Tag Archives: suicide

Caesar’s Walk

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Road that runs south westerly from Cranmer Road to the footpath alongside the tram line. On this 1932 OS map, the footpath is shown as Tramway Path.

1932 OS map

Road sign at corner of Caesars Walk and Cranmer Road. The Wilson Hospital can be seen in the background.

The name of the road refers to Sir Julius Caesar Adelmere who, it was believed, had a mansion on the site where the Wilson Hospital is now. In 1598 he entertained Queen Elizabeth I. From this the names of the roads off of Caesars Walk are related to that monarch.

However, Eric Montague, in his book Mitcham Histories:11 The Cranmers, The Canons and Park Place, page 70, says that local records indicate that Sir Julius’s residence was actually south of the Burn Bullock, on the London Road.

Sir Isaac Wilson had bought in 1926 the Cranmers and surrounding land that stretched across the South London and Sutton railway line to the junction of Cranmer Road/Willow Lane with Carshalton Road. He built the eponymous hospital, which opened in 1928, as well as the Garden Village. In between the two he developed Caesars Walk, Burghley Place, Cecil Place, Walsingham Road and Hatton Gardens.

Ad for number 29, on the corner with Walsingham Road, from the Norwood News – Friday 27th October 1933

MITCHAM COMMON

(7 mins, Mitcham Junction Station, 20 mins, Town); semi-detached freehold house; built 6 years; garage; 3 bed, 2 reception,bathroom. kitchenette; gas, e. l., hot water; re-decorated; excellent condition; £650. – Owner, 29, Caesars-walk. Mitcham.

WW2 civilian deaths on 24th February 1944 (links are to Commonwealth War Grave Commission website):

51 Caesars Walk
George Arthur WILLIAMS, aged 56, Air Raid Warden

Private Betty Violet WILLIAMS, aged 23, Auxiliary Territorial Service

55 Caesars Walk
Edith WHITE, aged 17
Rosa Harriett WHITE, aged 51

From local newspapers

24th June 1932 from Mitcham News & Mercury:
Mrs Miriam Victoria MOORE, aged 35, and her daughter, Denise Olive MOORE, aged 6, found gassed.
(lived at no. 24 according to 1932 Electoral Register, with Frederick Gordon MOORE)

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

1877 Distressing Case of Suicide

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Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 17 February 1877

The Distressing Case of Suicide.
—Press on our space prevented our giving in our last particulars of the melancholy suicide of Mr. Charles Alvericks Tradgell. We, therefore, now give a brief outline.

On Wednesday, the 7th inst., the wife of the unfortunate man heard the report of a pistol in the house, situate at Fair Green, Mitcham. She immediately gave alarm and man named Simpson and P.-c. Adams soon made their appearance, end discovered that the deceased had shot himself. A doctor was sent for but before he arrived life was extinct. It was found that the man had shot himself with a six barrelled revolver, the bullet entering brain through the ear.

From information given at the inquest held on Thursday last, at the Nag’s Head, it appears that the deceased had just returned from China, and unpleasant rumours with regard to family matters had since prayed an his mind, and that to such an extent that he committed the rash act we have mentioned.

A great deal of excitement has prevailed in Mitcham with regard to the affair, and manifestations have, we hear, been made against the wife of the deceased and another person. This was shown especially at the funeral, which took place Monday. A large crowd of persons followed the coffin to Mitcham Old Church, end assembled in the churchyard, the police not thinking it desirable that they should be allowed to enter the church in their excited state, as a disturbance might very probably have taken place. After the funeral was over the police were obliged to conduct the wife of deceased home, and then to watch the home, as many of the inhabitants had openly expressed their determination to duck her in the pond, and all kinds unpleasant rumours were circulated with regard to Mrs. Tradgell’s conduct.