MERTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Bulletin 221
Download Bulletin 221
March 2022 – Bulletin 221
Chairman’s Report November 2021 – Keith Penny
Merton Priory’s Gatehouse and Guesthouse: Part 3 – Katie Hawks
Three Morden factories: BOC, Agfa and Dean’s Rag Books – Norma Cox
Do buildings ever lie about their age? [Hall Place Mitcham] – Tony Scott
Short talks at the November meeting: a mysterious building in Morden; title deeds; a fine collection of elderly photos of Mitcham Fair – Peter Hopkins, Keith Penny & Tony Scott
and much more
ImagecourtesyMertonPrioryTrust&ThomasHobroCONTENTSProgrammeMarch-June20222NewsfromMertonPriory-JohnHawks2’MertonPriory-thefirst100years’-advancenoticeofastudyday-23rdJuly20222Chairman’sReportNovember20213BooksReviewed:GuyofMertonandMedievalMorden:LandscapeandLandholding4-5TheLAMASBookPrizefor2021:MedievalMorden:TheManorialEconomy5MertonPriory’sgatehouseandguesthouse:part3-KatieHawks6ApossiblethirdoptionfortheAbbeyHousereconstruction-PeterHopkins8ThreeMordenfactories:BOC,AgfaandDean’sRagBooks-NormaCox9TheFrancisKitzplaque12Dobuildingseverlieabouttheirage?-TonyScott13ShorttalksattheNovembermeeting-DavidHaunton14DoyouwantaWW2Andersonshelter?16CHAIR:KeithPennyBULLETINNo.221MARCH2022Membership:viaHon.SecretaryHon.Secretary:
secretary@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.ukMertonprioryasseeninthenewcomputermodel(seep.2).
ImagecourtesyMertonPrioryTrust&ThomasHobroCONTENTSProgrammeMarch-June20222NewsfromMertonPriory-JohnHawks2’MertonPriory-thefirst100years’-advancenoticeofastudyday-23rdJuly20222Chairman’sReportNovember20213BooksReviewed:GuyofMertonandMedievalMorden:LandscapeandLandholding4-5TheLAMASBookPrizefor2021:MedievalMorden:TheManorialEconomy5MertonPriory’sgatehouseandguesthouse:part3-KatieHawks6ApossiblethirdoptionfortheAbbeyHousereconstruction-PeterHopkins8ThreeMordenfactories:BOC,AgfaandDean’sRagBooks-NormaCox9TheFrancisKitzplaque12Dobuildingseverlieabouttheirage?-TonyScott13ShorttalksattheNovembermeeting-DavidHaunton14DoyouwantaWW2Andersonshelter?16CHAIR:KeithPennyBULLETINNo.221MARCH2022Membership:viaHon.SecretaryHon.Secretary:
secretary@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk
PROGRAMME
MARCH
–
JUNE
2022
Saturday
12
March
2.30pm
St
James’s
Church
Hall,
Merton
‘Surrey
in
the
Gentleman’s
Magazine’
An
illustrated
talk
by
Julian
Pooley
of
Surrey
History
Centre
Saturday
9
April
2.30pm
St
James’s
Church
Hall,
Merton
‘The
Medieval
Thames:
Rubbish
Tip,
Accident
Black
Spot
or
Sacred
River?’
A
talk
by
John
Clark
of
the
Docklands
History
Group,
Curator
Emeritus
of
the
Medieval
Collections,
Museum
of
London
NO
VISIT
IS
PLANNED
FOR
MAY
For
the
visit
below:
Please
book
beforehand,
either
at
mhs@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk,
or
by
signing
the
booking
sheets
which
will
be
available
again
at
our
March
and
April
meetings.
Pay
on
the
day.
Monday
13
June
11.00am
A
Visit
to
Watermen’s
Hall
16-18
St
Mary
at
Hill,
Billingsgate,
London
EC3R
8EF
Guided
tour
£15
per
person;
5
mins
walk
from
Monument
Underground
Station
Visitors
are
welcome
to
attend
our
talks.
Entry
£2.
St
James’s
Church
Hall
is
in
Martin
Way,
next
to
the
church
(officially
in
Beaford
Grove).
Buses
164
and
413
stop
in
Martin
Way
(in
both
directions)
immediately
outside.
The
church
has
a
tiny
car
park,
but
parking
in
adjacent
streets
is
free.
Note
also
that
while
our
Local
History
Workshops
are
currently
suspended,
we
are
exploring
different
ways
in
which
they
may
be
re-started.
NEWS
FROM
MERTON
PRIORY
The
remains
of
the
Chapter
House
will
open
again
to
the
public
on
Sunday
3
April
from
11am
till
4pm,
and
thereafter
every
Sunday
till
30
October.
The
space
has
always
been
an
atmospheric
venue
for
drama
and
other
events,
and
has
now
been
transformed
by
an
impressive
yet
discreet
new
stage.
(right)
The
re-opening
will
also
be
the
occasion
of
a
major
exhibition
throughout
the
first
week
of
April
by
a
group
of
artists
from
Merton
Abbey
Mills
and
elsewhere,
on
the
new
staging.
Since
the
museum
opened
in
2018,
visiting
children
have
been
captivated
by
the
athletic
retrieving
of
Toby
the
Priory
Dog,
but
now
there’s
a
hotly
competing
attraction
–
an
interactive
virtual
model
of
all
the
Priory
buildings,
detailed
inside
and
out,
using
the
video
game
Minecraft
(see
p.1).
It
was
devised
by
MHS
member
Katie
Hawks
and
built
by
Thomas
Hobro
(then
a
young
teenager,
now
a
slightly
older
one)
whose
father
generously
donated
the
computer
equipment.
Merton
Priory
Trust
plans
more
for
this
coming
year
–
the
external
space
to
the
south
is
the
site
of
the
Priory’s
Infirmary
Cloister,
where
medicinal
plants
would
certainly
have
been
grown,
and
funds
are
now
being
sought
to
create
a
volunteer-maintained
physic
garden
there.
John
Hawks
‘MERTON
PRIORY
–
THE
FIRST
100
YEARS’
ADVANCE
NOTICE
OF
A
STUDY
DAY
–
SATURDAY
23RD
JULY
Katie
Hawks
is
planning
an
afternoon
of
talks
by
medieval
historians,
followed
by
a
round-table
‘Brains
Trust’
discussion.
The
event
is
expected
to
last
for
3-4
hours,
using
the
new
stage
in
the
Chapter
House,
and
is
intended
for
a
general
rather
than
a
purely
academic
audience.
Booking
will
be
via
Eventbrite
but
either
free
or
at
very
low
cost.
Tea
will
be
available.
Toilets
may
be.
MERTON
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
–
BULLETIN
221
–
MARCH
2022
–
PAGE
2
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE3CHAIRMAN’SREPORTNOVEMBER2021LadiesandGentlemen,welcometothisAnnualGeneralMeetingofMertonHistoricalSociety.AlreadyinthatsentenceIhavesignalledachangethathascomeupontheformalstructureoftheSociety:atonetimeitinviteddistinguishedindividualstoholdthehonorarypostsofPresidentandVicePresident,apracticesharedwithmanyotherclubsandsocieties.ThepostofPresidentlapsedsomeyearsago,andweheardearlierthisyearthatJudithGoodman,adistinguishedhistorianandmemberoftheSociety,wishedtowithdrawfromherroleasVicePresident.YourCommitteehasdecidednottoseekareplacement,andtodaythelastofficialdutyretainedbytheVicePresident,thatofoverseeingtheelectionstooffice,willbeperformedbyMickTaylor.
TheeditoroftheBulletinhaspublishedabriefrecordofJudith’scontributiontotheSociety,andIthankherforhersharingofknowledgeduringWorkshops,hercarefulreadingoftextsbeforepublicationandforhergraciouspresenceinlateyearsattheAGM.TheCommitteeandtheSocietywerealsodiminishedbythewithdrawalofDavidLufffrommeetings(thoughheremainsamember),becauseofhisparticularconcernsinrelationtoCovid-19;hehasinmytimebeenthereliablepairofhandsforsettingupthehall,forcheckingonoursafetyarrangementsandforstandingguardovertheentrance.Hehasalsobeenagreatlistenerforthosewhohavewantedtosharecommentsorapointofview.
YourCommitteehascontinuedtomeetviaZoomandcontinuedaspreviouslyelected,apartfromthewithdrawalofBeaOliver,whoneverthelessstilldoesthatmostimportanttask,arrangingspeakersforourmeetings.Shewillbeattheserving-hatchtoday,sofeelfreetosaythankyou.TheCommitteeco-optedChristinePittmanandisalwayslookingformemberstoincreaseitsnumberandvarietyofoutlook.Imightwell,inanyotheryear,
havemadementionofthetalkswehadenjoyed,butofcoursesuchthingsweresuspendeduntilweresumedherelastmonth.OurWorkshopshavelikewiseceased,butwill,wehope,resumeinoneformoranotherintheNewYearTheCommitteewillbeexperimentingwithanonlineWorkshop,toseeifthatworksand,ifitdoes,
willconsiderwhetheritisworthstartingoneforgeneralparticipation.
Whilelivemeetingsweresuspended,othersocietiesbeganbroadcastingtalksbytheirownmembersonline:wedidnotdoso,simplybecausewedonothavepeoplewhohave(a)newmaterialtoshareand(b)presentationalskillsandmasteryofZoom,inotherwords,bothcompetenceandconfidence.OthersocietieshavereportedthatnumberswatchingaZoomlecturehavebeenfarhigherthanthosewhohadformerlyattendedlivemeetings,
butofcourselivemeetingsbringwiththemareadyinterchangebetweenlivespeakerandaudienceandasocialopportunityformemberstomeeteachother.Wearenot,though,historicalrecluses,andmembershaverecentlygiventalksataschoolandfortheFriendsofStRaphael’sHospice.Membersalsofieldincominghistoricalinquiriesfromthepublic.
IreportedmanymattersinsomedetailinmypreviousreportsentoutwiththeMarch2021Bulletin,soIshallavoidrepetition.IthankedtheretheeditorandprinteroftheBulletin,andwhenpeopleofferedcommentsduringtheconsultation/formalapprovalsprocesslaunchedatthattime,theyallpraisedourBulletinformaintainingnormalservice.
Publicationsareexpandingagain,atleastinthenumberofthosegoingthroughtheeditorialprocess:wehavesomemorereminiscences,astudyofthePoorLawasitoperatedinMorden,andahistoryofFry’ssmeltingcompany-notperhapsfamiliarterritory,butsomethingthattheSocietyshouldhelptoputonrecord.Intherecentfinancialyearwereceivedjustunder£1,000forpublications,andinadayatthepostponedMertonHeritageDiscoveryDaywesold23publicationstothevalueof£63.
Wehavemaderepresentationsasneededinplanningmatters,thoughalwaysongroundsofhistoryandarchaeology,forwearenotacivicamenitiessociety,andsowemaintainedinterestinthetrialtrenchingontheAbbeyWallWorkssiteatMertonAbbey.
TheSociety’sPhotographicProjectisnowatanendasaformaloperation,andwearenolongersendingprintstoSurreyHistoryCentre.DavidRoe,oursometimeTreasurer,feltthathehadtostopworkingontheProject,
intowhichhehadputmucheffortoverquiteafewyears.Wearestillhappytoreceiveimagesforaccessviaourwebsite,solongasallmattersofcopyrighthavebeenagreed.
Intheintervaltodayweshallbeabletohavetea,andIwanttoaskforyourthoughtsabouttherightplacefortea-time:moreofourtalksarenotaslongastalksusedtobe.Teabetweentalkandquestionsseemstodisruptthecontinuityofthespeaker’ssubject;teaafterwardsmaynotbeasimportanttosomeasgettinganearlybus;
somesocietieshaverefreshmentsreadyandwaitingforwhenpeoplearrive.Ifyouhaveanythoughtsontheshapeofourafternoonshere,pleasesay,noworlater.
CHAIRMAN’SREPORTNOVEMBER2021LadiesandGentlemen,welcometothisAnnualGeneralMeetingofMertonHistoricalSociety.AlreadyinthatsentenceIhavesignalledachangethathascomeupontheformalstructureoftheSociety:atonetimeitinviteddistinguishedindividualstoholdthehonorarypostsofPresidentandVicePresident,apracticesharedwithmanyotherclubsandsocieties.ThepostofPresidentlapsedsomeyearsago,andweheardearlierthisyearthatJudithGoodman,adistinguishedhistorianandmemberoftheSociety,wishedtowithdrawfromherroleasVicePresident.YourCommitteehasdecidednottoseekareplacement,andtodaythelastofficialdutyretainedbytheVicePresident,thatofoverseeingtheelectionstooffice,willbeperformedbyMickTaylor.
TheeditoroftheBulletinhaspublishedabriefrecordofJudith’scontributiontotheSociety,andIthankherforhersharingofknowledgeduringWorkshops,hercarefulreadingoftextsbeforepublicationandforhergraciouspresenceinlateyearsattheAGM.TheCommitteeandtheSocietywerealsodiminishedbythewithdrawalofDavidLufffrommeetings(thoughheremainsamember),becauseofhisparticularconcernsinrelationtoCovid-19;hehasinmytimebeenthereliablepairofhandsforsettingupthehall,forcheckingonoursafetyarrangementsandforstandingguardovertheentrance.Hehasalsobeenagreatlistenerforthosewhohavewantedtosharecommentsorapointofview.
YourCommitteehascontinuedtomeetviaZoomandcontinuedaspreviouslyelected,apartfromthewithdrawalofBeaOliver,whoneverthelessstilldoesthatmostimportanttask,arrangingspeakersforourmeetings.Shewillbeattheserving-hatchtoday,sofeelfreetosaythankyou.TheCommitteeco-optedChristinePittmanandisalwayslookingformemberstoincreaseitsnumberandvarietyofoutlook.Imightwell,inanyotheryear,
havemadementionofthetalkswehadenjoyed,butofcoursesuchthingsweresuspendeduntilweresumedherelastmonth.OurWorkshopshavelikewiseceased,butwill,wehope,resumeinoneformoranotherintheNewYearTheCommitteewillbeexperimentingwithanonlineWorkshop,toseeifthatworksand,ifitdoes,
willconsiderwhetheritisworthstartingoneforgeneralparticipation.
Whilelivemeetingsweresuspended,othersocietiesbeganbroadcastingtalksbytheirownmembersonline:wedidnotdoso,simplybecausewedonothavepeoplewhohave(a)newmaterialtoshareand(b)presentationalskillsandmasteryofZoom,inotherwords,bothcompetenceandconfidence.OthersocietieshavereportedthatnumberswatchingaZoomlecturehavebeenfarhigherthanthosewhohadformerlyattendedlivemeetings,
butofcourselivemeetingsbringwiththemareadyinterchangebetweenlivespeakerandaudienceandasocialopportunityformemberstomeeteachother.Wearenot,though,historicalrecluses,andmembershaverecentlygiventalksataschoolandfortheFriendsofStRaphael’sHospice.Membersalsofieldincominghistoricalinquiriesfromthepublic.
IreportedmanymattersinsomedetailinmypreviousreportsentoutwiththeMarch2021Bulletin,soIshallavoidrepetition.IthankedtheretheeditorandprinteroftheBulletin,andwhenpeopleofferedcommentsduringtheconsultation/formalapprovalsprocesslaunchedatthattime,theyallpraisedourBulletinformaintainingnormalservice.
Publicationsareexpandingagain,atleastinthenumberofthosegoingthroughtheeditorialprocess:wehavesomemorereminiscences,astudyofthePoorLawasitoperatedinMorden,andahistoryofFry’ssmeltingcompany-notperhapsfamiliarterritory,butsomethingthattheSocietyshouldhelptoputonrecord.Intherecentfinancialyearwereceivedjustunder£1,000forpublications,andinadayatthepostponedMertonHeritageDiscoveryDaywesold23publicationstothevalueof£63.
Wehavemaderepresentationsasneededinplanningmatters,thoughalwaysongroundsofhistoryandarchaeology,forwearenotacivicamenitiessociety,andsowemaintainedinterestinthetrialtrenchingontheAbbeyWallWorkssiteatMertonAbbey.
TheSociety’sPhotographicProjectisnowatanendasaformaloperation,andwearenolongersendingprintstoSurreyHistoryCentre.DavidRoe,oursometimeTreasurer,feltthathehadtostopworkingontheProject,
intowhichhehadputmucheffortoverquiteafewyears.Wearestillhappytoreceiveimagesforaccessviaourwebsite,solongasallmattersofcopyrighthavebeenagreed.
Intheintervaltodayweshallbeabletohavetea,andIwanttoaskforyourthoughtsabouttherightplacefortea-time:moreofourtalksarenotaslongastalksusedtobe.Teabetweentalkandquestionsseemstodisruptthecontinuityofthespeaker’ssubject;teaafterwardsmaynotbeasimportanttosomeasgettinganearlybus;
somesocietieshaverefreshmentsreadyandwaitingforwhenpeoplearrive.Ifyouhaveanythoughtsontheshapeofourafternoonshere,pleasesay,noworlater.
