Licences issued by the council reveal just how many companies were storing fuel on their premises.

From the minutes of the Mitcham Urban District Council
Volume 3
April 1917 to March 1918
Public Health and Burials
11th September 1917
pages 103 to 105

PETROLEUM LICENCES.

—The Petroleum Inspector reported applications for renewal of licences to store petroleum from the following, and that with the exception of those of Messrs. Forster and Gregory and Messrs. Horsley the provision made was satisfactory, viz.

1, Messrs. A. & C. Jenner, Motor Engineering Works, Common-side East, to store 200 gals. of spirit.
2. Messrs. A. & C. Jenner, Cycle Works, 5, Buck’s Head Parade, to store 40 gals. of spirit.
3. Messrs. Horsley Bros., Motor Garage, King’s Head Yard, Lower Mitcham, to store 300 gals. of spirit.
4. Messrs. Lancaster & Co., Ltd., Haulage Contractors, Benedict Road, to store 150 gals. of spirit.
5. Messrs. Hepburn, Gale & Ross, Balata Belt Works, 243, Church Road, to store 1,500 gals.
6. And at their new premises in Church Road, 2,000 gals. of spirit.
7. Messrs. Thos. Parsons & Sons, Varnish Works, Church Road, to store 200 gals. of spirit.
8. Messrs. J. W. Bush & Co., Distillers, Batsworth Road. to store 1,500 gals. of spirit.
9. Mr. B. Dendy, Oakwood Motor Garage, London Road, to store 300 gals. of spirit. 10. Messrs. Forster & Gregory, Chemical Works, Lonesome, to store 1,000 gals. of spirit.
11. Mr. A. E. Cooper, Glove Cleaner, “Lyndhurst,” Graham Road, to store 150 gals. of spirit.
12. Mr. A. Davis, Motor and Cycle Works, 1, Gorringe Park Terrace to store 16 gals. of spirit.
13. Messrs. Griffiths Bros., Varnish Works, Church Road, to store 400 gals. of spirit.
14. Hadfield’s, Ltd., Varnish Works, Western Road, to store 700 gals. of spirit.
15. Mr. G. Hart, Motor and Cycle Works, Cranmers Road, to store 150 gals. of spirit. 16. Messrs. Aspinall, Ltd., Varnish Works, Bath Road, to store 100 gals. of spirit. 17. Mr. F. H. Cannon, Motor and Cycle Works, London Road, to store 40 gals. of spirit.
18. Messrs. Norman, Smee & Dodwell, Varnish Works, Miles Lane, to store 60 gals. of spirit.
19. Typke & King, Ltd., Chemical Works, Commonside, E., to store 4,000 gals, of spirit.
20. T. & W. Farmiloe, Ltd., Varnish Works, Batsworth Road, to store 490 gals. of spirit.
21. Messrs. F. R. Martin & Co., Refrigerator Works, Lonesome, to store 200 gals. of spirit.
22. Mr. Ernest Cooper, Glove Cleaner, “Sandown,” Cavendish Road, to store 200 gals, of cleaning spirit.
23. Joseph T. Robins, Ltd., Gas Mantle Works, Lonesome, to store 50 gals. of spirit. 24. The Mitcham Rubber Co., Ltd., Morden Road, to store 1,000 gals. of spirit.
25. Messrs. A. & C. Jenner, Engineers, Commonside East, to store 10 cwt. of carbide of calcium.
26. T. W. Palmer & Co., Iron Works, Church Road, to store 1 cwt. of carbide of calcium.

It was Resolved, That the Council be recommended to renew all the licences excepting that of Messrs. Forster & Gregory, which is to stand over, the Inspector in the meantime to inform the applicants of the Committee’s requirements.

The ‘carbide of calcium‘ referred to by A.C. Jenner may have been for making acetylene, used in carbide lamps for cycles, motorcycles and cars.

Whereas that stored by T.W. Palmer may refer to munitions work, as this later request to increase to 3 hundredweights by T.W. Palmer mentions complying with the Ministry of Munitions:

From the minutes of the Mitcham Urban District Council
Volume 3
April 1917 to March 1918
Public Health and Burials
12th March 1918
page 292

CARBIDE OF CALCIUM LICENCE

The Petroleum Inspector reported the receipt for an application from Messrs. T. W. Palmer & Co., for permission to extend their existing licence to store carbide of calcium from 1 cwt. to 3 cwt., in order that they might comply with the recent order of the Ministry of Munitions. The Inspector further reported that in his opinion the storage was of sufficient capacity for the quantity suggested and that the safety regulations would be complied with.

It was Resolved to recommend, That the Council grant the extended licence applied for by Messrs. T. W. Palmer & Co.

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.