Tag Archives: St Marks Road

J.K. Harvey, chemists

Early 1900s view of the chemist shop of J.K. Harvey in York Place, Fair Green. This clip is from Merton Memories photo 30338 (c) London Borough of Merton

Early 1900s view of the chemist shop of J.K. Harvey in York Place, Fair Green. This clip is from Merton Memories photo 30338 (c) London Borough of Merton

Chemist closes after 88 years

An old-established chemist’s shop at Fair Green, Mitcham, closed at the end of June.

Founded in 1878, the business was taken over in 1943 by the late John Kentish Harvey, a well known local man who was for many years church warden at St Mark’s, Mitcham.

After his death in 1955 the business was run by his two sons, Mr John Kentish Harvey and Mr Lawrence Reginald Harvey, Langdale Road, Mitcham.

But in recent years there has been a shortage of qualified pharmacists and the firm, unable to obtain a permanent one, had to close down.

Mr J.K. Harvey and Mr L.R. Harvey, who both work in the City, will still be living in Mitcham.

Source: Mitcham News & Mercury, 22nd July 1966.

In the 1928 electoral register, at number 1 St Mark’s Road, John Kentish Harvey was listed as an occupation voter whose address was 36 Langdale Avenue.

ad from 1938

5th March 1925 from Mitcham Advertiser

United Filters and Engineering Co., Ltd.

Listed in the 1963 List of Factories at 49 St Marks Road, making Carbon Filters
Presumably the ‘engineering works’ shown on this 1952 OS map:

1952 OS map

In December 1948 the company wrote to complain to Mitcham Borough Council about damage done to their premises after the adjacent nursery was abandoned by Mizen Brothers. The company wanted to know when the housing estate on Elm Nursery was to be started. The council said they were not liable for any damage and were waiting on the Ministry of Health who were still examining the plans. It was that ministry that would provide the loan to the council to build the estate. The council said that the MP, Mr T. Braddock would be asked to give assistance with ‘a view to expediting the approval’.


Sources:

Borough of Mitcham List of Factories,
Town Clerk’s Department,
July 1963.
Available at Merton Heritage and Local Studies Centre at Morden Library.
Reference L2 (670) MIT

Page 134, volume 15, Mitcham Borough Council minutes.


Minutes of meetings held by the Mitcham Borough 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.