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE4BOOKSREVIEWEDThisisaneditedversionofareviewforTheBritishAssociationforLocalHistorybyDrHeatherFalvey(aTutoratbothOxfordandCambridge)oftwoLatintextswithparallelEnglishtranslations:
TheLifeofGuyofMertontranslatedandeditedbyKatieHawks&KeithPenny(MHS,2020)
andPolydoreVergil’sLifeofRichardIIIeditedandtranslatedbyStephenO’Connor(RichardIIISociety,2021)
IngeneraloneneedstobeabletoreadtheLatinandtoprovideatranslationwiththeaidofvariousdictionariesand’guide’booksandwebsites.Thesemayormaynotbeuseful,dependingonthenatureofthedocument,notleastbecausemedievalLatindoesnotfollowallofthegrammatical’rules’ofclassicalLatin.TwohistoricalsocietieshaverecentlypublishedthetextofaLatindocumentwithanEnglishtranslationonthefacingpage.
Thesedocumentsarenotofastandardtype,suchaswillsorcourtsrolls,but,purelycoincidentally,botharebiographies,oftwoverydifferentindividuals.
TheLifeofGuyofMertonwaswrittensometimebetween1132and1151butnowsurvivesinafifteenth-
centurycopyheldintheBritishLibrary.KatieHawks’IntroductionexplainswhatisknownaboutthelifeofGuyofMerton(notagreatdeal),thathefoundedMertonPriory[sic!],waschosentoreformthecanonsatTauntonandBodmin,anddiedatExeter.ShearguesthatGuy’sLifewaswrittenbecauseMertonPrioryhadnoparticularsaint,’whoserelicscouldprovideashrineandmiraclesorwhoselifecouldprovideahagiography’
(p.6);instead,foritsfameandimportanceithadtorelyontheexceptionalpietyofitsfounderanditscanons.
TheLifewaswrittenasaletterfromacanonRainaldtooneRalph,whowasprobablyasecularcleric;itwasamoralexemplartobereadouttoencouragecanonsintheirmoralandspirituallives.
PolydoreVergil(c.1470-1555),anItaliancleric,wrotehisLifeofRichardIIIaspartofhisprojecttowriteahistoryofEnglandfromtheearliesttimes,thebulkofitbeingcompletedbetween1506and1513.ThreeeditionsofhisHistoriaweresubsequentlyprinted.HisoriginalmanuscriptsurvivesintheVaticanLibraryandalthoughthe1534publishededitionismodelledcloselyonit,somepartsweresubstantiallyrewritten.StephenO’Connor’seditionprovides,infootnotes,manypassageswherethetextofthetwovariessignificantly.TheLifeiscontroversialincertainquarters,butitisVergil’sversionofwhatwasforhimrecentEnglishhistory.
Bothpublicationsprovideillustrationsoftheoriginaltext:theformsofhandwritingaremarkedlydifferent.
WhileVergil’smanuscripthasnumerouscrossingsoutandadditionsinthemargin,theMertonhandis’aboutaseasy-to-readasmedievalmanuscriptsget'(p.19).MertonHistoricalSocietyandtheRichardIIISocietyaretobecongratulatedonproducingthesetexts.WhiletherearevariousbookstohelpwithstandardtypesofLatindocuments,thesetwopublicationsareparticularlyusefulbecausetheyrevealverydifferentstylesofLatinwritingandtheirfacingtranslationsmaketheLatinrelativelyeasytofollow.
[DJHcanrecommendTheDaughterofTimebyJosephineTey(1951)asbyfarthemostreadableentryinthecontroversiesaboutVergil’sLifeofRichardIII.(TheDaughterofthetitleis,proverbially,Truth.)]
TheLifeofGuyofMertonisavailabletomembersat£1.60(fullprice£2)+£1postage,
fromourPublicationsSecretaryatpublications@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk,orringPeteron02085438471toarrangecollectionfrom57TemplecombeWay,Morden,SurreySM44JForfromoneofourmonthlymeetings,tosavepostage.
DaveHaunton,ourEditor,wroteanarticleabouttheCommitteeandhowthesamepeoplehavebeendoingthesamethingsforalongtime:Ihavetalkedaboutthis,inthecontextoftheSociety’sfuture,before,andIamnotgoingtorepeattheobviousnow,forwehaveonlyjustgotbackintosomesortofrhythmandhabitincomingheretomeetingswhich,afterthelastnearlytwoyears,isapleasuretobeenjoyed.Inmanyotherways,wearedoingaswellareotherlocalhistorysocieties,withouroutstandingwebsiteandpublications.
IhavetwicepreviouslyhadmypredictionsformeetingdatesdashedbyGovernment,but,atathirdattempt,IamgoingtosaythatIthinkthatthingsarelookingbetterThankyouforyoursupportduringdifficulttimesandletuslookforwardtotalksandwalksandvisitsin2022.
KeithPennyBOOKSREVIEWEDThisisaneditedversionofareviewforTheBritishAssociationforLocalHistorybyDrHeatherFalvey(aTutoratbothOxfordandCambridge)oftwoLatintextswithparallelEnglishtranslations:
TheLifeofGuyofMertontranslatedandeditedbyKatieHawks&KeithPenny(MHS,2020)
andPolydoreVergil’sLifeofRichardIIIeditedandtranslatedbyStephenO’Connor(RichardIIISociety,2021)
IngeneraloneneedstobeabletoreadtheLatinandtoprovideatranslationwiththeaidofvariousdictionariesand’guide’booksandwebsites.Thesemayormaynotbeuseful,dependingonthenatureofthedocument,notleastbecausemedievalLatindoesnotfollowallofthegrammatical’rules’ofclassicalLatin.TwohistoricalsocietieshaverecentlypublishedthetextofaLatindocumentwithanEnglishtranslationonthefacingpage.
Thesedocumentsarenotofastandardtype,suchaswillsorcourtsrolls,but,purelycoincidentally,botharebiographies,oftwoverydifferentindividuals.
TheLifeofGuyofMertonwaswrittensometimebetween1132and1151butnowsurvivesinafifteenth-
centurycopyheldintheBritishLibrary.KatieHawks’IntroductionexplainswhatisknownaboutthelifeofGuyofMerton(notagreatdeal),thathefoundedMertonPriory[sic!],waschosentoreformthecanonsatTauntonandBodmin,anddiedatExeter.ShearguesthatGuy’sLifewaswrittenbecauseMertonPrioryhadnoparticularsaint,’whoserelicscouldprovideashrineandmiraclesorwhoselifecouldprovideahagiography’
(p.6);instead,foritsfameandimportanceithadtorelyontheexceptionalpietyofitsfounderanditscanons.
TheLifewaswrittenasaletterfromacanonRainaldtooneRalph,whowasprobablyasecularcleric;itwasamoralexemplartobereadouttoencouragecanonsintheirmoralandspirituallives.
PolydoreVergil(c.1470-1555),anItaliancleric,wrotehisLifeofRichardIIIaspartofhisprojecttowriteahistoryofEnglandfromtheearliesttimes,thebulkofitbeingcompletedbetween1506and1513.ThreeeditionsofhisHistoriaweresubsequentlyprinted.HisoriginalmanuscriptsurvivesintheVaticanLibraryandalthoughthe1534publishededitionismodelledcloselyonit,somepartsweresubstantiallyrewritten.StephenO’Connor’seditionprovides,infootnotes,manypassageswherethetextofthetwovariessignificantly.TheLifeiscontroversialincertainquarters,butitisVergil’sversionofwhatwasforhimrecentEnglishhistory.
Bothpublicationsprovideillustrationsoftheoriginaltext:theformsofhandwritingaremarkedlydifferent.
WhileVergil’smanuscripthasnumerouscrossingsoutandadditionsinthemargin,theMertonhandis’aboutaseasy-to-readasmedievalmanuscriptsget'(p.19).MertonHistoricalSocietyandtheRichardIIISocietyaretobecongratulatedonproducingthesetexts.WhiletherearevariousbookstohelpwithstandardtypesofLatindocuments,thesetwopublicationsareparticularlyusefulbecausetheyrevealverydifferentstylesofLatinwritingandtheirfacingtranslationsmaketheLatinrelativelyeasytofollow.
[DJHcanrecommendTheDaughterofTimebyJosephineTey(1951)asbyfarthemostreadableentryinthecontroversiesaboutVergil’sLifeofRichardIII.(TheDaughterofthetitleis,proverbially,Truth.)]
TheLifeofGuyofMertonisavailabletomembersat£1.60(fullprice£2)+£1postage,
fromourPublicationsSecretaryatpublications@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk,orringPeteron02085438471toarrangecollectionfrom57TemplecombeWay,Morden,SurreySM44JForfromoneofourmonthlymeetings,tosavepostage.
DaveHaunton,ourEditor,wroteanarticleabouttheCommitteeandhowthesamepeoplehavebeendoingthesamethingsforalongtime:Ihavetalkedaboutthis,inthecontextoftheSociety’sfuture,before,andIamnotgoingtorepeattheobviousnow,forwehaveonlyjustgotbackintosomesortofrhythmandhabitincomingheretomeetingswhich,afterthelastnearlytwoyears,isapleasuretobeenjoyed.Inmanyotherways,wearedoingaswellareotherlocalhistorysocieties,withouroutstandingwebsiteandpublications.
IhavetwicepreviouslyhadmypredictionsformeetingdatesdashedbyGovernment,but,atathirdattempt,IamgoingtosaythatIthinkthatthingsarelookingbetterThankyouforyoursupportduringdifficulttimesandletuslookforwardtotalksandwalksandvisitsin2022.
KeithPenny
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE5LORRAINEWOODLEIGH,writingonbehalfoftheLAMASLocalHistoryCommittee,discussesTHELAMASBOOKPRIZEFOR2021The£100LAMASBookPrizeannouncedattheLocalHistoryConferencewenttoMertonHistoricalSocietyforMedievalMorden:TheManorialEconomy1280-1500,
PeterHopkins(2020),A4paperback,240pages,monochromeillustrations,£7.50(Members£6)+£3postage.ISBN978-1-903899-79-3.
Fromanastoundingwealthofarchivalmaterialandavailabledocuments,PeterHopkinshasconstructedaveryvividyetanalyticalviewoflifeatthemedievalManorofMorden.HesucceedsinextractingrichnuggetsofinformationtoshowhowtheManorfunctionedinternallyanddemonstratesitswiderrelationshipwiththeAbbeyofWestminster,its19othermanorsandtheoutsideworld.Thisisawelcome,wellreferencedresource,usingmaps,illustrationsandtables.
TheManorofMorden,listedinDomesdayBook,wasdividedintodemesneland,workedonbehalfoftheAbbeyofWestminster,andtenantlandheldbytenantsinreturnforrentsandservices.
Between1280-1358,theManorofMorden,liketheotherestatesbelongingtoWestminsterAbbey,wasprimarilyasourceofincomeandtheAbbeykeptawatchfuleyeonthegoodrunningoftheestate,keepingcarefulrecordscoveringdetailssuchasitsstaff,weeklyratesandannualwages,repairs,’livestockaccounts’,
andproduce:wheat,rye,oats,grainsandfruit.
ThemedievalManorofMordenfacedaperiodofeconomicexpansionandsevereinflationthatlastedfromtheendofthe12thcenturyuntiltheendofthe13thcenturywhenpricesandwagesmorethandoubled.TheGreatFamineof1315-17ledtohigherpricesforfoodstuffs.Fromthe1340stherewasaperiodofgeneralrecessionfollowedbytheplague,whichreachedMordenjustbeforeEaster1349.
From1358WestminsterAbbeyleasedthedemesnelandouttotenantfarmers.FollowingtheDissolutionoftheMonasteriesin1539-40theManorofMordenwasheldbytheCrownuntilJune1553.ItcameintothehandsofRichardGarthinMarch1553-4andstayedinthefamilyuntilthelate19thcentury.
ANDNOW,HOTOFFTHEPRESS,THENEXTVOLUME!
MedievalMorden:LandscapeandLandholdingPeterHopkins(2021)A4paperback,
360pages,monochromeillustrations,£12.50(Members£10)+£3postage.ISBN978-
1-903899-81-6,fromourPublicationsSecretary(seeoppositepage).
PeterHopkinspresentsanotherpainstakinganalysisofmedievallegaldocuments,
foundinaremarkablearrayofarchives,hisresearchbuttressedbydelvingintoanimpressivearrayofscholarlybooksandarticles.
PetershowsuswhichareasofMordenwereinwhichmedievalmanor.Heexplainsthedifferenttypesofland-holding,traceslandholdingsthroughthesuccessiveownershipofparcelsofland,largeandsmall,detailstheirexpansion(throughpurchaseorlease)andcontraction(bysale,oralienationofasmallparcel,perhapstosupportarelative).Thishasmeantlocatingmanyofthemedievalfields,theirnamesandchanges,nottomentiondocumentingfamilyrelationships(foralmosttheentirevillage!),includingthesuccessivemarriagesofsomeoften-widowedladies.
Peteralsodiscussestheindividualswhoboughtandlostland,theirchangingimportanceinthelocalpeasantcommunityandtheirmisdeeds,laidoutinthemanorialcourt.Heexploresmortgages,andevenidentifiespartofasmallmedievalpark(perhapsforrabbits,perhapsforhunting).
Therearehugedifficultiesinthissortofverticalanalysis-therearemanygapsintherecords,oftenofseveralyearstogether,whiletherecordsareinmedievalLatin(afarcryfromclassicalLatin,containingmanytermsforwhichtherewasnoequivalentinthepast).Peterhasconsultedmanyexpertsinthelanguage,andlaysoutmuchofhisevidenceinmodernEnglishtranslation,amajorbenefitforfuturescholars.Asyouwillhaveseenfromthearticleabove,thisseriesisitselfaworkofimmensescholarship.
Havingproof-read(again)thefirst320pages,whereIidentifiedafewslipssuchas’endquotemissing’and’mapshouldbeMap’,Irespectfullydeclinedaninvitationtoexaminethe30pagesofdensedouble-columnedNotesandReferencesplusIndex:shouldyoudiscoveramistaketherein,IamsurePeterwouldliketobeinformed.
DaveHauntonLORRAINEWOODLEIGH,writingonbehalfoftheLAMASLocalHistoryCommittee,discussesTHELAMASBOOKPRIZEFOR2021The£100LAMASBookPrizeannouncedattheLocalHistoryConferencewenttoMertonHistoricalSocietyforMedievalMorden:TheManorialEconomy1280-1500,
PeterHopkins(2020),A4paperback,240pages,monochromeillustrations,£7.50(Members£6)+£3postage.ISBN978-1-903899-79-3.
Fromanastoundingwealthofarchivalmaterialandavailabledocuments,PeterHopkinshasconstructedaveryvividyetanalyticalviewoflifeatthemedievalManorofMorden.HesucceedsinextractingrichnuggetsofinformationtoshowhowtheManorfunctionedinternallyanddemonstratesitswiderrelationshipwiththeAbbeyofWestminster,its19othermanorsandtheoutsideworld.Thisisawelcome,wellreferencedresource,usingmaps,illustrationsandtables.
TheManorofMorden,listedinDomesdayBook,wasdividedintodemesneland,workedonbehalfoftheAbbeyofWestminster,andtenantlandheldbytenantsinreturnforrentsandservices.
Between1280-1358,theManorofMorden,liketheotherestatesbelongingtoWestminsterAbbey,wasprimarilyasourceofincomeandtheAbbeykeptawatchfuleyeonthegoodrunningoftheestate,keepingcarefulrecordscoveringdetailssuchasitsstaff,weeklyratesandannualwages,repairs,’livestockaccounts’,
andproduce:wheat,rye,oats,grainsandfruit.
ThemedievalManorofMordenfacedaperiodofeconomicexpansionandsevereinflationthatlastedfromtheendofthe12thcenturyuntiltheendofthe13thcenturywhenpricesandwagesmorethandoubled.TheGreatFamineof1315-17ledtohigherpricesforfoodstuffs.Fromthe1340stherewasaperiodofgeneralrecessionfollowedbytheplague,whichreachedMordenjustbeforeEaster1349.
From1358WestminsterAbbeyleasedthedemesnelandouttotenantfarmers.FollowingtheDissolutionoftheMonasteriesin1539-40theManorofMordenwasheldbytheCrownuntilJune1553.ItcameintothehandsofRichardGarthinMarch1553-4andstayedinthefamilyuntilthelate19thcentury.
ANDNOW,HOTOFFTHEPRESS,THENEXTVOLUME!
MedievalMorden:LandscapeandLandholdingPeterHopkins(2021)A4paperback,
360pages,monochromeillustrations,£12.50(Members£10)+£3postage.ISBN978-
1-903899-81-6,fromourPublicationsSecretary(seeoppositepage).
PeterHopkinspresentsanotherpainstakinganalysisofmedievallegaldocuments,
foundinaremarkablearrayofarchives,hisresearchbuttressedbydelvingintoanimpressivearrayofscholarlybooksandarticles.
