Tag Archives: Hearn

Hearn & Sons, butchers, 252 London Road

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Hearn & Sons Butchers
252 London Road,
Mitcham,
CR4 3HD

Ad from 1962 issue of the South Warder, the journal of the South Mitcham Residents’ Association

This was a branch of the firm of butchers, as shown in these telephone book entries:

1971 phone book entry

1954 phone book entry

1951 OS map reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY (NLS)

This photo, taken in September 2022, shows no. 252 on the left, next to the alleyway.

There is an undated photo of this part of London on Merton Memories. The view shows a shop with a canopy over the pavement, the next shop is Paine’s off-licence, and then Woolworths. Note the crowd of people waiting outside.

The following is from Tim Pearson, who posted this as a comment on the Mitcham Notes YouTube channel, and is reproduced here with his permission:

Hearn & Sons Butchers – Boy in a Mans World

Sometime in 1975, me and Mungo (Steve) went for a walk to look for a job, as everyone else had paper rounds or worked on the milk, so we thought we would try the butcher shops in Mitcham. The nearest one was the little butcher shop next door to the Bull, Mungo went in first as we were going to take turns and I was gonna ask at the next shop. Mungo drew a blank so it was up to me next, we stopped at Hearns and I meekly went through the door and spoke to the manager, asked and he said come in on Saturday. Result!!!

Saturday Boy

So, that Saturday morning at 8 o’clock, there I was getting thrown the butcher’s coat and an apron and got to work, bloody hell did I work hard. There was a lot to do on the Saturday, when I first arrived in the morning I’d have to get the meat out of the fridges as the shop men were dressing the front window, I would also be running round putting fresh sawdust on floor, putting out the blind and such jobs like that.

Once the shop was set for the day, it was time for a cup of tea and some breakfast, we had a single burner and a massive frying pan, and being in the butcher shop, what do you fancy for breakfast? Anything you like! Bacon, eggs, sausage, steak always a favourite. Then crack on with getting the orders ready, when that was done I would load the trade bike up and be on my way.

Orders and Deliveries

I used to deliver to half a dozen regular places at least, The White Hart, where I have my first-ever beer. Glebelands old peoples home. 12 Imperial Gardens. 351a London Rd, just past the White Hart. 14 Albert Rd, who always used to order the smallest 1/2 shoulder of lamb, and in the shop they called her Mrs ‘half shoulder of mouse’. Fred Grays Yard always had a nice big joint of beef, normally an Aitch Bone. 6 Downe Rd, 12 Biggin Ave, next door to Steve Stroud, who had painted on his back garden gate “Beware of Mrs Stroud” Probably quite appropriate.

Fish and chips or a wimpy for lunch.

So there you go, some of my day at the butcher’s shop and how I signed up. Yeah was quite an experience, young boy working with men for the first time, but always a laugh.

Butchers

The managers name was Ken Wright, someone I tracked down recently and turned up on his doorstep one day, we sat out in the sun talking shop for an hour, was great to see him again.

There were two old shop men, one called Bert Huddy, who lived in Rutter Gardens and drove a Bren gun carrier up through Italy in the war, tea breaks were always so funny, he was like uncle Albert with the war stories, and he was always singing Al Jolson’s Mammy. Ernie, I can’t remember his last name but used to drive an Austin and he was a miserable old sod.

Then there was Bernie Taylor, he was older…35 ish, a more experienced butcher who used to work mainly on the blocks out the back, he could tear down a hind quarter into joints quicker than quick, he was a great butcher and funny man.

Also out the back were two young butchers. Keith Badham, he knew how to sling a boning knife, and Clive Jones who was quite a funny bloke, and myself on a Saturday. All for 2 pounds and a big bag of meat for my mum. I thought it was a good deal, but was a lot of graft.

Work

When I came back from doing the round, and sorted the cash, I’d have to go and do the stock and clean the fridges with one of the butchers. We had a big big scale and a steelyard, and every Saturday used to take every bit of meat out of the fridge one at a time, weigh it, log it and restock it.

Fridges needed cleaning as well so I’d stack all the stock at one end, sweep out, then wash it and bleach it with bucket and brooms, throw fresh sawdust down and move all the stock back. And that’s all before lunchtime! In between time that there was always a chicken or 2 to be trussed, which was obviously my job.

After lunch, the shop was starting to wind down as most of the trade had been done before 2 o’clock, I had already scrubbed two of the blocks earlier and the shop men were clearing the trays and the green strips from the front fridge out the back to the kitchen, where I was washing up, plenty of soap, plenty of bleach, lovely smells clean.

Also, in the afternoon 3 of us would go to the night safe at the Nat West with the weeks takings, always tooled up, a trussing needle being my choice, but thankfully never needed.

As time went on and the shop was getting clear, I`d pull in the blind, sweep the shop and put fresh sawdust down, we pulled the shutters down at 3:30 and I`d wander home with my big bag of meat, the manager really always looked after us and I’d have a joint of beef, pork or whatever was going, and a load of sausages, bacon, ham, eggs, there were always a few chops in there too, happy days!

This also appears on Tim Pearson’s website.

Tamworth Park

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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.

1866 OS map

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.

1894 OS map

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.

1910 OS map

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.

clip from September 1929 photo of south east side of Tamworth Park, no.s 2 to 52. From Mertom Memories, photo reference Mit_Streets_P_Wil_68-1

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.

1955 OS map

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.