Road that runs between Commonside East, about a fifth of a mile east of the Beehive Bridge, and Tamworth Lane.

The three fields shown in this 1866 OS map, between The Cedars and Tamworth Lodge, is likely to be the plot referred to in the 1873 sale below.

This building plot of about 9 acres was advertised for sale in an ad in 1873 where it was described that 40 feet of the road had already been laid out.

From the Globe – Saturday 21 June 1873

MITCHAM, Surrey.

— Tamworth-park Estate, about nine acres of valuable Freehold Building Land, immediately fronting Mitcham-common (an open space of 600 to 700 acres extent, which can never be built upon or enclosed). on the high road to Croydon, within 15 minutes’ walk of the Mitcham Junction Station on the South London, Peckham, and Sutton branch of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, whence 43 trains run daily to London-bridge, Victoria. and Waterloo Stations, and within tbo same distance of the Beddington and the Mitcham Stations on the Croydon and Wimbledon line of the London and South-Western Railway. A 40 foot road with footways and sower have been made across the property, so that it is fit for immediate building operations. It contains gravel in abundance, is adorned with handsome elm and other ornamental trees, and is admirably adapted for those seeking sites for superior villa residences in a healthy and highly favoured locality, which can never be over built. Immediate possession on completion of the purchase.

MESSRS. DRIVER have received instructions to SELL by AUCTION, at the MART, Tokenhouse-yard, on TUESDAY. the 1st of July, at Two o’clock precisely, the above valuable BUILDING PROPERTY, in six lots.—Particulars shortly of C. B. Hallward, Esq., solicitor, 5. Mitre-court, Temple; and of Messrs. Driver, Surveyors, Land Agents, and Auctioneers. 4, Whitehall, London, S. W.

This 1894 OS map shows that the road had been started from the Commonside East end, the remaining part being a track to Tamworth Lane. The dotted red lines mark an area that, when measured on a geo-referenced map, measures out an area of around 9 acres.

On this map there are two houses, and these are listed by name in the 1898 street directory:

(Elmhurst), Col. Allan Graeme RAPER
(Tamworth), George WATT

This 1910 OS map shows the houses that were built on the right hand side of the road at the Commonside East end.

The 1910-1911 street directory lists the houses from Commonside East and on the left, or north-west side are the named houses Elmhurst and Tamworth, and on the right, or south-east side, there are 26 houses numbered sequentially from 1.

Tamworth park, from Coomon side east.

NORTH-WEST SIDE

(Elmhurst), Mrs UPTON
(Tamworth), Thomas DEVEREUX

SOUTH-EAST SIDE

1, William R. BOON
2, Leonard GREEN
3, Albert John STINTON
4, William ROOK
5, George S. BROWNE
6, Albert William ILES
7, Alfred BERRY
9, Arthur LOTT
10, John SCHOFIELD
11, William ELLIS
12, James George BEVERIDGE
13, Herbert Alfred COPPING
14, Frank PIKE
16, John ROBERTSON
17, John J. HUNT
18, William CHURCH
19, William Henry HALL
20, Albert Edward STEPHENS
22, Albert James McGARLANE
23, William C. CHARLWOOD
24, Alfred BRIGHT

Lamp Post Letter Box

25, James Skinner HEARN
26, Charles R. EVES

Note that numbers 8, 15 and 21 are not listed with an occupant.

In the 1925 street directory the houses have been renumbvered even from 2 to 52.

Tamworth park, from Common side east.

NORTH-WEST SIDE

(Elmhurst), Mrs E.J. UPTON
(Tamworth), Thomas DEVEREUX

SOUTH-EAST SIDE

2, William Richard BOON
4, William Alfred BUTLER
6, Henry BRAKELL
8, William ROOK
10, George Samuel BROWNE
12, William Griffith POWELL
14, Henry William CROUCHER
16, Alfred Ernest GREATOREX
18, Mrs M. LOTT
20, John SCHORFIELD
22, Mrs HUMPHREY
24, James George BEVERIDGE and Clarence S. BEVERIDGE, piano tuner
26, George Edwin MASKELL
28, Charles GRAY
30, William MUNN
32, Andrew C. McKECHNIE
34, Walter Humby TREVETT
36, Edward Henry ANDREWS
38, Herbert TURNER
40, Albert Edward STEPHENS
42, Mrs E. UNDERWOOD
44, Anthony CUMING
46, William HUBBARD
48, Alfred SIMMONS
50, James Skinner HEARN
52, Charles N. STOKES

Eric Montague, in his book Mitcham Histories : 3 Pollards Hill, Commonside East and Lonesome, pages 56-7, said that

the northern end of the road was constructed in the late 1920s by the Tamworth Park Construction Company owned by Joseph Owen. Numbers 25 – 51, on the south-western side of the road, like the houses numbered 263 – 273 Commonside East, are in the contrasting art deco style of the 1930s, which owed much to the inspiration of Continental architects, and was perhaps more suited to the south of France. White cement-rendered walls, bright green-glazed pan-tiled roofs, and large metal-framed windows set them apart from the more traditional architecture of the Home Counties.

The 1927 electoral registers shows even numbered houses from 2 to 74, and the addition of odd houses numbered 53 to 75.

This 1955 OS map shows number 54 away from the road, behind number 52. I am assuming that this was the site office and yard for the building company, Tamworth Park Construction. Later there were car repair workshops and lock-ups. This was redeveloped as Worthington Close, in around 1988/9.

---

People

From the Mitcham Golf Club archives:

Jimmy Hearn (no. 25) was the professional to Prince’s Golf Club of Mitcham for over thirty years. He grew up with J.H. Taylor in Devon. Jimmy’s daughter Vera married Nelson Hambly who succeeded Jimmy as professional to Mitcham Golf Club. Nelson was professional there for c. 20 years.

Note that no. 25 was renumbered to 50, see directories above.

In the Norwood News – Tuesday 9th September 1924, the Childrens Circle, conducted by “DADDY”, published correspondence by Ida Hearn from no. 25.

PRIZE AWARD.

Daddy gives two lovely books as prizes every week for the best poetry sent in. The prizes this week go to:—

IDA HEARN,
25, Tamworth-park, Mitcham.

ERNEST DEATH,
“Oakhurst,” Graham-avenue, Mitcham.

AN INTERESTING LETTER.

Dear Daddy,

— I have been very interested in the Children’s Circle. and I thought I should like to become one of your members. I am sending you In a piece of poetry, a riddle, and a joke, which I hope you will see fit to publish, I attend Upper Mitcham Girls’ School. Wishing the Circle the best of luck, Your loving daughter, IDA HEARN. 25, Tamworth-park, Mitcham, Surrey.

POETRY

THE GIRL WORTH WHILE

‘Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song,
But the girl worth while is the girl who will smile,
When everything goes dead wrong,
For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
And the smile that is worth the promise of earth
Is the smile that comes through tears.

---

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