PetershowsuswhichareasofMordenwereinwhichmedievalmanor.Heexplainsthedifferenttypesofland-holding,traceslandholdingsthroughthesuccessiveownershipofparcelsofland,largeandsmall,detailstheirexpansion(throughpurchaseorlease)andcontraction(bysale,oralienationofasmallparcel,perhapstosupportarelative).Thishasmeantlocatingmanyofthemedievalfields,theirnamesandchanges,nottomentiondocumentingfamilyrelationships(foralmosttheentirevillage!),includingthesuccessivemarriagesofsomeoften-widowedladies.
Peteralsodiscussestheindividualswhoboughtandlostland,theirchangingimportanceinthelocalpeasantcommunityandtheirmisdeeds,laidoutinthemanorialcourt.Heexploresmortgages,andevenidentifiespartofasmallmedievalpark(perhapsforrabbits,perhapsforhunting).
Therearehugedifficultiesinthissortofverticalanalysis-therearemanygapsintherecords,oftenofseveralyearstogether,whiletherecordsareinmedievalLatin(afarcryfromclassicalLatin,containingmanytermsforwhichtherewasnoequivalentinthepast).Peterhasconsultedmanyexpertsinthelanguage,andlaysoutmuchofhisevidenceinmodernEnglishtranslation,amajorbenefitforfuturescholars.Asyouwillhaveseenfromthearticleabove,thisseriesisitselfaworkofimmensescholarship.
Havingproof-read(again)thefirst320pages,whereIidentifiedafewslipssuchas’endquotemissing’and’mapshouldbeMap’,Irespectfullydeclinedaninvitationtoexaminethe30pagesofdensedouble-columnedNotesandReferencesplusIndex:shouldyoudiscoveramistaketherein,IamsurePeterwouldliketobeinformed.
DaveHaunton
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE6KATIEHAWKSconcludesbyconsideringpotentialGuesthousesMERTONPRIORY’SGATEHOUSEANDGUESTHOUSE:PART3ThereislittledocumentaryevidenceabouttheguestquartersatMerton,andnonebeforethethirteenthcentury.
Incontrast,hereisadetaileddescriptionofthenewguesthousesbuiltforPriorJohnofStAlbans(1235-60):
‘Onemostgracioushallforhospitalitywasbuilt,withmanyadjacentbedchambers;amostnoblepicture,withclosetsandfireplaces,andanatrium1andundercroft,whichiscalledtheRoyalPalace,because,onemaysay,ithastwofloorsandacrypt.2Nexttothismostgracioushallistheentrance,whichiscalledthe’porch’or’oriel’;andmanyveryfinebedchambers,withclosetsandfireplaces,fortowelcomeguests…Thenewhall…withitscopingandpentices,
wasnowwell-coveredinlead[incomparisonwiththeleakyshinglesoftheoldhallitreplaced].
‘It,withitsadjoiningbedchambers,wasbeautifullypaintedanddecoratedbythehandofRichard,
oneofourmonksandasplendidcraftsman.Theabbotbuiltanoble[house]oppositethegreatgate;verylong,andmadeofstone,coveredwithtiles,withthreehearths,thewholecourtwasbeautifiedbyitsappearanceandposition.[Ithinkthat’swhatitsays.]Thishouseisfelttobemostbecomingwithitstwofloors-thefirstfortheabbot’sservantstocomeandgofreely,andalarderonthegroundfloor.’3RochelleRowellnoted’thecomparisonwitha’RoyalPalace”,andarguedthatit’appearstorefertoacontemporarysurgeinthenumberoffirst-floorhallsconstructedunderthecommandofHenryIII.’4InDecember1257,
HenryIIIcommandedhisheadmason,John[ofGloucester],torepairasnecessary’thehearthintheking’schamberatMertonandthehearthintheking’sgarderobeinthesameplace,andsimilarlythehearthinthechanceryofthekingintheaforesaidpriory.’5(Thetimeofyearmaysuggestinteriorrepairs,asDecemberisgenerallytoocoldforlimeworkoutside.)Thispointstoacomplexofbuildings:ageneralguesthousefordistinguishedguests,andabuildingwiththeroyalbedandadministrativechambers.AchapelisthoughttohavestoodroughlywhereMertonAbbeyMills’ShowHousenowis(above).ItisEarlyEnglishinstyle,andwouldfitwithalterationsmadebyorforHenryIII.TwoEarlyEnglishfoliatecapitalsexistfromthiswesternarea:onewasfoundduringthedemolitionofAbbeyHouse(left)andtheotherwasfoundintheWandlebyClaireBradfieldafewyearsago.Thesecouldbelongtothechapelortoaguesthouse,orboth.
Wecouldapproachthequestionofguestaccommodationfromtheotherend:thenumberandtypeofguestsneedingaccommodation.AsRowellpointsout,hospitium(hospitality)wasdifferentfromelemosina(almsgiving)andaccommodationforpoorerguestswasinadifferentplacefromthehigh-endaccommodationforthearistocracy.6Merton’scharityguestsweredealtwithatthealmonry,whichcouldhavebeenatthenorth-eastcorneroftheprecinct,whereAmeryMillswaslatersituated.Thewesternareawasforhigher-statusguests.MertonPriory’slocationonStaneStreet,theroadtoChichester,andontheroadtoKingstonmadeitsprovisionofhospitalityinevitable-rightuptothePriory’sdissolution:in1538,SirThomasHenage,wholeasedthepriorysitefromtheCrown,wasletoffpaying£146s8dasthepriorandconventhadreserveditashospitalityexpenses.7Perhapsmostfamously,MertonhostedthecouncilthatpromulgatedtheStatuteorProvisionsofMertonin1236.Italsoheldatleastonebishops’convocationandsomesportsforEdwardIII.8Theseoccasionswouldhavebeenmassivegatherings,butevenputtingupthelocalbishop(whowasoneoftherichestinEngland)wasasubstantialaffair.Foreveryhigh-rankingguest,therewouldhavebeenservants,
baggageandhorses.Intheearlythirteenthcentury,thecanonsofBridlington(Yorkshire)complainedtothepopethatthearchdeaconofRichmondhad,duringhisvisitationofthepriory,broughtwithhimaretinueofninety-sevenhorses,twenty-onedogs,andthreehawks:inonehourtheyhadconsumedmorethantheentirepriorywouldhavedoneinamonth.Consequently,thepopeforbadearchdeaconstoturnupwithmorethansevenhorses.9TheThirdLateranCouncil(1179)decreedthat’archbishopsontheirvisitationsoftheirdiocesesarenottobringwiththemmorethanfortyorfiftyhorsesorothermounts,accordingtothedifferencesofdiocesesandecclesiasticalresources;cardinalsshouldnotexceedtwentyortwenty-five,bishopsarenevertoexceedtwentyorthirty,archdeaconsfiveorseven,anddeans,astheirdelegates,shouldbesatisfiedwithtwohorses.Norshouldtheysetoutwithhuntingdogsandbirds’.In1215,theFourthLateranCounciladdedthatabbotsandpriorsturninguptoageneralchaptermeetingwerenottotakewiththem’morethansixhorsesandKATIEHAWKSconcludesbyconsideringpotentialGuesthousesMERTONPRIORY’SGATEHOUSEANDGUESTHOUSE:PART3ThereislittledocumentaryevidenceabouttheguestquartersatMerton,andnonebeforethethirteenthcentury.
Incontrast,hereisadetaileddescriptionofthenewguesthousesbuiltforPriorJohnofStAlbans(1235-60):
‘Onemostgracioushallforhospitalitywasbuilt,withmanyadjacentbedchambers;amostnoblepicture,withclosetsandfireplaces,andanatrium1andundercroft,whichiscalledtheRoyalPalace,because,onemaysay,ithastwofloorsandacrypt.2Nexttothismostgracioushallistheentrance,whichiscalledthe’porch’or’oriel’;andmanyveryfinebedchambers,withclosetsandfireplaces,fortowelcomeguests…Thenewhall…withitscopingandpentices,
wasnowwell-coveredinlead[incomparisonwiththeleakyshinglesoftheoldhallitreplaced].
‘It,withitsadjoiningbedchambers,wasbeautifullypaintedanddecoratedbythehandofRichard,
oneofourmonksandasplendidcraftsman.Theabbotbuiltanoble[house]oppositethegreatgate;verylong,andmadeofstone,coveredwithtiles,withthreehearths,thewholecourtwasbeautifiedbyitsappearanceandposition.[Ithinkthat’swhatitsays.]Thishouseisfelttobemostbecomingwithitstwofloors-thefirstfortheabbot’sservantstocomeandgofreely,andalarderonthegroundfloor.’3RochelleRowellnoted’thecomparisonwitha’RoyalPalace”,andarguedthatit’appearstorefertoacontemporarysurgeinthenumberoffirst-floorhallsconstructedunderthecommandofHenryIII.’4InDecember1257,
HenryIIIcommandedhisheadmason,John[ofGloucester],torepairasnecessary’thehearthintheking’schamberatMertonandthehearthintheking’sgarderobeinthesameplace,andsimilarlythehearthinthechanceryofthekingintheaforesaidpriory.’5(Thetimeofyearmaysuggestinteriorrepairs,asDecemberisgenerallytoocoldforlimeworkoutside.)Thispointstoacomplexofbuildings:ageneralguesthousefordistinguishedguests,andabuildingwiththeroyalbedandadministrativechambers.AchapelisthoughttohavestoodroughlywhereMertonAbbeyMills’ShowHousenowis(above).ItisEarlyEnglishinstyle,andwouldfitwithalterationsmadebyorforHenryIII.TwoEarlyEnglishfoliatecapitalsexistfromthiswesternarea:onewasfoundduringthedemolitionofAbbeyHouse(left)andtheotherwasfoundintheWandlebyClaireBradfieldafewyearsago.Thesecouldbelongtothechapelortoaguesthouse,orboth.
Wecouldapproachthequestionofguestaccommodationfromtheotherend:thenumberandtypeofguestsneedingaccommodation.AsRowellpointsout,hospitium(hospitality)wasdifferentfromelemosina(almsgiving)andaccommodationforpoorerguestswasinadifferentplacefromthehigh-endaccommodationforthearistocracy.6Merton’scharityguestsweredealtwithatthealmonry,whichcouldhavebeenatthenorth-eastcorneroftheprecinct,whereAmeryMillswaslatersituated.Thewesternareawasforhigher-statusguests.MertonPriory’slocationonStaneStreet,theroadtoChichester,andontheroadtoKingstonmadeitsprovisionofhospitalityinevitable-rightuptothePriory’sdissolution:in1538,SirThomasHenage,wholeasedthepriorysitefromtheCrown,wasletoffpaying£146s8dasthepriorandconventhadreserveditashospitalityexpenses.7Perhapsmostfamously,MertonhostedthecouncilthatpromulgatedtheStatuteorProvisionsofMertonin1236.Italsoheldatleastonebishops’convocationandsomesportsforEdwardIII.8Theseoccasionswouldhavebeenmassivegatherings,butevenputtingupthelocalbishop(whowasoneoftherichestinEngland)wasasubstantialaffair.Foreveryhigh-rankingguest,therewouldhavebeenservants,
baggageandhorses.Intheearlythirteenthcentury,thecanonsofBridlington(Yorkshire)complainedtothepopethatthearchdeaconofRichmondhad,duringhisvisitationofthepriory,broughtwithhimaretinueofninety-sevenhorses,twenty-onedogs,andthreehawks:inonehourtheyhadconsumedmorethantheentirepriorywouldhavedoneinamonth.Consequently,thepopeforbadearchdeaconstoturnupwithmorethansevenhorses.9TheThirdLateranCouncil(1179)decreedthat’archbishopsontheirvisitationsoftheirdiocesesarenottobringwiththemmorethanfortyorfiftyhorsesorothermounts,accordingtothedifferencesofdiocesesandecclesiasticalresources;cardinalsshouldnotexceedtwentyortwenty-five,bishopsarenevertoexceedtwentyorthirty,archdeaconsfiveorseven,anddeans,astheirdelegates,shouldbesatisfiedwithtwohorses.Norshouldtheysetoutwithhuntingdogsandbirds’.In1215,theFourthLateranCounciladdedthatabbotsandpriorsturninguptoageneralchaptermeetingwerenottotakewiththem’morethansixhorsesand
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE7eightpersons.’10AlthoughHenryIIItravelledlessthanhisfather,andalthoughcertaingovernmentalbodieswerebecomingfixedinWestminster,neverthelessthecourtwasstillmobile,andHenry’s1236entouragewouldhaverequiredmanymorethantheninety-sevenhorsesofthearchdeaconofRichmond.
Thedescriptionfrom1680hasalonglistofauxiliarybuildings;whetheranyofthesepre-datedtheDissolutionisunknown,butasubstantialguesthousewouldhaverequiredthesesortsofbuildings:theguesthousewaspartofaguestcomplex.Wehavemetthechapel.Thepriorydovecotewaslocatedoutsidetheprecinct,whereEmmaHamiltonandHoratioNelsonlaterhadMertonPlace,andthefishpondswerelocatedtothesouthofthepriory,touchingBennett’sDitch.Theonesmentionedin1680wemight,therefore,presumetobepost-
Dissolution.WecangetanideaofthestablingneededfromthemassivestableblockatStAlbans.11Stablesneedayardorpaddocknearby,andareadysupplyofhay(presumablystoredintheloftofthestables).12Thehostelarius(hosteller)mighthavehadadwellingneartheguesthouse,perhapsdashingtothechapel-by-
the-gateifhisdutiesmeantthathecouldnotattendthemainchurchoffices.13Thereareseveralreferencestocanonshosteller:in1258,thehostellerwasone’H’;in1394thehostellerwasallowed20s(nearly£700today);in1502,WilliamSalyngwashostellerbeforehebecameprior.14Theguestcomplexmightwellhavehaditsownkitchen(andperhapsbrewhouse).Themainpriorykitchenwasatsomeremovefromthisareaanditcookedvegetarianfood.Nobleguestsatemeat(infact,thechangeinusageof’meat’fromallfoodtojustfleshshowstheimportanceattributedbyoursocietytoanimalproducts).Theinfirmarykitchenwouldalsohavecookedmeat-butthatwasevenfurtherawayfromtheguestsite.InotherAugustinianhouses,themainkitchencouldsupplytheguesthouse,orabbotsorpriorscouldhavetheirownkitchens,doublingasaguestkitchen(asatHaughmond,forexample).
Afurtherbuildingorsetofbuildingsthatmighthavebeeninthisareaaretheroyalchambers.HenryIII,aswehaveseen,hadachamberwithgarderobeandhadroomforhischancery,too.Hewouldalsohavehadaroomforhiswardrobe-nothisclothes,buttheofficethatmanagedhispersonalfinances.15PeterChaceporcwaskeeperofthewardrobeinthe1240s;hegaveprovisioninhiswilltofoundanAugustinianprioryatRavenstonewithMerton’shelp.16Chaceporc’sseniorcolleague,JohnMansell,alsofoundedanAugustinianpriorywithhelpfromMerton.AnentryintheMertoncartularyfrom1261madeitplainthatdespitethefirstpriorscomingfromMerton,MertonhadnoclaimonMansell’shouseatBilsington.17ThesetwoexamplessuggestsacloserelationshipbetweenMertonandHenry’sministers,andwemightsurmisethatbothChaceporcandMansellwerefrequentvisitors.IfRochelleRowellisright,that’visitorstoamonastichouseexpectedagradeofhospitalityinsympathywiththeirownlifestyle’,then,givenJohnMansell’sreputationforgenerousliving,
Mertoncouldnothavestintedonitsguestaccommodation.18Wemightconjectureanumberofguestbuildings,therefore:ahall,withgrandentrance;achamberblockforhigh-statusguests;aroyalchamberblockforthekingandhishousehold(andpossibly,thequeenandhers);kitchens;stables,andachapel.ThepresentcourseoftheWandledatesfromtheseventeenthcentury,
theoriginalcoursefollowingBennet’sDitch/thePickle.MillerandSaxbyplottedapossiblecourseofthewaterwaycuttofeedAmeryMillsbeforethat.19ThisgoestotheeastofwhatisnowMertonAbbeyMills;ifcorrect,theAbbeyHouseareaandtheAbbeyMillsareawouldhavebeenoneandthesame,thechapelbeingverymuchpartoftheguestcomplex.Rocque’smapsshowacutgoingeast-westjustbelowAbbeyHouse,
feedingthemoattothegrangeoutsidethewalls.20Thiscouldhavebeencutduringourmonasticperiodandcouldhaveservicedtheguestcomplex.
