Tag Archives: Bruce Road

Tyrell’s Poultry Farm

A poultry farm that was in Gorringe Park.

According to Eric Montague, writing about St Barnabas church in his Mitcham Histories : 2 North Mitcham, page, 109:

During preparation of the site for the new church what remained of Gorringe Park stables, then known as Tyrell’s Farm, was demolished.

He also said that a clock, removed from one of the old farm buildings, was installed in the church tower through the generosity of Joseph Wilson and his wife, who were living at Gorringe Park House at the same time as the church was built.

The 1904 street directory describes Gorringe Park Avenue as walked from the London Road:

…. here is Bruce Road
Charles FROST (Gorringe Park Lodge)

Christ Church Church Room

Christleib T. LIPSHYTZ (Gorringe Park House)

The Surrey & Sussex Poultry Farm Limited

Arnold & Arnold, veterinary surgeons (Gorringe Park)

The spelling of the surname differs in the 1910 electoral register, which shows William TYRRELL at Poultry farm, Gorringe park. Henry TYRELL is shown at 5 Thirsk Road.

The 1911 street directory, also described from west to east, now shows William Tyrell poultry farm:

…. here is Bruce Road
St Barnabas District Mission Church

St Barnabas’ Men’s Club (W.G. WOODWARD, hon. sec.)

Reverend Christleib T. LIPSHYTZ (Gorringe Park House)

William TYRELL poultry farm

Arnald & Arnald, veterinary surgeons (Gorringe Park)

This can be compared to the 1911 OS map:

1911 OS map

The assumption then is that field numbers 574 and/or 575 were the locations of the poultry farm, with 571 being the vets.

The path that is shown between Gorringe Park House and the poultry farm is followed today by the course of Edenvale Road, as shown on the georeferenced OS map on the NLS website:


During World War 1, three members of the Tyrell family were called up and went to the Military Service Tribunal to ask for exemption. Reports of the tribunals in local newspapers have been summarised by the Merton Historical Society

3rd March 1916

“My business, run under agreement, cannot be run without my supervision,” wrote Mr. Albert Tyrell, aged 31 years, keeping a poultry farm at Mitcham, and who is a pig breeder and butcher at Streatham.
Claim for exemption was disallowed.

Leonard Tyrell, 28, a poultry farm keeper and pig breeder, whose mother is dependent on him, claimed total exemption but was only given a month.

8th September 1916

John William Tyrell, 23, a pig and poultry dealer, was quite unable to get anyone to carry on his business if he went. This was his fourth Tribunal appearance. His father, aged 58, suffered from a strained heart, and had been medically certified as unfit for heavy manual labour. The Chairman thought there was no reason why he should not turn to and do what he could; we were all now doing things that once we had given up doing. One more month, to be final.


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

Bruce Road

Road on former Gorringe Park estate, west of Heaton Road.

1913 OS Map

1913 OS Map

The road was made up in 1902. From the minutes of the Croydon Rural District Council, Volume 8, 1902 to 1903, 18th September 1902, page 395:

Grenfell Road Tenders

The Council opened and considered the undermentioned tenders received for the making up, forming, kerbing, and metalling of Grenfell Road, Mitcham:-

Stockwell & Co., Bromley = £698 7s.
Adams, T., Wood Green, London = £574
Iles, E., Mitcham = £472
Free & Sons, Maidenhead = £437
Wheeler, W., Southwark, S.E. = £369

Resolved, That the tender of Messrs. Free & Sons, of Maidenhead, be accepted, and that the necessary bond be entered into in accordance of conduct.


From the 1915 street directory:

from Ashbourne Road to Figg’s marsh

EAST SIDE

2 Jean Marie Berthelot, teacher of french
4 Sydney Taylor
6 Albert Edward Snowdon
8 Francis Stagg
10 Charles W Beaven
12 William Henry Isaac
14 Harry Tanner Lucas
16 Albert Edward Everett
18 George Osmond
20 William Philip Evans
22 Frederick Greasby
24 James Henry Brown
26 George Gray
28 James Champion
30 Sidney Clover
32 Francis W Dutton
34 Walter John Maunder
36 William Fulbrook
38 John Blunt
40 Herbert Warner
42 Ernest John Willmott
44 William Henry Parsonage
46 Mrs Bond
48 Mrs P. Zietz, teacher of music
50 Ernest Wall Mills
52 Robert George Fletcher
54 Robert Bracken
56 Owen H. Bailey, insurance agent
58 National Deposit Friendly Society (Mitcham district) (Francis Swann, secretary)
60 Thomas Lawton
62 James Bryan
64 George William Richards
66 Alfred Crowhurst

WEST SIDE

1 George Adams, grocer
27 william George Kempsell, grocer
29 H.D. Sanders, boot maker

… here is Inglemere Road …

25A J. Richardson, builder & decorator

… here is Gorringe park avenue & Figg’s marsh …

World War 1 Connections
Rifleman Ernest James Blagburn
Private Frederick Isaac
Private A E Snowdon

WW2 Civilian Casualties

11th October 1940

29 Bruce Road

Ella Marjory DUNN, aged 31

Minnie SANDERS, aged 69
Reginald Frederick SANDERS, aged 44
Charlotte Irene STRINGER, aged 30
Ray Frank William STRINGER, aged 9
Shirley Ann STRINGER, aged 4

38 Bruce Road

Phyllis EVANS, aged 23
Douglas Leonard STARES, aged 26


Minutes of meetings held by the Croydon Rural District Council are available on request from the Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre at Morden Library.

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