Western Road Swings Yard and Ravenspring Works
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- 1937 aerial view of Western Road Mitcham, between Gladstone and Fountain Roads, shows the Swing's Yard, Fountain pub and the Ravenspring Works. With photos from 1966 by Eric Montague.
Aerial view from
historicenglan...
Map reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY
maps.nls.uk/vi...
Eric Montague photos reproduced by kind permission of the Merton Historical Society
mertonhistoric...
mertonhistoric...
Another excellent video in this entertaining and educational series .
I have a personal and family interest in the area . My gran lived in 33 Fountain Road and I went to the Mission Hall in Gladstone Road Sunday School…. as did most of the kids locally . I recall the time that one of the kids climbed into the upright piano .
Planning regulations may have been tighter or more lax in the Victorian era . Fountain Road had a pub , a shop and 3 yards as well as terraced houses .So some infrastructure as well as housing .
Swains yard , in my time , had a sawmill and I can still hear the ringing, singing sound as the blade cut through the logs .
The “ caravan “ illustrated is typical of several in the local yards . My gran told me that one was haunted anhd had to be exorcised.
Fountain Road had 3 yards . One had a stable and a green grocer who gave a mobile delivery service. Harry Gray , the fairground owner , had his main yard in London Road but once over wintered in the yard in Fountain Road .
Mention of the mineral water factory reminded me of a dingy shop in Western Road which had a device like a Sodastream . He would brew a flavoured fizzy drink for a penny using huge glass jars like those in chemist shops .
Further up was a tailor’s/ repair shop with large letters saying”As ye rip , so shall we sow”.
The Fountain pub was managed for many years by Johnny Brown who sold Smith’s crisps from time boxes . Only one flavour and the salt came in blue twisted paper .
Opposite was Maidments shop which sold everything including gas mantles for gas lights . His son was a famous speedway rider .
Thanks! Great memories too. I'd like to copy them to my blog if that's ok? e.g. mitchamhistorynotes.com/2016/06/23/gladstone-road/
I've added your comment to my blog post about Gladstone Road, thanks! See mitchamhistorynotes.com/2016/06/23/gladstone-road/
Mention of St Marks Road reminded me of Macey Scaffold that used to be based there. Used them a lot in the 70’s/ 80’s. My grandmother lived in Love Lane. She was an Osteler.
Great ! I can see the caravans clearly in this report! As I have said before 'always scared' to go past the gypsy site!
My nan lived at lewis Road as a kid in the 80s. I would visit from Sutton on the 280 bus, and I would walk from the fair green to hers going past the gas works and the stable yard. Which reminded me of steptoes yard
I'm told that one of the writers of Steptoe and Son went to the Mitcham Grammar school and drew inspiration from Sparrowhawk's yard by the Beehive Bridge.
Absolutely fine to add my memories.
On a separate note , I believe the writers of Steptoe and Son met at Mitcham . One is said to have gone to Mitcham Grammar.
There were references to The Goat’s Head and other local places
@@mitchamnotes The was a grocer / green grocer just along from Sparrowhawks . I think his name was Fred Tyler! He had a yard full of ? and geese that would chase people! Nice memories!
@@mitchamnotes I remember Sparrowhawks by the Beehive bridge and his pigeon loft. My dad used to race pigeons against him and sometimes I used to go to the pigeon club with him when they used to basket up the birds to be taken away for racing. They usually used pubs for pigeon collections and I remember one being on the left of Mitcham rd in Tooting heading towards the Broadway. I think they also used the Fountain pub on the corner of Garrett lane and Fountain rd (I was born at 18 Pevensey rd just off Fountain rd) There was also another pigeon racer named Jimmy Woodcock.
@@mitchamnotes there is another local historian named Geoff Simmons, who concentrates mainly on Tooting, but also takes in the surrounding areas. He is also on RUclips and does walking tours. My dad knew him and I went to one of his talks at the Wandle Industrial Museum at the Cricket Green a few years ago. He lives close to the new AFC Wimbledon stadium.