TheAisledHallOnemorebuildingneedstoappearinadiscussionaboutguestaccommodation,andthatisanaisledhalltothesouthofthecloister.Thisexistedduringthethirteenthcenturyandwasenlargedorrepairedduringthefourteenth.Excavationsfoundfoodwaste-sheep,cattle,pig,chicken,goose,hare,rabbitandfish.MillerandSaxbywrotethatit’stronglysuggestswell-set-upguestaccommodation…[or]prior’sdwelling…Ineithercasethepositionofthebuildingwouldnotbeunusual.’Itisalittlefarawaytobepartofthehypotheticalguestcomplex-acrosstwostreamsandaroad.PeterHopkinswonderswhetheritcouldhavebeenamisericord,a’roomofmercy’inwhichcanonscouldbreaktheirvegetariandiet.21Aisledhallsweredividedintothreeparts-theserviceend,whichcametobeseparatedfromthemainhallandthehighend,sometimeswithchambersbehindascreen.Thesechamberswouldbeaparlouronthegroundfloor,andsolarabove.AgrandaisledhallexistsatOakham.Duringthethirteenthcentury,theserviceandparlourendsarethoughttohavebeenground-
floorextensions,withalimitedfirstfloorintheroofspace.Thishallwasaccompaniedbyaseparatechamberblock.Inthefourteenthcentury,theextensionsweredemolished-atleastattheparlourend-andacross-
wingadded,providingmoreimmediateandampleaccommodation.22Ifourhallwereaguesthall,itwouldeightpersons.’10AlthoughHenryIIItravelledlessthanhisfather,andalthoughcertaingovernmentalbodieswerebecomingfixedinWestminster,neverthelessthecourtwasstillmobile,andHenry’s1236entouragewouldhaverequiredmanymorethantheninety-sevenhorsesofthearchdeaconofRichmond.
Thedescriptionfrom1680hasalonglistofauxiliarybuildings;whetheranyofthesepre-datedtheDissolutionisunknown,butasubstantialguesthousewouldhaverequiredthesesortsofbuildings:theguesthousewaspartofaguestcomplex.Wehavemetthechapel.Thepriorydovecotewaslocatedoutsidetheprecinct,whereEmmaHamiltonandHoratioNelsonlaterhadMertonPlace,andthefishpondswerelocatedtothesouthofthepriory,touchingBennett’sDitch.Theonesmentionedin1680wemight,therefore,presumetobepost-
Dissolution.WecangetanideaofthestablingneededfromthemassivestableblockatStAlbans.11Stablesneedayardorpaddocknearby,andareadysupplyofhay(presumablystoredintheloftofthestables).12Thehostelarius(hosteller)mighthavehadadwellingneartheguesthouse,perhapsdashingtothechapel-by-
the-gateifhisdutiesmeantthathecouldnotattendthemainchurchoffices.13Thereareseveralreferencestocanonshosteller:in1258,thehostellerwasone’H’;in1394thehostellerwasallowed20s(nearly£700today);in1502,WilliamSalyngwashostellerbeforehebecameprior.14Theguestcomplexmightwellhavehaditsownkitchen(andperhapsbrewhouse).Themainpriorykitchenwasatsomeremovefromthisareaanditcookedvegetarianfood.Nobleguestsatemeat(infact,thechangeinusageof’meat’fromallfoodtojustfleshshowstheimportanceattributedbyoursocietytoanimalproducts).Theinfirmarykitchenwouldalsohavecookedmeat-butthatwasevenfurtherawayfromtheguestsite.InotherAugustinianhouses,themainkitchencouldsupplytheguesthouse,orabbotsorpriorscouldhavetheirownkitchens,doublingasaguestkitchen(asatHaughmond,forexample).
Afurtherbuildingorsetofbuildingsthatmighthavebeeninthisareaaretheroyalchambers.HenryIII,aswehaveseen,hadachamberwithgarderobeandhadroomforhischancery,too.Hewouldalsohavehadaroomforhiswardrobe-nothisclothes,buttheofficethatmanagedhispersonalfinances.15PeterChaceporcwaskeeperofthewardrobeinthe1240s;hegaveprovisioninhiswilltofoundanAugustinianprioryatRavenstonewithMerton’shelp.16Chaceporc’sseniorcolleague,JohnMansell,alsofoundedanAugustinianpriorywithhelpfromMerton.AnentryintheMertoncartularyfrom1261madeitplainthatdespitethefirstpriorscomingfromMerton,MertonhadnoclaimonMansell’shouseatBilsington.17ThesetwoexamplessuggestsacloserelationshipbetweenMertonandHenry’sministers,andwemightsurmisethatbothChaceporcandMansellwerefrequentvisitors.IfRochelleRowellisright,that’visitorstoamonastichouseexpectedagradeofhospitalityinsympathywiththeirownlifestyle’,then,givenJohnMansell’sreputationforgenerousliving,
Mertoncouldnothavestintedonitsguestaccommodation.18Wemightconjectureanumberofguestbuildings,therefore:ahall,withgrandentrance;achamberblockforhigh-statusguests;aroyalchamberblockforthekingandhishousehold(andpossibly,thequeenandhers);kitchens;stables,andachapel.ThepresentcourseoftheWandledatesfromtheseventeenthcentury,
theoriginalcoursefollowingBennet’sDitch/thePickle.MillerandSaxbyplottedapossiblecourseofthewaterwaycuttofeedAmeryMillsbeforethat.19ThisgoestotheeastofwhatisnowMertonAbbeyMills;ifcorrect,theAbbeyHouseareaandtheAbbeyMillsareawouldhavebeenoneandthesame,thechapelbeingverymuchpartoftheguestcomplex.Rocque’smapsshowacutgoingeast-westjustbelowAbbeyHouse,
feedingthemoattothegrangeoutsidethewalls.20Thiscouldhavebeencutduringourmonasticperiodandcouldhaveservicedtheguestcomplex.
TheAisledHallOnemorebuildingneedstoappearinadiscussionaboutguestaccommodation,andthatisanaisledhalltothesouthofthecloister.Thisexistedduringthethirteenthcenturyandwasenlargedorrepairedduringthefourteenth.Excavationsfoundfoodwaste-sheep,cattle,pig,chicken,goose,hare,rabbitandfish.MillerandSaxbywrotethatit’stronglysuggestswell-set-upguestaccommodation…[or]prior’sdwelling…Ineithercasethepositionofthebuildingwouldnotbeunusual.’Itisalittlefarawaytobepartofthehypotheticalguestcomplex-acrosstwostreamsandaroad.PeterHopkinswonderswhetheritcouldhavebeenamisericord,a’roomofmercy’inwhichcanonscouldbreaktheirvegetariandiet.21Aisledhallsweredividedintothreeparts-theserviceend,whichcametobeseparatedfromthemainhallandthehighend,sometimeswithchambersbehindascreen.Thesechamberswouldbeaparlouronthegroundfloor,andsolarabove.AgrandaisledhallexistsatOakham.Duringthethirteenthcentury,theserviceandparlourendsarethoughttohavebeenground-
floorextensions,withalimitedfirstfloorintheroofspace.Thishallwasaccompaniedbyaseparatechamberblock.Inthefourteenthcentury,theextensionsweredemolished-atleastattheparlourend-andacross-
wingadded,providingmoreimmediateandampleaccommodation.22Ifourhallwereaguesthall,itwould
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE8PETERHOPKINSwouldliketoconsiderAPOSSIBLETHIRDOPTIONFORTHEABBEYHOUSERECONSTRUCTIONKatie’ssplendidarticleinthelastBulletinconsideredtwooptionsforreconstructingthepriorybuildingsincorporatedintoAbbeyHouse.Iwonderwhetherathirdoptionmightbetoseetheprojectingsectioncontainingthearch(outlinedwithblackdashesinplan,right)asanaddedporchtothegroundfloorhall(whiteoutline)withanenclosedwoodenstaircasetoanupperstoreyofaneastwing(diamondoutline)?SuchporchesandstaircasesarementionedbythelearnedauthorsthatKatiecites,butmeasurementsareseldomgiven.Itwouldappearfromthe1805planoftheestatethatthisAbbeyHouse’extension’wasonlysome6ftdeep,whereasthetwoshownwithaccompanyingscalesinRowell(pt.2,fig.49(d)and(e))weresome10ftdeepormore.Idonomorethanofferthisforfurtherconsideration.
BeingresponsibleforthelayoutoftheseBulletins,IhaveprioraccesstothearticlesandwasinterestedtonotefromTonyScott’sarticleonpage14thatstonesalvagedwhenAbbeyHousewasdemolishedwasusedinreconstructingthearchwayinthegroundsofHallPlace,Mitcham.MHShasonepiece,currentlyinmygarden!
havebeenjustthat-aspaceforeatingandformalbusiness,butnotsleepingaccommodation.Theparlourandsolararrangementwouldhavebeensufficientfortheprior,wereithislodgings;againstthisisthattheprior’slodgingsinAustinhouseswereusually(butnotalways)inthewestwingofthecloister.23Acknowledgement:ItwillbeevidentthatthisarticleandpreviouspartsbenefitgreatlyfromtheconstantlygrowingpicturecollectionofMertonHeritageandLocalStudies.’MertonMemories’photographsarethecopyrightoftheLondonBoroughofMerton,towhomwearegratefulforpermissiontoreproducethem.Morehistoricimagescanbeviewedatwww.photoarchive.merton.gov.uk1R.L.Rowell,’TheArchaeologyofLateMonasticHospitality'(unpublishedPhD.,York,2000),pp.42-6translatesthisas’hall’,butitcouldbe’courtyard’oreven’porch’.
2Idon’tunderstandthedifferencebetweenacryptandanundercroft.Ifthecryptisthesameasthesubaula,thenwearelookingatathree-storeyedbuilding.
3H.T.Riley(ed.),GestaAbbatumMonasteriiSanctiAlbani(London,1867),vol.i,p.314;quotedinRowell,p.774Rowell,pp.77-85https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/hen3/vol10/pp168-1826Rowell,p.657SC6/HenVIII/3463,fol.18v.Thisisabout£6,000today(https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-
converter).
8Heales,RecordsofMertonPriory(Oxford,1898),pp.98-9,2489VCH,York,vol.iii,p.199-20510https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/ecum11.htm,canon12;https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/
lateran4.asp,canon411Left,onthispicture:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/St_Albans_Abbey_before_
dissolution_painting_2011-06-20.jpg12Inthemid-fourteenthcentury,someofthepriory’stenantscomplainedthatthepriorhadmadethemmowhismeadows(amongstotherthings),butwhetherthesewereinsidetheprecinctoronthepriory’slandsoutsidethewallsisnotclear.VCHSurrey,vol.iv(1912),pp.65-613Rowell,p.6814Heales,pp.133,288,31115Carpenter,HenryIII,p.377;T.F.Tout,ChaptersintheAdministrativeHistoryofMediaevalEngland:theWardrobe,theChamberandtheSmallSeals(Manchester.1920),pp.67-7116https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol1/pp381-382;https://archive.org/details/
matthiparisiens01luargoog/page/n516/mode/2up.Heales(p.130)wrotethatChaceporchadfoundedachantryatMerton;thisiserroneous.
17Heales,appendixno.LXXV;cart.no.322,fol.cxlj18Rowell,p.119P.MillerandD.Saxby,TheAugustinianPrioryofStMaryMerton,Surrey(London,2007),p.11520P.Hopkins,MoatedSitesinMerton,MitchamandMorden(London,2016),pp.8-1521B.Harvey,LivingandDyinginEngland,1100-1540:TheMonasticExperience(Oxford,1993),p.4222N.Hill,’Hallandchambers:OakhamCastlereconsidered’,AntiquariesJournal,93(2013),pp.163-21623J.SchofieldandR.Lee,HolyTrinityPriory,Aldgate:AnArchaeologicalReconstructionandHistory(London,
2005),p.111PETERHOPKINSwouldliketoconsiderAPOSSIBLETHIRDOPTIONFORTHEABBEYHOUSERECONSTRUCTIONKatie’ssplendidarticleinthelastBulletinconsideredtwooptionsforreconstructingthepriorybuildingsincorporatedintoAbbeyHouse.Iwonderwhetherathirdoptionmightbetoseetheprojectingsectioncontainingthearch(outlinedwithblackdashesinplan,right)asanaddedporchtothegroundfloorhall(whiteoutline)withanenclosedwoodenstaircasetoanupperstoreyofaneastwing(diamondoutline)?SuchporchesandstaircasesarementionedbythelearnedauthorsthatKatiecites,butmeasurementsareseldomgiven.Itwouldappearfromthe1805planoftheestatethatthisAbbeyHouse’extension’wasonlysome6ftdeep,whereasthetwoshownwithaccompanyingscalesinRowell(pt.2,fig.49(d)and(e))weresome10ftdeepormore.Idonomorethanofferthisforfurtherconsideration.
BeingresponsibleforthelayoutoftheseBulletins,IhaveprioraccesstothearticlesandwasinterestedtonotefromTonyScott’sarticleonpage14thatstonesalvagedwhenAbbeyHousewasdemolishedwasusedinreconstructingthearchwayinthegroundsofHallPlace,Mitcham.MHShasonepiece,currentlyinmygarden!
havebeenjustthat-aspaceforeatingandformalbusiness,butnotsleepingaccommodation.Theparlourandsolararrangementwouldhavebeensufficientfortheprior,wereithislodgings;againstthisisthattheprior’slodgingsinAustinhouseswereusually(butnotalways)inthewestwingofthecloister.23Acknowledgement:ItwillbeevidentthatthisarticleandpreviouspartsbenefitgreatlyfromtheconstantlygrowingpicturecollectionofMertonHeritageandLocalStudies.’MertonMemories’photographsarethecopyrightoftheLondonBoroughofMerton,towhomwearegratefulforpermissiontoreproducethem.Morehistoricimagescanbeviewedatwww.photoarchive.merton.gov.uk1R.L.Rowell,’TheArchaeologyofLateMonasticHospitality'(unpublishedPhD.,York,2000),pp.42-6translatesthisas’hall’,butitcouldbe’courtyard’oreven’porch’.
2Idon’tunderstandthedifferencebetweenacryptandanundercroft.Ifthecryptisthesameasthesubaula,thenwearelookingatathree-storeyedbuilding.
3H.T.Riley(ed.),GestaAbbatumMonasteriiSanctiAlbani(London,1867),vol.i,p.314;quotedinRowell,p.774Rowell,pp.77-85https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-close-rolls/hen3/vol10/pp168-1826Rowell,p.657SC6/HenVIII/3463,fol.18v.Thisisabout£6,000today(https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-
converter).
8Heales,RecordsofMertonPriory(Oxford,1898),pp.98-9,2489VCH,York,vol.iii,p.199-20510https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/ecum11.htm,canon12;https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/
lateran4.asp,canon411Left,onthispicture:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/St_Albans_Abbey_before_
dissolution_painting_2011-06-20.jpg12Inthemid-fourteenthcentury,someofthepriory’stenantscomplainedthatthepriorhadmadethemmowhismeadows(amongstotherthings),butwhetherthesewereinsidetheprecinctoronthepriory’slandsoutsidethewallsisnotclear.VCHSurrey,vol.iv(1912),pp.65-613Rowell,p.6814Heales,pp.133,288,31115Carpenter,HenryIII,p.377;T.F.Tout,ChaptersintheAdministrativeHistoryofMediaevalEngland:theWardrobe,theChamberandtheSmallSeals(Manchester.1920),pp.67-7116https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol1/pp381-382;https://archive.org/details/
matthiparisiens01luargoog/page/n516/mode/2up.Heales(p.130)wrotethatChaceporchadfoundedachantryatMerton;thisiserroneous.
17Heales,appendixno.LXXV;cart.no.322,fol.cxlj18Rowell,p.119P.MillerandD.Saxby,TheAugustinianPrioryofStMaryMerton,Surrey(London,2007),p.11520P.Hopkins,MoatedSitesinMerton,MitchamandMorden(London,2016),pp.8-1521B.Harvey,LivingandDyinginEngland,1100-1540:TheMonasticExperience(Oxford,1993),p.4222N.Hill,’Hallandchambers:OakhamCastlereconsidered’,AntiquariesJournal,93(2013),pp.163-21623J.SchofieldandR.Lee,HolyTrinityPriory,Aldgate:AnArchaeologicalReconstructionandHistory(London,
2005),p.111
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE9NORMACOXhasbeenexploringanIndustrialEstateTHREEMORDENFACTORIES:BOC,AGFAANDDEAN’SRAGBOOKSInthe1990sItravelledbytrainfromWimbledontoWestCroydon,thelineatMordenRoadpassingclosetoanindustrialestate.IrememberseeingthenameofBritishOxygenonabuildingthere,andnearbywasthecolouredbadgeofAgfaonanotherbuilding.GascylinderswerestoredoutsidetheBritishOxygenCompany(BOC)premises,inametalcage.Idecidedtolookatthehistoryofthesetwosites.DuringmyresearchIfoundtheDean’sRagBooksfactorycloseby,withwhoseproductsIwasfamiliarasachild.
