt. Col. Harold Bidder DSO, son of George Parker Bidder QC.

1910 OS map reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY

According to Eric Montague, in his Mitcham Histories : 10 Ravensbury, Harold bidder commissioned the house in 1910, to the design of his brother-in-law Horace Porter and Percy Newton. Finished in 1912, it was conceived in the new Queen Anne style popularised by Lutyens, with classical doorcases and a wealth of interior panelling, and stood on a stone balustraded terrace with steps descending to the water’s edge.

An article appeared in Country Life, 8th March 1913, “The Lesser Country Houses of Today”.

March 8th, 1913.
COUNTRY LIFE.

THERE can be few sites within a ten-mile radius of Charing Cross which present so many attractions as that of Ravensbury Manor. It has an air of seclusion altogether delightful, and the river Wandle meanders pleasantly through the grounds, and stretches a backwater through tall trees. That the merits of the place have been appreciated for at least fifteen centuries is clear from the Anglo-Saxon finds which have been recorded by its owner, Captain Bidder, in
the solemn pages of Archaeologia. Seventy-seven graves were examined, and yielded many typical objects which illustrate the art of the West Saxon inhabitants of Surrey. In Captain Bidder’s house, now illustrated, is preserved a wealth of beads and brooches, buckles and knives, and among the
finds was a charming tumbler of pale blue glass and of a curiously modern shape which suggests the Arts and Crafts Exhibition.

From the fifth century we must needs jump to the eighteenth, for by the river bank are the remains of the manor house of that period. Less
than a century ago this was abandoned, doubtless because its construction was ill-adapted to resist the floods to which the Wandle was addicted, and a new home was built some distance away on much higher ground. Such ruins as remain suggest that the old house had some pleasant characteristics. Of late, Captain Bidder, appreciating the peculiar merits of the river-side, has built his new house there, but on the opposite bank and on much higher ground. The unusual
placing of the house with reference to the Wandle Road and the odd shape which the garden has taken were due to the desire to secure from the chief windows the pretty view along the course of the river. But for this the architects would have prepared to set it parallel with road and river. The
desire to utilise the highest point above water-level also made it needful to put the house very close to the road and to banish the motor-house to the far side of it. None the less, privacy has not been sacrificed, for an adequate wall divides the forecourt from the road, and no rooms of importance
overlook, that side. This is a case, however, where the exigencies of the site compel a disrespect of the usual practice with reference to sunny aspect. The living (and dining) room faces north-east and north-west, and the parlour north-west and south-west, by no means an ideal arrangement, but the best that could be done as things were. The plan generally marks Ravensbury Manor as a bachelor’s home. The building is conceived in the quiet manner
of the eighteenth century and is attractive, but it lies open to the criticism that height is over-emphasised in proportion to width. On the north-west front is laid out pretty paved garden, from which the stable block with its lantern is seen to group well with the entrance gates. To divide this garden from the forecourt, very good use has been made of a treillage screen, a feature of garden treatment which is employed too little. Surrounding
the paved garden and marking it off from the meadow, above which it is raised, is an attractive balustrade, seen best in our second picture, which was taken from the far bank of the Wandle. Advantage has been taken of the front door being at the internal angle made by the two wings of the house to provide an interesting dome-shaped porch. The inside of the house is plainly treated save for the dining room, where charming panelling is interspersed with big romantic landscapes by Stansfield, some in tempera and one in oil. It is impossible to exaggerate the increase in restfulness which comes from giving to pictures a definite part in the architectural treatment of a room, instead of making them excrescences emphasised by gilded frames which usually bear no decorative relation to their surroundings.

The word “manor” when applied to a small place has a large sound which is inappropriate, and, moreover, it is usually meaningless. In this case, the house is, in fact, the house of the manor, and, despite its modest extent, has a dignity which adds a certain fitness to the just use of the word. Mr. Porter and Mr. Newton have shown in the general scheme of the design a gift for overcoming the difficulties presented by a site of unusual character and hampering conditions.

W.

In 1926, the London County Council selected 825 acres of farmland to the south of the house for its housing estate of 10,000 homes for inner London families, which became known as the St Helier Estate. Other plots of land near the house were snapped up as well, and the country mansion aspect of the house dwindled as a result.

Mitcham Urban District Council approached Merton and Morden Urban District Council with a suggestion that they join forces and buy the remains of the Ravensbury estate to establish a park. At a cost of £6,000, as reported in the Daily Herald of Tuesday 23 April 1929, Ravensbury Park of 16.5 acres was established (14 acres was in Mitcham). It was formally opened on 10th May 1930 by George Lansbury MP, Commissioner of Works.

Ravensbury Manor House, now having lost its former grounds, and the wider area no longer part of the countryside, was put up for sale in 1930. There were no buyers. It was then demolished and the site used for building maisonettes.

News Articles

Shepton Mallet Journal – Friday 15 March 1929

BAPTISM IN GARAGE

In a tiny chapel constructed in corner of the garage at Ravensbury Manor, Mitcham, the residence of Colonel H. F. Bidder, Rosemary Vivian, the youngest child of Colonel and Mrs. Bidder, was baptised on Saturday afternoon. The service was conducted by the Rev. A. J. Culwick, Rector of Morden. A silver-mounted bowl presented to the six-weeks old baby by members of the Essay Club, Society of Antiquaries, of which Colonel Bidder is member, was used as a temporary font.

The chapel, which seats about a dozen people, is used for Sunday evening services by the Bidder family, and by number of residents near the manor, to save the long walk to Mitcham or Modern Churches. Colonel Bidder occasionally takes the services himself.

Daily Mirror – Tuesday 30 June 1914

MAN WITH REVOLVER AT BEDSIDE.

How an Army captain awoke to find a man standing by his bed with a revolver was described at Croydon yesterday, when Alfred Goddard was committed for trial, charged with burglary at Ravensbury Manor, Mitcham. Captain Bidder stated that he awoke and found prisoner standing by his bed with a revolver pointed at his head. Prisoner said, ” You are a dead man !” but witness jumped out of bed, seized the man, threw him to the ground and held him there.

Morning Herald (London) – Thursday 30 June 1831

MITCHAM.