Tag Archives: Cricket Green

Caxton Printing Works

12 Cricket Green, modern building now rented offices called ‘The Old School House’.

Identified on 1953 OS map as Caxton Printing Works.


From the minutes of the Mitcham Borough Council
Volume 1
1934 to 1935
General Purpose
14th May 1935
page 602

12. CAXTON WORKS, LOWER GREEN WEST.

—The Town Clerk reported that the occupants of the upper floors over the Caxton Printing Works, at Lower Green West, had vacated these premises, and that Mr. H. G. Mather was prepared to let these premises to the Council for living accommodation for firemen should the Council deem them suitable for this purpose. The Town Clerk reported he had ascertained that the inclusive rent required, on a three years’ agreement, would be 30s. per week, the Council being responsible for interior repairs and decoration.

Resolved, That the Council be recommended to rent these premises and that the Borough Engineer be requested to report to the Finance Committee thereon.

Mentioned in an auction of 1889, implying that it was owned by a Mrs Field.

Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 25 June 1898

SALE THURSDAY NEXT.

By order of the Executors of the late Mrs. Field.

MITCHAM.
—Secure Leasehold Investment.

ROBT. W. PULLER, MOON & FULLER Have received instructions Sell by Auction. at the Greyhound Hotel, Croydon, on Tuesday, June 30th, at Five for Six o’clock.

ALL that LEASEHOLD PROPERTY, comprising a Shop and Dwelling-house, known as the Caxton Printing Works, Lower Green, Mitcham, let on lease at £40 per annum, and two Dwelling houses adjoining, distinguished as Caxton Cottages, one let at 7s. per week, the other let at 6s. 6d. per week. The whole thus producing £75 2s. per annum, and forming a desirable investment.

May be viewed permission of the tenants, and printed particulars with conditions sale obtained at the Greyhound Hotel, Croydon; of the Vendor’s Solicitors, Messrs. Streeter and Howe. 76, High Street. Croydon; and at the Auctioneers’ Offices, Croydon, Reigate. and Epsom.


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

Bramcote Parade

1937 aerial Bramcote Court

26th June 1937

A parade of shops at the curved part of Bramcote Court, on the west side of Bramcote Avenue at the junction with Cricket Green. Originally there were 4 shops, numbered 1 to 4 from south to north, with no. 4 facing Cricket Green. At present, in 2022, there are 3 shops, numbered 1-2, 3 and 4.

1954 OS map

Shops

Harper’s sweet shop was remembered by a user of the Facebook group Mitcham History:

When I think of shops in Mitcham, I remember the names of Harpers sweet shop on the corner of Bramcote Ave and Stevenson & Rush in London Road. Harpers I remember waiting with a bowl to collect the ice cream during rationing and Stevenson & Rush for the smell of ground coffee.

The 1954 telephone directory lists Eric Harper at no. 1, telephone MITcham 2635.

No. 1

1963 ad for Molly’s at 1 Bramcote Parade

No. 2

A. ROGERS, greengrocer – source: 1938 Mitcham Guide

1938 ad for A. Rogers, from the Mitcham Guide

Home Furnishing Stores, tel: MIT 2635 – source: 1946 Norwood News

Norwood News – Friday 19 July 1946
Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

No. 3

School Government Publishing Co. Ltd, – source: 1948 Norwood News

Norwood News – Friday 22 October 1948
Image © Reach PLC. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Croft & Co., advertising:

1960 ad:

Croydon Times – Friday 30 September 1960
Image © Successor rightsholder unknown.

S.L. CROFT, advertising, tel: MIT 4397 – source: 1967 Chamber of Commerce listing.

Cottam’s pram repair shop.

Toys on Parade – see 2008 photo below

No. 4

J.F. EXCEL, greengrocers – source: 1952 Chamber of Commerce listing.

Facelift

In 2021/2 the shop fronts were given a facelift, paid for out of the Community Infrastructure Levy, which is contributed to by local developers. This was done after a successful campaign by the group Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage, who had campaigned for this parade and Bramcote Court be added to Merton Council’s Local List.

Bramcote Parade in August 2019

Bramcote Parade in April 2022

This photo, from 2008, was posted onto the Mitcham History Group on Facebook, and is reproduced here with the user’s permission.

Bramcote Parade in 2008