InMertoninthelate1920s,astheareadeveloped,alargenumberofindustrieswereestablishedinthreemainareas,inordertopreserveotheramenitiesintheDistrict.1OnesuchareawasbetweenSouthWimbledonandMorden.ThefactoriesintheindustrialestatewerebuiltonNelson’sFields,whichreachedfromMordenRoadinthewesttotheRiverWandleintheeastandfromthetram-lineinthesouthtojustaboveMerantunWayinthenorth.2TodayMerton’sindustrialestatescanbeseeninNicholson’sLondonStreetAtlas,whichshowstheindustrysitescolouredbrownsotheyshowupeasily.3The1990sestatewasthennamedMordenIndustrialEstate4,butisnowcalledLombardBusinessParkinthesouthandMertonIndustrialParkinthenorth.5Thethirdfactory,Dean’sRagBooks,wasinthenextroadtotheMordenIndustrialestate.6BoththeBritishOxygenbuildingandtheAgfafilmprocessingbuildingwerelistedinDeerParkRoad.7TheBOCbuildingwasascientificresearchcentreoccupyingalargesiteinsidethebendoftheroadatno.26,whiletheAgfa-GevaertLtdphotographicfilms(ProcessingDivision)wasontheoutsideoftheroadbendatthesitenowoccupiedbyno.29;owingtothe’dog-leg’roadconfiguration,thisisconfusinglynotoppositeno.26.
Dean’sRagBooksfactorywasat61HighPath,SW19,justnorthofMerantunWay.8BOCBOC(BritishOxygenCompany)establishedaresearchanddevelopmentcentreinDeerParkRoad,Merton,(seeright)in1946.9BOCwasanestablishedcompanyandwasre-namedin1906havingpreviouslybeencalledBrinOxygenCompanyaftertwoFrenchbrothers,ArthurandLeonBrin.Theymadeoxygenusingahigh-temperaturebariumoxideprocessknownastheBrinprocessin1886.10TheirOxygenCompany,HorseferryRoad,Westminster,wasregisteredbytheSharpBrotherson26January1886toacquirecertainpatentrightsintheprocesstoproduceoxygen.11AGermanengineer,CarlVonLinde,wasgrantedapatentforaprocesstomakeoxygenmoreefficientlyon5June1895.12ThemainuseofoxygenintheVictorianerawasfor’limelight’inmagiclanternsandtheatrelights.By1903thenewprocessofoxyacetyleneweldingwasunderwayandatthesametimethenewcryogenicairseparationmethoddevelopedindependentlyintheUK,USAandGermany.InWW1theBritishOxygenfactoriesmass-producedwarmachinerysuchasships,tanksandtrucks,allofwhichneededmetalcuttingandwelding.AdvertsontheGrace’sGuide’swebsiteshowtheBOCbusinessfrom1908,withpremisesinNewcastleuponTyne;thecompanygrewafterWW1aidedbytheacquisitionofotherbusinessessuchasSparkletsLtdinEdmonton.InWW2theproductionofgasesbyBOCformunitionsandmedicalneedsincreased.LateradvertsonGrace’sGuideshowthatBOChadfactoriesandbranchesintheMidlandsandinLondonfrom1950.13TheDeerParkRoadsitewasatfirstlistedasaspecialisedresearchcentre,firstseeninthe1955phonebookas’BritishOxygenCoLtd,CompressedGasManufacturers,ResearchandDevelopmentDepartment,MordenFactoryEstate,MordenRoad,SW19′.
SarahGouldofMertonLocalStudiesCentretoldme’therewaslimitedinformationhereastowhenBOCstartedintheMordenIndustrialestate’butpointedoutthatduringWW2,26DeerParkRoadwasthesiteofRotaxengineeringworks,whichinpeacetimemadeenginepartsforcarsandmotorcycles,butby1940hadswitchedtotheproductionofcockpitindicatorsandnavigationalaidsessentialfortheRAFduringtheBattleofBritain.(ThefamouslaterheroineofSOE,VioletteSzabo,onceworkedatRotax.)Sarahthendrewmyattentiontothefollowingnotes:In1956theMertonandMordenOfficialGuidereferredtoBritishOxygenoperatingfromtheeasternzoneoflocalindustryandproducinggasesforanaesthetics,whiletheLondonPostOfficeDirectoryshowedBOCatDeerParkRoadin1959.Yetitwasnotuntil1962thatBOCwasfinallymentionedintheMertonandMordenOfficialGuide,statingthat’ImmediatelyafterWW2in1946,BOCNORMACOXhasbeenexploringanIndustrialEstateTHREEMORDENFACTORIES:BOC,AGFAANDDEAN’SRAGBOOKSInthe1990sItravelledbytrainfromWimbledontoWestCroydon,thelineatMordenRoadpassingclosetoanindustrialestate.IrememberseeingthenameofBritishOxygenonabuildingthere,andnearbywasthecolouredbadgeofAgfaonanotherbuilding.GascylinderswerestoredoutsidetheBritishOxygenCompany(BOC)premises,inametalcage.Idecidedtolookatthehistoryofthesetwosites.DuringmyresearchIfoundtheDean’sRagBooksfactorycloseby,withwhoseproductsIwasfamiliarasachild.
InMertoninthelate1920s,astheareadeveloped,alargenumberofindustrieswereestablishedinthreemainareas,inordertopreserveotheramenitiesintheDistrict.1OnesuchareawasbetweenSouthWimbledonandMorden.ThefactoriesintheindustrialestatewerebuiltonNelson’sFields,whichreachedfromMordenRoadinthewesttotheRiverWandleintheeastandfromthetram-lineinthesouthtojustaboveMerantunWayinthenorth.2TodayMerton’sindustrialestatescanbeseeninNicholson’sLondonStreetAtlas,whichshowstheindustrysitescolouredbrownsotheyshowupeasily.3The1990sestatewasthennamedMordenIndustrialEstate4,butisnowcalledLombardBusinessParkinthesouthandMertonIndustrialParkinthenorth.5Thethirdfactory,Dean’sRagBooks,wasinthenextroadtotheMordenIndustrialestate.6BoththeBritishOxygenbuildingandtheAgfafilmprocessingbuildingwerelistedinDeerParkRoad.7TheBOCbuildingwasascientificresearchcentreoccupyingalargesiteinsidethebendoftheroadatno.26,whiletheAgfa-GevaertLtdphotographicfilms(ProcessingDivision)wasontheoutsideoftheroadbendatthesitenowoccupiedbyno.29;owingtothe’dog-leg’roadconfiguration,thisisconfusinglynotoppositeno.26.
Dean’sRagBooksfactorywasat61HighPath,SW19,justnorthofMerantunWay.8BOCBOC(BritishOxygenCompany)establishedaresearchanddevelopmentcentreinDeerParkRoad,Merton,(seeright)in1946.9BOCwasanestablishedcompanyandwasre-namedin1906havingpreviouslybeencalledBrinOxygenCompanyaftertwoFrenchbrothers,ArthurandLeonBrin.Theymadeoxygenusingahigh-temperaturebariumoxideprocessknownastheBrinprocessin1886.10TheirOxygenCompany,HorseferryRoad,Westminster,wasregisteredbytheSharpBrotherson26January1886toacquirecertainpatentrightsintheprocesstoproduceoxygen.11AGermanengineer,CarlVonLinde,wasgrantedapatentforaprocesstomakeoxygenmoreefficientlyon5June1895.12ThemainuseofoxygenintheVictorianerawasfor’limelight’inmagiclanternsandtheatrelights.By1903thenewprocessofoxyacetyleneweldingwasunderwayandatthesametimethenewcryogenicairseparationmethoddevelopedindependentlyintheUK,USAandGermany.InWW1theBritishOxygenfactoriesmass-producedwarmachinerysuchasships,tanksandtrucks,allofwhichneededmetalcuttingandwelding.AdvertsontheGrace’sGuide’swebsiteshowtheBOCbusinessfrom1908,withpremisesinNewcastleuponTyne;thecompanygrewafterWW1aidedbytheacquisitionofotherbusinessessuchasSparkletsLtdinEdmonton.InWW2theproductionofgasesbyBOCformunitionsandmedicalneedsincreased.LateradvertsonGrace’sGuideshowthatBOChadfactoriesandbranchesintheMidlandsandinLondonfrom1950.13TheDeerParkRoadsitewasatfirstlistedasaspecialisedresearchcentre,firstseeninthe1955phonebookas’BritishOxygenCoLtd,CompressedGasManufacturers,ResearchandDevelopmentDepartment,MordenFactoryEstate,MordenRoad,SW19′.
SarahGouldofMertonLocalStudiesCentretoldme’therewaslimitedinformationhereastowhenBOCstartedintheMordenIndustrialestate’butpointedoutthatduringWW2,26DeerParkRoadwasthesiteofRotaxengineeringworks,whichinpeacetimemadeenginepartsforcarsandmotorcycles,butby1940hadswitchedtotheproductionofcockpitindicatorsandnavigationalaidsessentialfortheRAFduringtheBattleofBritain.(ThefamouslaterheroineofSOE,VioletteSzabo,onceworkedatRotax.)Sarahthendrewmyattentiontothefollowingnotes:In1956theMertonandMordenOfficialGuidereferredtoBritishOxygenoperatingfromtheeasternzoneoflocalindustryandproducinggasesforanaesthetics,whiletheLondonPostOfficeDirectoryshowedBOCatDeerParkRoadin1959.Yetitwasnotuntil1962thatBOCwasfinallymentionedintheMertonandMordenOfficialGuide,statingthat’ImmediatelyafterWW2in1946,BOC
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE10establishedaresearchanddevelopmentstationatpremisesinLombardRoad:thesitehavingbeenoccupiedsince1936,byamembercompanyofthegroup’.By1962theresearchstationhadbeenextendedseveraltimesandoccupiedanareaofaboutfourandahalfacresbetweenLombardRoadandDeerParkRoad.TheOfficialGuidefurtherstatedthat’400employeescarriedoutexperimentalworkonsubjectsrelatedtotheBOCgroup’sproducts,todiscovernewscientificknowledgeandapplythisknowledgetoindustrialproblems.Aquarteroftheemployeesweregraduateswithasimilarnumberofscientificassistants,manyofwhomwereundergoingtrainingandstudyingforadegree.’
AlateradvertinNewScientist,18June1981,requiredatechniciantoworkinBOCSpecialGasesunitatDeerParkRoad,dealingwiththemanufactureandmarketingofarangeofcompoundslabelledwithstableisotopes.
TodaytheBOCsiteat26DeerParkRoadislistedasaretailoutletwithawiderangeofgases,gasequipment,
tradetoolsandsafetyproductsforpurchase.Inadditiontheirstaffofferhelptothepublicinchoosingcorrectproductsforwelding,cuttingandmoregeneraltasks.14AgfaThesecondDeerParkRoadfactorywasthefilmprocessingunitforAgfafilmswhichwasestablishedtherein1953.15AgfawasaGermancompanywhomadephotographicpaper,filmcamerasandfilm.Grace’sGuideshowedthatAgfastartedatRummelsburgerSee,nearBerlin,
asacolourdyefactoryin1867,registeredastheAktien-GesellschaftfurAnilin-FabrikationAgfa.By1916Agfahaddevelopedmaterialsforcolourphotographyandwastheonlycompanytodosointhe1920s.
In1936AgfaintroducedAgfacolour-Neuasinglefilmwhichwascoveredby278patents.AgfaproductscalledtheAgfa-ReducerlinehadbeensoldintheUKbytheirsoleagents,A&MZimmerman,atStMary-at-Hill,London,since1901.In1938Agfaintroducedcolourpaperand16mmamateurcolourcinefilms.Therewerenoadvertsfor1939-1940sduetoWW2,buta1953advert(right)forAgfacolorfilmonGrace’sGuideshowedthatAgfawasnowintheUK,inDeerParkRoad,SW19.In1959Agfaintroducedthefirstfullyautomatic35mmcamera(Optima)attheDeerParkRoadaddress:inthenextthreeyearsAgfasoldonemillionofthem.Alsoin1959Agfa-AgbecameasubsidiaryofBayer.
In1961theMinistryofLabourmadearulingfortheEmploymentofWomenandYoungPersons,inaccordancewithsection117(aboutthenumberofhoursallowedtobeworked)oftheFactoriesAct1961.TheMinisterofLabourgavenoticethatduringthemonthending30June1966specialexemptionordersweremaderelatingtotheemploymentofwomenandoryoungpersonsatAgfaProcessingLtd,DeerParkRdLondonSW19.16Gevaert,aBelgiancompanythatmadephotographicpaper,haditsUKsubsidiaryat27-29GreatWestRoad,
Brentford.17Grace’sGuidenotesthatthe1964mergerofGevaertandAgfaproducedtwonewcompanies-
Gevaert-AgfaNVinMortsel,Belgium,andAgfa-GevaertAGinLeverkusen,Germany;thatin1971Agfa-
GevaertproducedthefirstEuropeanxerographiccopier,butthatby1980-81thesignificantriseinthepriceofsilverputAgfa-Gevaertintoadifficultfinancialposition,resultinginBayerprovidingadditionalfundsandobtaining100%ownershipoftheAgfa-Gevaertgroup.
However,followingapublicflotationin1999Agfa-Gevaertgroupbecameindependent.18TheconsumerfilmdivisionAgfaIinLeverkusenwasspunoffintoanewcompanyAgfaPhotoin2004asamanagementbuy-out.
Thiswasatimeofchangeinthetraditionalfilmmarketwiththerapidriseofdigitalphotography.BankruptcyofAgfaensuedinsevenmonthsandtheLeverkusenplantclosedin2005.Furtherevidenceofthe2005demiseoftheAgfa-GevaertDeerParkRoadpremisesisseenontheMacfiloswebsite,whichhasnewsandviewsonphotography.MacfilosrecordedthatKodak(theUSAcompany)hadacquiredAgfaandthattherewasanAgfafactoryandfilm-processingplantatDeerParkRoad,SouthWimbledon,quiteneartoMacfilossite.KodakthenconvertedtheAgfafactoryintothenewEuropeanKodachromeprocessingplant.SadlythisnewsituationwasshortlivedandKodakmovedeverythingtoanewsiteatHeathrow,Middlesex.19InformationaboutapersonalexperienceofusingAgfafilmswasrelatedtomein2021byChrisHutchinson,aphotographer,tour-guideandwalkerandafriendofmine,inreplytomyquestionstohim,aboutAgfafilmandtheSouthWimbledonpremises.Hecommentedthathethought’thatAgfahadprobablyenteredthecolour-
marketaround1941′.HeusedtheAgfafilmCT18forpreferenceintheyears1960-2005,whenthefilmdiedout.(TheAgfaColour/ChromeCT18(1958-1985)wasaconsumercolourreversalgeneralpurposefilm.
establishedaresearchanddevelopmentstationatpremisesinLombardRoad:thesitehavingbeenoccupiedsince1936,byamembercompanyofthegroup’.By1962theresearchstationhadbeenextendedseveraltimesandoccupiedanareaofaboutfourandahalfacresbetweenLombardRoadandDeerParkRoad.TheOfficialGuidefurtherstatedthat’400employeescarriedoutexperimentalworkonsubjectsrelatedtotheBOCgroup’sproducts,todiscovernewscientificknowledgeandapplythisknowledgetoindustrialproblems.Aquarteroftheemployeesweregraduateswithasimilarnumberofscientificassistants,manyofwhomwereundergoingtrainingandstudyingforadegree.’
AlateradvertinNewScientist,18June1981,requiredatechniciantoworkinBOCSpecialGasesunitatDeerParkRoad,dealingwiththemanufactureandmarketingofarangeofcompoundslabelledwithstableisotopes.
TodaytheBOCsiteat26DeerParkRoadislistedasaretailoutletwithawiderangeofgases,gasequipment,
tradetoolsandsafetyproductsforpurchase.Inadditiontheirstaffofferhelptothepublicinchoosingcorrectproductsforwelding,cuttingandmoregeneraltasks.14AgfaThesecondDeerParkRoadfactorywasthefilmprocessingunitforAgfafilmswhichwasestablishedtherein1953.15AgfawasaGermancompanywhomadephotographicpaper,filmcamerasandfilm.Grace’sGuideshowedthatAgfastartedatRummelsburgerSee,nearBerlin,
asacolourdyefactoryin1867,registeredastheAktien-GesellschaftfurAnilin-FabrikationAgfa.By1916Agfahaddevelopedmaterialsforcolourphotographyandwastheonlycompanytodosointhe1920s.
In1936AgfaintroducedAgfacolour-Neuasinglefilmwhichwascoveredby278patents.AgfaproductscalledtheAgfa-ReducerlinehadbeensoldintheUKbytheirsoleagents,A&MZimmerman,atStMary-at-Hill,London,since1901.In1938Agfaintroducedcolourpaperand16mmamateurcolourcinefilms.Therewerenoadvertsfor1939-1940sduetoWW2,buta1953advert(right)forAgfacolorfilmonGrace’sGuideshowedthatAgfawasnowintheUK,inDeerParkRoad,SW19.In1959Agfaintroducedthefirstfullyautomatic35mmcamera(Optima)attheDeerParkRoadaddress:inthenextthreeyearsAgfasoldonemillionofthem.Alsoin1959Agfa-AgbecameasubsidiaryofBayer.
