Tag Archives: Lower Green

Lower Green Public Conveniences

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Built around 1929 underground, opposite the Burn Bullock, and behind the water trough.

Clip of 1975 photo taken by Bill Rudd, and reproduced here by kind permission of the Merton Historical Society

The gas lamp post shown between the toilets in this photo was added to the local list by Merton Council on 12th July, 2017, as a result of a campaign by Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage.

The need for a public convenience at this spot was debated in 1923.

From the minutes of the Mitcham Urban District council
Volume IX April 1923 to March 1924
Pages 291 to 292

Report of Sub-Committee appointed to consider the question of the provision of Public Conveniences.
Meeting held Monday, October 15th, 1923.

Present : Mr. R. F. Langley (Chairman), Messrs. H. J. Davis, J. Fitch and W. H. Parslow.

The Sub-Committee considered the matter referred to them by the Public Health Committee, and beg to submit the following suggestions :-

1. The need for public conveniences in certain parts of Mitcham is becoming more and more apparent every year, and with the constant increase in the number of visitors brought into the district by the omnibus and tramway services it is essential that the matter should be taken in hand at a very early date.

2. The Sub-Committee consider that the most pressing needs are for public conveniences (for both sexes) upon the Fair Green and the Lower Green.

3. The site upon the Fair Green has already been determined by the Council, and the plans of the Surveyor have been the matter is now before the Ministry of Health.

4. The provision of a convenience on the Lower Green is, therefore, in the opinion of the Sub-Committee, the most pressing need at the present time. every day a large number of persons are brought to this spot owing to its being the terminus of a well patronised bus service.

5. The Sub-Committee suggest that the most suitable site for a convenience is upon the triangular piece of ground, now planted as a shrubbery, between the ” Cricketers ” Inn and Messrs. Barclays Bank ; and the Committee further suggest that a convenience constructed upon this site could be of an external design which would be in no way a disfigurement to the Green.

6. The Sub-Committee look upon the provision of a convenience in the vicinity of the omnibus terminus as an essential.

From the minutes of the Mitcham Urban District council, volume XIV, 1928 to 1929, page 124:

32. PUBLIC CONVENIENCE, Lower Green. – It was Resolved, That the Council be recommended to instruct the Surveyor to report as to suitable sites for a public convenience on or adjacent to the Cricket Green.

The council had also considered removing the water trough, but held off until they could get agreement on widening the London Road.

In considering the sites for the toilets, the council considered next to the Cricketers pub, and the island opposite Barclays Bank. Page 201 of the above minutes says:

An overground convenience … would destroy the amenity of this corner of the Cricket Green

The problem with an underground convenice though was the cost, as Riley Schofield concluded:

I would like to point out to the Committee that underground conveniences are a very costly proposition. The site will have to be wholly excavated and carted to tip. The walls must be constructed as retaining walls, and also covered on the outside with asphalte to render the structure waterproof. The roof will have to be constructed of
reinforced concrete and provided with prismatic pavement lights, or, as an alternative, the structure could project 2 feet or so above the ground and be lighted by means of lantern lights. Steps will have to be provided, and these are costly and wasteful of space. Ventilation is also an expensive item. It may be necessary to raise the sewage by
mechanical means, necessitating a constant charge for the supply of water.

The decision to go with an underground convenience, behind the water trough, was made and reported on pages 276 to 277, although the Surveyor was asked to provide estimates for a partially underground as well wholly underground. Page 451 shows that his estimates were close, £2,100 for partially vs £2,500 for wholly underground, and he recommended the latter. Page 457 shows that the council agreed with his recommendation.

In volume XV, 1929 to 1930, page 104, the council asked the Ministry of Health for a loan of £3,500 to build the underground public convenience. Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to around £200,000 in 2017 values. Page 207 shows that the Ministry approved the loan and so the Surveyor was instructed to put it out to tenders. Page 311 reports that 11 firms had submitted tenders for the job, and that the Horley firm of Mr J. CREWDSON had been accepted, for the amount of £2,672. The Horley Local History Society has more on this builder, who also has a road there named after him.

No further details are available in council minutes as to when the convenience was completed.

From the minutes of the Mitcham Urban District council
Volume XVI, 1930 to 1931
Page 178

9. PUBLIC CONVENIENCE The Surveyor reported that he would find it necessary to engage the services of a full time attendant at the public convenience on the Lower Green, and that the annual cost thereof would amount to £352, this being a sum somewhat in excess of the original estimate. Resolved, That the Surveyor be authorised to make the necessary appointment.

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

Oscar Berridge Shelswell

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Listed in the 1915 Kelly’s Directory as

Shelswell, Oscar Berridge M.R.C.S.Eng., L.R.C.P.Lond. surgeon & medical officer to the Holborn Union, Mitcham workshouse, Sibford, Lower Green west

which meant that he lived at Sibford, and was employed at the workhouse.