In1961theMinistryofLabourmadearulingfortheEmploymentofWomenandYoungPersons,inaccordancewithsection117(aboutthenumberofhoursallowedtobeworked)oftheFactoriesAct1961.TheMinisterofLabourgavenoticethatduringthemonthending30June1966specialexemptionordersweremaderelatingtotheemploymentofwomenandoryoungpersonsatAgfaProcessingLtd,DeerParkRdLondonSW19.16Gevaert,aBelgiancompanythatmadephotographicpaper,haditsUKsubsidiaryat27-29GreatWestRoad,
Brentford.17Grace’sGuidenotesthatthe1964mergerofGevaertandAgfaproducedtwonewcompanies-
Gevaert-AgfaNVinMortsel,Belgium,andAgfa-GevaertAGinLeverkusen,Germany;thatin1971Agfa-
GevaertproducedthefirstEuropeanxerographiccopier,butthatby1980-81thesignificantriseinthepriceofsilverputAgfa-Gevaertintoadifficultfinancialposition,resultinginBayerprovidingadditionalfundsandobtaining100%ownershipoftheAgfa-Gevaertgroup.
However,followingapublicflotationin1999Agfa-Gevaertgroupbecameindependent.18TheconsumerfilmdivisionAgfaIinLeverkusenwasspunoffintoanewcompanyAgfaPhotoin2004asamanagementbuy-out.
Thiswasatimeofchangeinthetraditionalfilmmarketwiththerapidriseofdigitalphotography.BankruptcyofAgfaensuedinsevenmonthsandtheLeverkusenplantclosedin2005.Furtherevidenceofthe2005demiseoftheAgfa-GevaertDeerParkRoadpremisesisseenontheMacfiloswebsite,whichhasnewsandviewsonphotography.MacfilosrecordedthatKodak(theUSAcompany)hadacquiredAgfaandthattherewasanAgfafactoryandfilm-processingplantatDeerParkRoad,SouthWimbledon,quiteneartoMacfilossite.KodakthenconvertedtheAgfafactoryintothenewEuropeanKodachromeprocessingplant.SadlythisnewsituationwasshortlivedandKodakmovedeverythingtoanewsiteatHeathrow,Middlesex.19InformationaboutapersonalexperienceofusingAgfafilmswasrelatedtomein2021byChrisHutchinson,aphotographer,tour-guideandwalkerandafriendofmine,inreplytomyquestionstohim,aboutAgfafilmandtheSouthWimbledonpremises.Hecommentedthathethought’thatAgfahadprobablyenteredthecolour-
marketaround1941′.HeusedtheAgfafilmCT18forpreferenceintheyears1960-2005,whenthefilmdiedout.(TheAgfaColour/ChromeCT18(1958-1985)wasaconsumercolourreversalgeneralpurposefilm.
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE11RenamedChromein1978itofferedwarmpleasingcoloursbutwasnotverystablelongterm.20)Chrissentoffthefilmsinthepackagingprovidedandgotthembackaweeklaterinthepost.Headded’Agfahadmanyprocessinglabsinmanycountriesaroundtheworld’andthathestucktoCT18tobesurethatcolourbalancewasconsistentwhengivingslide-shows.HedidnothaveanAgfacamera.Healsomadeanunusualcommentwhenhesaid’FromstoriesIhadheardfromotherfilmlaboratories,therewouldhavebeenalotofdarknessinside,whichmeantthatmaleemployeeswereatthemercyoffemaleemployees;theoppositewasnotthecase,definitely.’Herelated’In1972IspenttenweeksinAustriatakingpeopleoverthemountains.IsentmyfilmstobeprocessedbyAgfainViennaandgavemyaddressasc/othecompanyIwasworkingfor,whowerebasedpermanentlyinSeefeldinGermany.WhatIdidn’tknowwasthatmyfilmswerebeingprocessedbyoneofmyfellowstudentsfromLanchesterPoly(Coventry).Shewasaforeignlanguagestudentandhappenedtobeabarber’sdaughter,whogavemeashortbackandsides,inthemiddleofaChristmaspartyatcollege,whenIdecidedthatmylonghippy-stylewasnolongersuitable’.Itmusthavebeenagreatsurpriseforthemboth,
initiallywhensheprocessedtheslidesandlaterwhenhereceivedthem.Hisguessof1941astheyearwhenAgfaenteredthecolourmarketwasincorrectasitwas1936inGermany,asshownabove.AgfadidnotstartinBritainuntil1953,eightyearsafterWW2hadended.
Dean’sRagBooksThethirdfactorywasDean’sRagBookFactoryinHighPath,
Merton.Thebusiness,whichwasestablishedinMertonin1937,hadbeenstartedin1903byaMrHenrySamuelDeanattheElephantandCastle,London,andproducedragbooksforchildren.21Thebooksweresimpleclothbookswithedgescutwithazig-zagpatternusingcloth-makersshears.
Theseragbookswereidealforverysmallchildrenastheywerecheapandthepagescouldnotbetornoutandeaten.
Theyweredifficulttodefaceanditdidn’tmatterifthechildfellasleepwithoneofthebooks,fortheyweresoft.Alsoifthebooksweresoiledtheycouldbeeasilywashedandsterilised.Thecompany’strade-markwasabull-dogandaterrierfightingoveraragbook.ThiswasdesignedbyartistStanleyBerkleytorepresentthedurabilityandnearindestructabilityofDean’stoys.AposterforDean’sRagBooksisshownabove,(imagecourtesyofBrightonToyandModelMuseum).By1915thefirmwasalsomakingtoysandthefirmbecamefamousforitsteddybearswhichweresoldatHarrods.22ThenewDean’sfactoryinMertonhadalargelyfemaleworkforceof200.Manyoftheworkerswereyounggirlsstraightfromschool.ThreeformerDean’sstaffhaveretoldtheirworkplacememories.23OnestartedatDean’sin1937andearned10shillingsaweekasamachinist.
AnothercamestraightfromschooljustbeforetheoutbreakofWW2.Sheworkedasaturnerwhichwasturningsoft-toysright-sideout,afterthetoyshadbeenstitchedinsideout.Workasaturnerwasatypicaljobforanunskilledyoungwomanstraightfromschool.LikethenearbyLinesBrothersfactoryinMertonRoad,Dean’ssoonswitchedproductiontowar-work,bymakinglife-jacketsandsoldiers’stripes.Demandwassohighthatitbecamecommonforfactorystafftotakeworkhometocomplete.Despitethis,war-productionwaspopularwiththefemaleworkforceasitwasbetterpaidthanmakingtoys.ToencourageproductionatDean’s,lightmusictitled’Musicwhileyouwork’wasplayedinthefactory.Supervisionwasstrictbutworkingrelationsweregood.Overtimewasallowedandthebasicpaywasimproved.Therewasa1950sChristmasPartyforDean’sRagBookworkersattheDogandFoxpubinWimbledon.ThethirdformerDean’semployeejoinedthecompanyin1945andstartedasaturner.Shelatertrainedasacutterandbecameasupervisorandstayedatthefactoryuntilthemiddleofthe1950s,whenthefirmmovedaway.
BillRudd,amemberofMertonHistoricalSocietywhoworkedatLiberty’sinMertonandtravelledalongHighPathdailyduringhisworkingweek,commentedaboutacurioussmellwhichemanatedfromthewastebinsontheDean’sRagBooksiteduringWW2.Hesaiditwasduetothetoymanufacturethere.24DuringWW2bombsfellalongHighPath,oneoneithersideoftheroadalittletotheeastofDean’sRagBookworks.25AnotherWW2eventinvolvedayoungwomanaged28whoworkedasasecretaryatDean’sRagBrooks.
Whenthesirensoundedherfatherhadjustarrivedintheircartotakeherawayonholiday.Shepersuadedhim,somewhatreluctantly,toaccompanyherintothework’sair-raidshelter.Theyemergedafterthe’allclear’tofindallofthecar’swindowshadbeenshatteredbymachine-gunfirebuttheengine,petroltankandtyreswereuntouched.AstheyreachedhomeinStrattonRoad,thesecretaryfromDean’sRagBookfactorythrustherheadandshouldersthroughthesidewindow-spaceandwildlywavedherarmsandyelled’We’reallright.
RenamedChromein1978itofferedwarmpleasingcoloursbutwasnotverystablelongterm.20)Chrissentoffthefilmsinthepackagingprovidedandgotthembackaweeklaterinthepost.Headded’Agfahadmanyprocessinglabsinmanycountriesaroundtheworld’andthathestucktoCT18tobesurethatcolourbalancewasconsistentwhengivingslide-shows.HedidnothaveanAgfacamera.Healsomadeanunusualcommentwhenhesaid’FromstoriesIhadheardfromotherfilmlaboratories,therewouldhavebeenalotofdarknessinside,whichmeantthatmaleemployeeswereatthemercyoffemaleemployees;theoppositewasnotthecase,definitely.’Herelated’In1972IspenttenweeksinAustriatakingpeopleoverthemountains.IsentmyfilmstobeprocessedbyAgfainViennaandgavemyaddressasc/othecompanyIwasworkingfor,whowerebasedpermanentlyinSeefeldinGermany.WhatIdidn’tknowwasthatmyfilmswerebeingprocessedbyoneofmyfellowstudentsfromLanchesterPoly(Coventry).Shewasaforeignlanguagestudentandhappenedtobeabarber’sdaughter,whogavemeashortbackandsides,inthemiddleofaChristmaspartyatcollege,whenIdecidedthatmylonghippy-stylewasnolongersuitable’.Itmusthavebeenagreatsurpriseforthemboth,
initiallywhensheprocessedtheslidesandlaterwhenhereceivedthem.Hisguessof1941astheyearwhenAgfaenteredthecolourmarketwasincorrectasitwas1936inGermany,asshownabove.AgfadidnotstartinBritainuntil1953,eightyearsafterWW2hadended.
Dean’sRagBooksThethirdfactorywasDean’sRagBookFactoryinHighPath,
Merton.Thebusiness,whichwasestablishedinMertonin1937,hadbeenstartedin1903byaMrHenrySamuelDeanattheElephantandCastle,London,andproducedragbooksforchildren.21Thebooksweresimpleclothbookswithedgescutwithazig-zagpatternusingcloth-makersshears.
Theseragbookswereidealforverysmallchildrenastheywerecheapandthepagescouldnotbetornoutandeaten.
Theyweredifficulttodefaceanditdidn’tmatterifthechildfellasleepwithoneofthebooks,fortheyweresoft.Alsoifthebooksweresoiledtheycouldbeeasilywashedandsterilised.Thecompany’strade-markwasabull-dogandaterrierfightingoveraragbook.ThiswasdesignedbyartistStanleyBerkleytorepresentthedurabilityandnearindestructabilityofDean’stoys.AposterforDean’sRagBooksisshownabove,(imagecourtesyofBrightonToyandModelMuseum).By1915thefirmwasalsomakingtoysandthefirmbecamefamousforitsteddybearswhichweresoldatHarrods.22ThenewDean’sfactoryinMertonhadalargelyfemaleworkforceof200.Manyoftheworkerswereyounggirlsstraightfromschool.ThreeformerDean’sstaffhaveretoldtheirworkplacememories.23OnestartedatDean’sin1937andearned10shillingsaweekasamachinist.
AnothercamestraightfromschooljustbeforetheoutbreakofWW2.Sheworkedasaturnerwhichwasturningsoft-toysright-sideout,afterthetoyshadbeenstitchedinsideout.Workasaturnerwasatypicaljobforanunskilledyoungwomanstraightfromschool.LikethenearbyLinesBrothersfactoryinMertonRoad,Dean’ssoonswitchedproductiontowar-work,bymakinglife-jacketsandsoldiers’stripes.Demandwassohighthatitbecamecommonforfactorystafftotakeworkhometocomplete.Despitethis,war-productionwaspopularwiththefemaleworkforceasitwasbetterpaidthanmakingtoys.ToencourageproductionatDean’s,lightmusictitled’Musicwhileyouwork’wasplayedinthefactory.Supervisionwasstrictbutworkingrelationsweregood.Overtimewasallowedandthebasicpaywasimproved.Therewasa1950sChristmasPartyforDean’sRagBookworkersattheDogandFoxpubinWimbledon.ThethirdformerDean’semployeejoinedthecompanyin1945andstartedasaturner.Shelatertrainedasacutterandbecameasupervisorandstayedatthefactoryuntilthemiddleofthe1950s,whenthefirmmovedaway.
BillRudd,amemberofMertonHistoricalSocietywhoworkedatLiberty’sinMertonandtravelledalongHighPathdailyduringhisworkingweek,commentedaboutacurioussmellwhichemanatedfromthewastebinsontheDean’sRagBooksiteduringWW2.Hesaiditwasduetothetoymanufacturethere.24DuringWW2bombsfellalongHighPath,oneoneithersideoftheroadalittletotheeastofDean’sRagBookworks.25AnotherWW2eventinvolvedayoungwomanaged28whoworkedasasecretaryatDean’sRagBrooks.
Whenthesirensoundedherfatherhadjustarrivedintheircartotakeherawayonholiday.Shepersuadedhim,somewhatreluctantly,toaccompanyherintothework’sair-raidshelter.Theyemergedafterthe’allclear’tofindallofthecar’swindowshadbeenshatteredbymachine-gunfirebuttheengine,petroltankandtyreswereuntouched.AstheyreachedhomeinStrattonRoad,thesecretaryfromDean’sRagBookfactorythrustherheadandshouldersthroughthesidewindow-spaceandwildlywavedherarmsandyelled’We’reallright.
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE12THEFRANCISKITZPLAQUESocialist,TradeUnionistandoneofthe’WorkersofWilliamMorrisatMertonAbbey’,FrancisKitzistobecommemoratedwithapublicplaque(right).Theunveilingceremonywillbeat1WandleBankonSaturday9April,followingashortprocessionpastsomeoftheplaceswhereKitzlived(andtheMorrisWorks).ThiswillstartinfrontofColliersWoodtubestationat2pm.Allwelcome.
Aguidedwalk’KitzinFitz’exploringsomeofthelocationsassociatedwithhimintheSoho/FitzroviaareawilltakeplaceonSaturday19March,
startingat2pmfromoutsideLeicesterSquaretubestation.
[WehopetoincludeanarticleonFrancisKitzbyGeoffSimmonsintheJuneBulletin.]
We’reallright.’toreassurehermother.26ThefactoriesinthisareawereaprimetargetfortheGermanbombs,
asweretherailwaylines.TheDean’sfactoryresumedsofttoyproductionafterWW2andby1956Dean’shadtransferredtoRye,Sussex.
ConclusionThesethreeMertonfactoriesoperatedoverdifferentperiods(allthreewereinbusinessatthesametimeonlyfortheperiod1953-1956)andallproducedsuccessfulproducts.Memoriesofthefactorieswererecordedovertheyearsandinsodoingthesememorieshavebecomehistory.
AcknowledgementsThankstoSarahGouldatLocalStudiesCentre,Merton,forherhelpinlocatingandsupplyinginformationaboutBOC,andforpermissiontousethephotographofBOCpremises,toBrightonToyandModelMuseumforpermissiontousetheirphoto,toChrisHutchinson,toDaveHaunton,toPeterHopkinsforinformationfromFactoryLifeandLabourinMertonandBeddington1920-1969,andfinallytoGrace’sGuidefortheirindustrialinformationandallowingtheuseoftheirposterillustrations.
1Jowett,E.AHistoryofMertonandMorden(1951)MertonandMordenFestivalofBritainLocalCommittee2www.photoarchive.merton.gov.uk/collections/work-and-industry/30138-deer-park-road-merton-factories3NicholsonLondonStreetAtlas.TheEdinburghPressLimited,1996:934Kelly’sPostOfficeLondonDirectory19785seeNicholsonNote36Dean’sRagBookfactoryMordenwww.izi.travel/en/cc57-merton-in-ww2-merton-andmorden/en7seeKelly’sNote419788www.gracesguide.uk/Deans_Rag_book_Co9PersonalCommunication.SarahGould.18November202110BritishOxygenCompany’sbeginningandotherearlyhistory,see.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Oxygen11Forthisandotherdetails,seewww.gracesguide.uk/British_Oxygen_Co12www.thechemicalengineer.com/features/cewctw-carl-von-linde-and-william-hampson-cool-inventions.
13BOCfactoriesinMidlands,Londonandbranches.(Note11)
14BOCtoday.www.boconline.co.uk/en/contract-andsupport-boc-retail-stores/morden/morden.h15Forallstatementsinthisparagraph,seewww.gracesguide.co.uk/Agfa16www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44052/page/7910/date.pdf17GevaertwasaBelgiancompanyandmakerofphotographicpaper.www.gracesguide.co.uk/Gevaert18en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_discontinued_photographic_films19Mediasite.www.macfilos.com/2020/07/08/kodak-the-end-of-an-american-moment20en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_discontinued_photographic_films21www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Deans_Rag_Book_Company22www.izi.travel/en/cc57-merton-in-ww2-merton-andmorden/en23EmployeesatDean’sRagBookfactory.Bruley,SueandEdwards,Nick.FactoryLifeandLabourinMertonandBeddington1920-1960.LondonBoroughofMerton,199724Rudd,WJLibertyPrintWorks.WartimeRemembrances.LocalHistoryNote8MertonHistoricalSociety(1993,
p.9)
25HauntonD,MHSBulletin167,September2008p.826HauntonD,MHSBulletin166,June2008p.10THEFRANCISKITZPLAQUESocialist,TradeUnionistandoneofthe’WorkersofWilliamMorrisatMertonAbbey’,FrancisKitzistobecommemoratedwithapublicplaque(right).Theunveilingceremonywillbeat1WandleBankonSaturday9April,followingashortprocessionpastsomeoftheplaceswhereKitzlived(andtheMorrisWorks).ThiswillstartinfrontofColliersWoodtubestationat2pm.Allwelcome.
Aguidedwalk’KitzinFitz’exploringsomeofthelocationsassociatedwithhimintheSoho/FitzroviaareawilltakeplaceonSaturday19March,
startingat2pmfromoutsideLeicesterSquaretubestation.
[WehopetoincludeanarticleonFrancisKitzbyGeoffSimmonsintheJuneBulletin.]
We’reallright.’toreassurehermother.26ThefactoriesinthisareawereaprimetargetfortheGermanbombs,
asweretherailwaylines.TheDean’sfactoryresumedsofttoyproductionafterWW2andby1956Dean’shadtransferredtoRye,Sussex.
ConclusionThesethreeMertonfactoriesoperatedoverdifferentperiods(allthreewereinbusinessatthesametimeonlyfortheperiod1953-1956)andallproducedsuccessfulproducts.Memoriesofthefactorieswererecordedovertheyearsandinsodoingthesememorieshavebecomehistory.
AcknowledgementsThankstoSarahGouldatLocalStudiesCentre,Merton,forherhelpinlocatingandsupplyinginformationaboutBOC,andforpermissiontousethephotographofBOCpremises,toBrightonToyandModelMuseumforpermissiontousetheirphoto,toChrisHutchinson,toDaveHaunton,toPeterHopkinsforinformationfromFactoryLifeandLabourinMertonandBeddington1920-1969,andfinallytoGrace’sGuidefortheirindustrialinformationandallowingtheuseoftheirposterillustrations.
1Jowett,E.AHistoryofMertonandMorden(1951)MertonandMordenFestivalofBritainLocalCommittee2www.photoarchive.merton.gov.uk/collections/work-and-industry/30138-deer-park-road-merton-factories3NicholsonLondonStreetAtlas.TheEdinburghPressLimited,1996:934Kelly’sPostOfficeLondonDirectory19785seeNicholsonNote36Dean’sRagBookfactoryMordenwww.izi.travel/en/cc57-merton-in-ww2-merton-andmorden/en7seeKelly’sNote419788www.gracesguide.uk/Deans_Rag_book_Co9PersonalCommunication.SarahGould.18November202110BritishOxygenCompany’sbeginningandotherearlyhistory,see.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Oxygen11Forthisandotherdetails,seewww.gracesguide.uk/British_Oxygen_Co12www.thechemicalengineer.com/features/cewctw-carl-von-linde-and-william-hampson-cool-inventions.
13BOCfactoriesinMidlands,Londonandbranches.(Note11)
14BOCtoday.www.boconline.co.uk/en/contract-andsupport-boc-retail-stores/morden/morden.h15Forallstatementsinthisparagraph,seewww.gracesguide.co.uk/Agfa16www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44052/page/7910/date.pdf17GevaertwasaBelgiancompanyandmakerofphotographicpaper.www.gracesguide.co.uk/Gevaert18en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_discontinued_photographic_films19Mediasite.www.macfilos.com/2020/07/08/kodak-the-end-of-an-american-moment20en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_discontinued_photographic_films21www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Deans_Rag_Book_Company22www.izi.travel/en/cc57-merton-in-ww2-merton-andmorden/en23EmployeesatDean’sRagBookfactory.Bruley,SueandEdwards,Nick.FactoryLifeandLabourinMertonandBeddington1920-1960.LondonBoroughofMerton,199724Rudd,WJLibertyPrintWorks.WartimeRemembrances.LocalHistoryNote8MertonHistoricalSociety(1993,
p.9)
25HauntonD,MHSBulletin167,September2008p.826HauntonD,MHSBulletin166,June2008p.10
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE13TONYSCOTTenquiresDOBUILDINGSEVERLIEABOUTTHEIRAGE?
ThefollowinglittleinvestigationarosefromarequestforMHStoconfirmthatthephotograph(Fig.1)(right)wastakenatHallPlaceinMitcham.ItshowsagroupofmembersofBeddington,
CarshaltonandWallingtonArchaeologicalSocietyintheearly1920s.AtthattimeHallPlacewasthehomeofDrSirThomasCatoWorsfold,solicitorandMPfortheMitchamdivisionofSurrey(1918-23)whowasalsoaverykeenamateurarchaeologist.HehadpossiblyhostedameetingoftheSocietyinhishouse.
ThereaderwillseefromwhatfollowsthatitwasverydifficulttoconfirmthatthisphotographwasindeedtakenatHallPlace.NotetheornatefrontentrancedoorssurmountedbyastoneshieldbearingtheletterWbetweenthefigures17and07,implyingadateofconstructionofthebuildingof1707(Fig.2)(left).
HallPlacewaslocatedattheCricketGreenendofChurchRoadonasitenowoccupiedbyCricketGreenSchool.Thereisacharacteristicruinofafreestandingstonedoorwayarchinfrontofthepresentschoolbuildings,visiblefromtheroad(Fig.3)(right).
Theoriginalhousewasalargeopen-hallmedievalbuilding:weknowthatitwasthehomeofthedeRedversfamily1216-1283.Thearchispartofachapel,probablythatbuiltin1348-9byHenrydeStrete,avintner,
whoownedRavensburymanor.Traditionhasitthatthepriceofhavinghisownprivatechapelwastoundertaketomaintainthenorthaisleoftheparishchurch,thoughnomentionofsuchastipulationistobefoundinthesurvivinggrant.InlateryearsthehouseacquiredthenameHallPlace,
andwecanseewhatthefrontofthehouselookedlikein1827fromasepiaprintproducedbyJCBuckler(fig4)(right).Thisiswhatonewouldexpectamedievalhallhousetolooklikebytheearly19thcentury.
Thechapelcanbeseenprojectingontheright:itsdoorwayisthestonearchthatsurvivesasaruin.Howdowereconcilethis1827viewwiththedoorwaywiththedateof1707seeninFigs.1&2?Thetwobuildingsareinquitedifferentstylesandareclearlynotthesamebuilding.
WeknowthatHallPlacewasownedbySarahChandleruntilherdeathin1789,andthatthehousewasthenboughtfromherbeneficiary,RevDrGeorgeChandler,byEdwardTannerWorsfold,abrewer.TheWorsfoldfamilywerepreviouslyleaseholdersofthehouse,possiblyfrom1707.WealsoknowthatWilliamWorsfold,
SirCato’sfather,hadthewholehousedemolishedin1866andaVictorianGothicmansionbuiltin1870onasitefurtherbackfromChurchRoad.Thechapelwasinitiallyretained,possiblyasastorehouseoramaltmill,
andwasnotdemolisheduntilMay1877.Itsdoorwayarchwasretainedtobeusedasahistoricgardenfeature.
Aphotographoftherearofthehouseinabout1900(Fig.5)(right)
showswhatonewouldexpectofan1870Gothicstylemansion.ThehouseremainedthehomeofDrSirThomasCatoWorsfolduntilhediedinJuly1936.In1939LadyWorsfoldmovedtoTheWhiteHousebytheCricketGreen,wheresheliveduntilherdeathin1944.ThevacantHallPlacewastakenover(requisitioned?)byMitchamCouncil.TheforecourtwasusedasanambulancestationandthehousewasusedasanARPtrainingcentre.Thehousefellintodisrepairduringthewarandwasdemolishedin1948.AlthoughIhaveonlythephotographoftherearofthishouse,thesuggestionthatthisisthebuildingshowninFig.1wouldseemtobeplausibleatleast.
TONYSCOTTenquiresDOBUILDINGSEVERLIEABOUTTHEIRAGE?
ThefollowinglittleinvestigationarosefromarequestforMHStoconfirmthatthephotograph(Fig.1)(right)wastakenatHallPlaceinMitcham.ItshowsagroupofmembersofBeddington,
CarshaltonandWallingtonArchaeologicalSocietyintheearly1920s.AtthattimeHallPlacewasthehomeofDrSirThomasCatoWorsfold,solicitorandMPfortheMitchamdivisionofSurrey(1918-23)whowasalsoaverykeenamateurarchaeologist.HehadpossiblyhostedameetingoftheSocietyinhishouse.
ThereaderwillseefromwhatfollowsthatitwasverydifficulttoconfirmthatthisphotographwasindeedtakenatHallPlace.NotetheornatefrontentrancedoorssurmountedbyastoneshieldbearingtheletterWbetweenthefigures17and07,implyingadateofconstructionofthebuildingof1707(Fig.2)(left).
HallPlacewaslocatedattheCricketGreenendofChurchRoadonasitenowoccupiedbyCricketGreenSchool.Thereisacharacteristicruinofafreestandingstonedoorwayarchinfrontofthepresentschoolbuildings,visiblefromtheroad(Fig.3)(right).
Theoriginalhousewasalargeopen-hallmedievalbuilding:weknowthatitwasthehomeofthedeRedversfamily1216-1283.Thearchispartofachapel,probablythatbuiltin1348-9byHenrydeStrete,avintner,
whoownedRavensburymanor.Traditionhasitthatthepriceofhavinghisownprivatechapelwastoundertaketomaintainthenorthaisleoftheparishchurch,thoughnomentionofsuchastipulationistobefoundinthesurvivinggrant.InlateryearsthehouseacquiredthenameHallPlace,
andwecanseewhatthefrontofthehouselookedlikein1827fromasepiaprintproducedbyJCBuckler(fig4)(right).Thisiswhatonewouldexpectamedievalhallhousetolooklikebytheearly19thcentury.
Thechapelcanbeseenprojectingontheright:itsdoorwayisthestonearchthatsurvivesasaruin.Howdowereconcilethis1827viewwiththedoorwaywiththedateof1707seeninFigs.1&2?Thetwobuildingsareinquitedifferentstylesandareclearlynotthesamebuilding.
WeknowthatHallPlacewasownedbySarahChandleruntilherdeathin1789,andthatthehousewasthenboughtfromherbeneficiary,RevDrGeorgeChandler,byEdwardTannerWorsfold,abrewer.TheWorsfoldfamilywerepreviouslyleaseholdersofthehouse,possiblyfrom1707.WealsoknowthatWilliamWorsfold,
SirCato’sfather,hadthewholehousedemolishedin1866andaVictorianGothicmansionbuiltin1870onasitefurtherbackfromChurchRoad.Thechapelwasinitiallyretained,possiblyasastorehouseoramaltmill,
andwasnotdemolisheduntilMay1877.Itsdoorwayarchwasretainedtobeusedasahistoricgardenfeature.
Aphotographoftherearofthehouseinabout1900(Fig.5)(right)
showswhatonewouldexpectofan1870Gothicstylemansion.ThehouseremainedthehomeofDrSirThomasCatoWorsfolduntilhediedinJuly1936.In1939LadyWorsfoldmovedtoTheWhiteHousebytheCricketGreen,wheresheliveduntilherdeathin1944.ThevacantHallPlacewastakenover(requisitioned?)byMitchamCouncil.TheforecourtwasusedasanambulancestationandthehousewasusedasanARPtrainingcentre.Thehousefellintodisrepairduringthewarandwasdemolishedin1948.AlthoughIhaveonlythephotographoftherearofthishouse,thesuggestionthatthisisthebuildingshowninFig.1wouldseemtobeplausibleatleast.
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE14SHORTTALKSATTHENOVEMBERMEETING
♦PeterHopkinsspokeofamysteriousbuildinginMorden.Hewasaskedtogiveatalktothechildreninanewly-openedschoolinMordenLodge,partoftheNationalTrustpropertyatMordenHallwhichisnotopentothepublic.HewasshownaroundthegroundsoftheLodge,andsawseveralouthouseswhichhadbeenmarkedontheOrdnanceSurveymapof1894/5.Someareeasilyrecognisable,thoughchangedinpurpose(thestableblockistobetheschool’sartstudio,whileabrickpottingshedwhichhadsupportedahothouseisnowthetoiletblock),butonecurioussmallbuilding(right)defiesidentification.Itismadeofconcretewithadomedroof,theouterwallsbearingtheimpressofthewattledshutteringusedinitsconstruction.Therearetwosmallverticalunglazedwindowsandalargeheavyconcretedoor.Theinteriorhasanearthenorconcretefloor,butnosignsoffurnishing,apartfromawattleorbasket-workliningtotheroof(right).AremarkablysimilarbuildingliesinthegroundsofthenearbyMordenHall.Asthephotographshows,thereisaconcretecapforawell(reportedin1806tobe200feetdeep)
closeby,thathasnoobviousconnectiontothebuilding.
Sowhatisourbuilding?The1910MordenLandValuationmentionsseveraloutbuildings,suchasstablesandafruit-house,
butwithnodescriptions.Dowehaveanice-house?thefruithouse?adovehouse?arusticgardenhouse?Ashedfortools?
Orwhat?
♦KeithPennytalkedabouttitledeeds(‘whatyoumayfindinthemifyoucannowfindthem’).
Ifyouownland,orbuildingsonland,HMLandRegistry,followingthe1925RegistrationofPropertyAct,willalmostcertainlyholdthetitledeeds.Thesedocumentsarearichresourceofinformationforhousehistoriesorforthehistoryoflandownershipinalocality.DeedsascurrentlyheldcontainaTitlePlanandaTitleRegister,andfor£3youcandownloadacopyoftheTitleRegister.Youwillfindthere(A)abriefdescriptionoftheproperty,includingwhetheritisfreeholdorleasehold-ifthepropertyisleasehold,theregisterwillWhatoftheshielddate,1707?ItiswellknownthatSirCatoWorsfoldwasanamateurarchaeologistandthathewaskeentopublicisehisfamily’sMitchamheritage.HeundertookexcavationsontheMertonPriorysiteinabout1911-12.HeapparentlyrenovatedthemedievalchapelarchinhisfrontgardenusingstonessalvagedfromAbbeyHouse,ColliersWood,itselfincorporatingMertonPrioryremains.ItwouldthereforeseemverylikelythatSirCato(orpossiblyhisfatherwhenthehousewasbuiltin1870)hadastoneshieldbearinganornateWforWorsfoldandsurroundedbythedate1707setabovethemainentrancedoorwaytothehouse.
Clearly,thiswasintendedtoimpressvisitorsandlocalsalike.
ItappearedtoconfusetheauthorsoftheVictoriaCountyHistoryofSurreyasshownbythefollowingextractfromvolume4,pp.229-234.
‘Thepresenthouseissituatedtothesouth-westofthegreenontheroadtothechurch.Itbearsoverthedoorthedate1707andtheinitialsW.W.(foroneoftheWorsfoldfamily),butalterationsweremadein1867and1877,andthehouseisnowmodernized.Atrightanglestothehouseonthewestsideisastonearchwayofabout1400,formerlythedoorwayintoabuilding,withasmallwindowoverit.Insidethehousewasaso-calledchapel,whichhadanopentimberroof.ItwasusedforahorsemillbyJ.T.Worsfold,amaltster,whoownedthehousein1729.Itmayhavebeenachapelorahall.HenryStretehadalicenceforachapelinhishouseatMitchamin1349.’
Errorsinthis:ThereisonlyoneWontheshield;thehousewascompletelyre-builtin1870;JTWorsfoldcertainlydidnotownthehousein1729,thoughheprobablyleasedit.TheinformationonthehousewasprobablygiventotheVCHauthorsbyoneoftheWorsfoldfamily,soperpetuatingthemyth.
Themoralofthisstoryis,don’ttakeatfacevalueanydatesthatyoumayseeonbuildingfaçades.
SHORTTALKSATTHENOVEMBERMEETING
♦PeterHopkinsspokeofamysteriousbuildinginMorden.Hewasaskedtogiveatalktothechildreninanewly-openedschoolinMordenLodge,partoftheNationalTrustpropertyatMordenHallwhichisnotopentothepublic.HewasshownaroundthegroundsoftheLodge,andsawseveralouthouseswhichhadbeenmarkedontheOrdnanceSurveymapof1894/5.Someareeasilyrecognisable,thoughchangedinpurpose(thestableblockistobetheschool’sartstudio,whileabrickpottingshedwhichhadsupportedahothouseisnowthetoiletblock),butonecurioussmallbuilding(right)defiesidentification.Itismadeofconcretewithadomedroof,theouterwallsbearingtheimpressofthewattledshutteringusedinitsconstruction.Therearetwosmallverticalunglazedwindowsandalargeheavyconcretedoor.Theinteriorhasanearthenorconcretefloor,butnosignsoffurnishing,apartfromawattleorbasket-workliningtotheroof(right).AremarkablysimilarbuildingliesinthegroundsofthenearbyMordenHall.Asthephotographshows,thereisaconcretecapforawell(reportedin1806tobe200feetdeep)
closeby,thathasnoobviousconnectiontothebuilding.