He was married in 1892.

From the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required) :
Banbury Guardian – Thursday 09 June 1892

MARRIAGE OF MISS A. E. L. WILKINSON AND MR. O. B. SHELSWELL.

The picturesque village of Stainton-in-Cleveland Yorkshire, was en fete on the 1st inst., the occasion being the marriage of Mr. Oscar Berridge Shelswell L.R.C.P. (Lond.), M.R.C.S. (England), of Mitcham, Surrey, to Miss Annie Elizabeth Lucy Wilkinson, second daughter of the Rev. T. H. Wilkinson, Vicar of the parish, and until recently Vicar of Ratley, Banbury. The ceremony was performed by the bride’s father, assisted by her brothers, the Rev H A Wilkinson, B.A., and the Rev. C. T. B. Wilkinson B.A.

The service was fully choral. The bride who was given away by her eldest brother, Mr. C. J. Wilkinson, M.R.C.S., of Bolton, was attired in a dress of rich ivory corded silk trimmed with lace and natural orange blossoms, coronet of the same, and long tulle veil secured by pearl pins. Her bouquet, the gift the bridegroom, was composed of white lilac and lilies of the valley.

She was attended by four bridesmaids Miss Agnes Wilkinson (sister of the bride), Miss Augusta Berridge (cousin of the bridegroom), Miss Emily Rayner, and Miss Mary Hobson, who wore costumes of maize crepon, with fichus of white chiffon, fancy Leg-horn hats trimmed with white chiffon and Marguerites. The bridegroom presented each with a dainty pearl and diamond spray brooch, and they carried bouquets of Marguerites and lillies of the valley.

Mr. Burton Luxmore, of London, acted as best man. The bride’s mother was attired in myrtle green silk trimmed with blue and silver brocade, handsome white China silk shawl, and lace bonnet to match.

The path by which the bridal procession returned to the vicarage was spanned by floral arches, and strewn with flowers by the school children, the return of the party being greeted with a feu de joie in the vicarage grounds.

Later in the afternoon the newly-wedded couple left en route for the Continent. The bride’s travelling dress was of fawn corduroy, trimmed with jewelled passementerie.

In the evening to celebrate the happy event, the school children, Sunday School teachers, and members of the Girl’s Friendly Society were entertained to tea in the vicarage garden, after which an adjournment was made to a field, kindly lent by Mr, John Jackson, where various sports and races were indulged in. Prizes were subsequently distributed by Mrs. Wilkinson, and the proceedings were brought to conclusion by dance in the village school-room. The wedding presents were numerous and valuable.

Ad from 6th November 1914:

GENERAL, able to do plain cooking, and HOUSEMAID. Early dinner. Good outings. Swiss not objected to. £18 — £20.
— Mrs. Shelswell, Sibford, Mitcham.

Ad from The Motorcycle 30th September 1920 via archive.org

SUN-VITESSE, October, 1919, 2-stroke, 2-speed
countershaft gear, used short runs only, tyres
good, fine running order; trial any day any time:
£48.- Shelswell, Cricket Green, Mitcham.
Terminus 88 ‘bus. Tel. : 822 Mitcham.

Mitcham Advertiser – Thursday 08 March 1934

DR. O. B. SHELSWELL

SUDDEN DEATH OF FORMER MITCHAM DOCTOR.

News reached Mitcham on Tuesday of the sudden death at Forest Green, near Holmbury St. Mary, Surrey, of Dr. O. B. Shelswell, father of Dr. A. H. Shelswell, Lower Green, who practised in Mitcham for a great many years, and was a friend and colleague of Dr. Love.

Dr. Shelswell retired about ten years ago to spend his eventide in the charming country place where he died. He was a few years younger than Dr. Love. He leaves a widow, two sons and one daughter.

Dr. Shelswell came to Mitcham as a young man and was medical officer to Holborn Schools and Institution for a time. He lived in Glebe Villas until he built Sibford, where his son now resides. He was the personification of kindness and the older residents of Mitcham retain very pleasant memories of his skill as a physician and his fine qualities as a man.

During the war Dr. Shelswell rendered great service as a medical officer at the military hospital set up in old Holborn Workhouse, and he was given the O.B.E. He took no part in public affairs. His garden was his chief hobby. Gardening was a passion with Dr. Shelswell. So was chess, which he played with exceptional skill. Another favourite recreation was croquet, which he played from time to time with the late Mr. G. Farewell Jones.

A few years ago Dr. Shelswell met with an accident in Mitcham which shook him badly. He was knocked down by a motor car near the Three Kings Pond and his injuries necessitated hospital treatment. The seizure which ended his life was the second since his retirement.

The funeral of Dr. Shelswell, who laboured for forty years in Mitcham, will probably take place at Forest Green on Saturday afternoon. He was seventy-six.