Sowhatisourbuilding?The1910MordenLandValuationmentionsseveraloutbuildings,suchasstablesandafruit-house,
butwithnodescriptions.Dowehaveanice-house?thefruithouse?adovehouse?arusticgardenhouse?Ashedfortools?
Orwhat?
♦KeithPennytalkedabouttitledeeds(‘whatyoumayfindinthemifyoucannowfindthem’).
Ifyouownland,orbuildingsonland,HMLandRegistry,followingthe1925RegistrationofPropertyAct,willalmostcertainlyholdthetitledeeds.Thesedocumentsarearichresourceofinformationforhousehistoriesorforthehistoryoflandownershipinalocality.DeedsascurrentlyheldcontainaTitlePlanandaTitleRegister,andfor£3youcandownloadacopyoftheTitleRegister.Youwillfindthere(A)abriefdescriptionoftheproperty,includingwhetheritisfreeholdorleasehold-ifthepropertyisleasehold,theregisterwillWhatoftheshielddate,1707?ItiswellknownthatSirCatoWorsfoldwasanamateurarchaeologistandthathewaskeentopublicisehisfamily’sMitchamheritage.HeundertookexcavationsontheMertonPriorysiteinabout1911-12.HeapparentlyrenovatedthemedievalchapelarchinhisfrontgardenusingstonessalvagedfromAbbeyHouse,ColliersWood,itselfincorporatingMertonPrioryremains.ItwouldthereforeseemverylikelythatSirCato(orpossiblyhisfatherwhenthehousewasbuiltin1870)hadastoneshieldbearinganornateWforWorsfoldandsurroundedbythedate1707setabovethemainentrancedoorwaytothehouse.
Clearly,thiswasintendedtoimpressvisitorsandlocalsalike.
ItappearedtoconfusetheauthorsoftheVictoriaCountyHistoryofSurreyasshownbythefollowingextractfromvolume4,pp.229-234.
‘Thepresenthouseissituatedtothesouth-westofthegreenontheroadtothechurch.Itbearsoverthedoorthedate1707andtheinitialsW.W.(foroneoftheWorsfoldfamily),butalterationsweremadein1867and1877,andthehouseisnowmodernized.Atrightanglestothehouseonthewestsideisastonearchwayofabout1400,formerlythedoorwayintoabuilding,withasmallwindowoverit.Insidethehousewasaso-calledchapel,whichhadanopentimberroof.ItwasusedforahorsemillbyJ.T.Worsfold,amaltster,whoownedthehousein1729.Itmayhavebeenachapelorahall.HenryStretehadalicenceforachapelinhishouseatMitchamin1349.’
Errorsinthis:ThereisonlyoneWontheshield;thehousewascompletelyre-builtin1870;JTWorsfoldcertainlydidnotownthehousein1729,thoughheprobablyleasedit.TheinformationonthehousewasprobablygiventotheVCHauthorsbyoneoftheWorsfoldfamily,soperpetuatingthemyth.
Themoralofthisstoryis,don’ttakeatfacevalueanydatesthatyoumayseeonbuildingfaçades.
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE15showhowlongtheleasehastorun-andalistofanyrights,suchasaprivaterightofway.Section(B)oftheRegistershowstheowner,andSection(C),headed’Charges’,besidesnotinganymortgagesthataresecuredontheproperty,givesinformationofotherinteresttothehistorian:rightsorintereststhatlimithowthelandorpropertycanbeused,suchasrightsofway,andrestrictivecovenants.Theselastbind(thoughnotunalterably)thebuyertoconditionslaiddownbytheseller,oftenonesthatshowhowthequalityoftheareaistobemaintainedbyfutureowners.
WhenKeithwaslookingintothehistoryoftheLonesomeMissionRoom,hewasabletolocateitona1910-15mapanddownloadthetitledeedsofahousethatnowstandsonthesite.TheRegistergaveexactdatesofpurchaseanddisposalsaleoftheland(thoughnotofconstructionofthebuilding)andprovedthatitwasindeedaChurchofEnglandproperty.TheRegisterofanunrelatedhouseintheareashowedhowthelandhadoncebeenoneofoverahundredlotsonsalefromtheStreathamCommonEstatein1894:standardsweretobekeptupbyrequiringaminimumsalevalueofhouses(£200)andbyastipulationthatanybaywindowsweretobebuiltofstoneorbrick.
UnfortunatelytheLandRegistrynowonlymakesavailableelectroniccopiesofwhatislegallyessential;
theoriginalsoftenhadnamesofearlierownersandcolouredmapsthatshowedthefullextentofapropertydeveloper’spurchaseinthelocality.Ifyouwereverylucky,theremightbeanabstractoftitlethatsummarisedtheownershiphistoryofthesite.So,ifyouholdabundleofsuchpapersforyourhouse,havethemphotocopiedandpassthecopytoyourdescendants!
[NBNatAlcockTracingHistoryThroughTitleDeeds;AGuideforFamily&LocalHistoriansISBN:9781526703477(Pen&SwordFamilyHistory,2017)£11-99PublishedundertheauspicesoftheNationalArchives,thisbookexplainswhyTitleDeedsaresouseful,
wheretheycanbefoundandhowtheevidencetheyprovidecanbeextractedandapplied.]
♦TonyScottshowedafinecollectionofelderlyphotosofMitchamFair,withsomehistoricalcomments.Abrutallyshortsummaryoftheseensues:
TheUpperMitchamGreenwasclearlythefocalpointofthevillagefromveryearlytimes,astheroadsfromCroydon,Sutton,Merton,TootingandStreathamallmeetthere.Afairhadbeenheldatthisjunctionlongenoughforittobenamed’FairGreen’.TheGreenandthepropertiesonitsnorthernandwesternboundarieswerepartofthemanorofBigginandTamworth.ThelordofthemanorheldthefranchisefortheFairandhisstewardcontrolleditsoperation.In1804JamesMoore,thePhysicGardener,purchasedthemanor,andbequeathedittohissonJamesBridger.Whenhediedin1885,thefranchiseoftheFairwasboughtfor£100byafirmofEssexsolicitors,probablyasabusinessopportunity.ThelordshipwaspurchasedbyPrincesGolfClub,whosegolflinkswereontheCommon,theCommonbeingpartofthemanorland.GeorgeParkerBidder(Jr),aneminentlocalQC,foughttokeeppublicaccesstotheCommonandtostoppossibleenclosure.Hewassuccessfulinachievingthepassageof’TheMitchamCommon(Supplemental)Act'(1891),bywhichmanagementoftheCommonwastransferredtothenewlyestablishedMitchamCommonConservators.
TheConservatorspurchasedthefranchiseoftheFairin1905andthefaircontinuedtorununchanged.
FormanyyearsthefairwasadvertisedasaCharterFairandwasheldon12-14Augusteachyear.IfoneofthesewasaSunday,thefairwouldnotrunonthatdaybuton15Augustinstead.ThecharterwasclaimedtoarisefromavisitofQueenElizabethItoMitchaminthedecade1590-1600,butnosuchcharterhaseverbeenfound.Theearliestwrittenevidenceforthefairdatesfrom1732,whenaninquisitionpostmortemwasheldonanitinerantfiddlerwhocametoMitchamforthefairanddiedthere.Gypsiesandtinkersusedtocometothefaireachyear;whenitwasovertheywouldcampontheCommonandobtaincasualworkinthePhysicGardensoronlocalfarms.TherewasplentyofharvestworkinAugustandSeptember.
Thefairwasobviouslyinthemiddleofaroadjunction.Thisdidnotmatterverymuchin(say)1850whenthepassingtrafficwasfarmtrafficandtheoccasionalhorse-bustoLondon.By1906,tramlineswereextendedfromTootingJunctionstation(theboundaryoftheLCCarea)
totheCricketGreen,givingMitchamAbove:MitchamFairabout1910B-fromtheTomFrancisCollection
©MertonLocalStudiesCentre.
showhowlongtheleasehastorun-andalistofanyrights,suchasaprivaterightofway.Section(B)oftheRegistershowstheowner,andSection(C),headed’Charges’,besidesnotinganymortgagesthataresecuredontheproperty,givesinformationofotherinteresttothehistorian:rightsorintereststhatlimithowthelandorpropertycanbeused,suchasrightsofway,andrestrictivecovenants.Theselastbind(thoughnotunalterably)thebuyertoconditionslaiddownbytheseller,oftenonesthatshowhowthequalityoftheareaistobemaintainedbyfutureowners.
WhenKeithwaslookingintothehistoryoftheLonesomeMissionRoom,hewasabletolocateitona1910-15mapanddownloadthetitledeedsofahousethatnowstandsonthesite.TheRegistergaveexactdatesofpurchaseanddisposalsaleoftheland(thoughnotofconstructionofthebuilding)andprovedthatitwasindeedaChurchofEnglandproperty.TheRegisterofanunrelatedhouseintheareashowedhowthelandhadoncebeenoneofoverahundredlotsonsalefromtheStreathamCommonEstatein1894:standardsweretobekeptupbyrequiringaminimumsalevalueofhouses(£200)andbyastipulationthatanybaywindowsweretobebuiltofstoneorbrick.
UnfortunatelytheLandRegistrynowonlymakesavailableelectroniccopiesofwhatislegallyessential;
theoriginalsoftenhadnamesofearlierownersandcolouredmapsthatshowedthefullextentofapropertydeveloper’spurchaseinthelocality.Ifyouwereverylucky,theremightbeanabstractoftitlethatsummarisedtheownershiphistoryofthesite.So,ifyouholdabundleofsuchpapersforyourhouse,havethemphotocopiedandpassthecopytoyourdescendants!
[NBNatAlcockTracingHistoryThroughTitleDeeds;AGuideforFamily&LocalHistoriansISBN:9781526703477(Pen&SwordFamilyHistory,2017)£11-99PublishedundertheauspicesoftheNationalArchives,thisbookexplainswhyTitleDeedsaresouseful,
wheretheycanbefoundandhowtheevidencetheyprovidecanbeextractedandapplied.]
♦TonyScottshowedafinecollectionofelderlyphotosofMitchamFair,withsomehistoricalcomments.Abrutallyshortsummaryoftheseensues:
TheUpperMitchamGreenwasclearlythefocalpointofthevillagefromveryearlytimes,astheroadsfromCroydon,Sutton,Merton,TootingandStreathamallmeetthere.Afairhadbeenheldatthisjunctionlongenoughforittobenamed’FairGreen’.TheGreenandthepropertiesonitsnorthernandwesternboundarieswerepartofthemanorofBigginandTamworth.ThelordofthemanorheldthefranchisefortheFairandhisstewardcontrolleditsoperation.In1804JamesMoore,thePhysicGardener,purchasedthemanor,andbequeathedittohissonJamesBridger.Whenhediedin1885,thefranchiseoftheFairwasboughtfor£100byafirmofEssexsolicitors,probablyasabusinessopportunity.ThelordshipwaspurchasedbyPrincesGolfClub,whosegolflinkswereontheCommon,theCommonbeingpartofthemanorland.GeorgeParkerBidder(Jr),aneminentlocalQC,foughttokeeppublicaccesstotheCommonandtostoppossibleenclosure.Hewassuccessfulinachievingthepassageof’TheMitchamCommon(Supplemental)Act'(1891),bywhichmanagementoftheCommonwastransferredtothenewlyestablishedMitchamCommonConservators.
TheConservatorspurchasedthefranchiseoftheFairin1905andthefaircontinuedtorununchanged.
FormanyyearsthefairwasadvertisedasaCharterFairandwasheldon12-14Augusteachyear.IfoneofthesewasaSunday,thefairwouldnotrunonthatdaybuton15Augustinstead.ThecharterwasclaimedtoarisefromavisitofQueenElizabethItoMitchaminthedecade1590-1600,butnosuchcharterhaseverbeenfound.Theearliestwrittenevidenceforthefairdatesfrom1732,whenaninquisitionpostmortemwasheldonanitinerantfiddlerwhocametoMitchamforthefairanddiedthere.Gypsiesandtinkersusedtocometothefaireachyear;whenitwasovertheywouldcampontheCommonandobtaincasualworkinthePhysicGardensoronlocalfarms.TherewasplentyofharvestworkinAugustandSeptember.
Thefairwasobviouslyinthemiddleofaroadjunction.Thisdidnotmatterverymuchin(say)1850whenthepassingtrafficwasfarmtrafficandtheoccasionalhorse-bustoLondon.By1906,tramlineswereextendedfromTootingJunctionstation(theboundaryoftheLCCarea)
totheCricketGreen,givingMitchamAbove:MitchamFairabout1910B-fromtheTomFrancisCollection
©MertonLocalStudiesCentre.
MERTONHISTORICALSOCIETY-BULLETIN221-MARCH2022-PAGE16LettersandcontributionsfortheBulletinshouldbesenttoeditor@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk.
TheviewsexpressedinthisBulletinarethoseofthecontributorsconcernedandnotnecessarilythoseoftheSocietyoritsOfficers.
website:www.mertonhistoricalsociety.org.ukemail:mhs@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.ukPrintedbyPeterHopkinsMHSisboundbytheEUGeneralDataProtectionRegulation.
PleaseseetheMHSwebsiteregardinghowthisconcernsyourpersonaldata.
aregulartramservicethroughFairGreen.By1910therewasanothertramservicethroughtheFairGreen,acrosstheCommontoCroydon,inadditiontootherthroughtraffic.
Therewasclearlytrafficdangerinhavingmajorroadsbisectingthefair.
WiththeestablishmentofMitchamUrbanDistrictCouncilin1923,allthepublicopenspacesinMitchamweretransferredtothecontrolofMitchamUDC,andtheCouncilacquiredthefranchiseforrunningtheFair.
BeforelongtheCouncilannouncedthatitwouldnotpermitthefairtocontinueonFairGreen,duetothecongestionthatitcaused,andthetrafficdanger.TheShowmen’sGuildwerevociferousagainstthisproposedclosure,claimingthatitwasaCharterFair.Nocharterwasfound,soMitchamFairranonFairGreenforthelasttimein1924.ThefairwasheldonThreeKingsPiecefrom1925,continuingtherethroughthechangetotheBoroughofMitchamin1935andthentotheLondonBoroughofMertonin1965.However,in1974MitchamFaironThreeKingsPiececeased.
UntilthattimetheFaircouldbedescribedasacollectionofindependentrides,sideshowsandattractions,eachpayingarenttothefranchisee.Thepublicpaidseparatelyforeachride,sideshoworotheractivity.
Afteranabsenceofnineyears,in1983acommercialorganisationstarteduptheFairagain,withtheessentialdifferencethatalloftheattractionsbelongedtothatorganisation.TheFairwasfencedoffandanadmissionchargelevied,allowingunlimitedridesandotheractivities.Aspartofthisreorganisation,thedurationoftheFairwasextendedbyMertonCounciltoatleastaweekandrecentlyevenmore.
Leftandabove:MitchamFairgroundlateintheday-
fromtheBillRuddCollectiononourownwebsite-lookunder’Photos’Leftandbelow:MitchamFair1930s-fromtheRogerArmstrongCollectiononourownwebsite-lookunder’Photos’DOYOUWANTAWW2ANDERSONSHELTER?
AretiredoneisavailableinSW20,nowinuseasagardenshed.Ithaslostitsoriginalfronttoamodernreplacement,withdoorandwindows,butisnotsunkintothegroundorcoveredinapileofearth.Ifyouareinterested,contacteditor@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk.
LettersandcontributionsfortheBulletinshouldbesenttoeditor@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk.
TheviewsexpressedinthisBulletinarethoseofthecontributorsconcernedandnotnecessarilythoseoftheSocietyoritsOfficers.
website:www.mertonhistoricalsociety.org.ukemail:mhs@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.ukPrintedbyPeterHopkinsMHSisboundbytheEUGeneralDataProtectionRegulation.
PleaseseetheMHSwebsiteregardinghowthisconcernsyourpersonaldata.
aregulartramservicethroughFairGreen.By1910therewasanothertramservicethroughtheFairGreen,acrosstheCommontoCroydon,inadditiontootherthroughtraffic.
Therewasclearlytrafficdangerinhavingmajorroadsbisectingthefair.
WiththeestablishmentofMitchamUrbanDistrictCouncilin1923,allthepublicopenspacesinMitchamweretransferredtothecontrolofMitchamUDC,andtheCouncilacquiredthefranchiseforrunningtheFair.
BeforelongtheCouncilannouncedthatitwouldnotpermitthefairtocontinueonFairGreen,duetothecongestionthatitcaused,andthetrafficdanger.TheShowmen’sGuildwerevociferousagainstthisproposedclosure,claimingthatitwasaCharterFair.Nocharterwasfound,soMitchamFairranonFairGreenforthelasttimein1924.ThefairwasheldonThreeKingsPiecefrom1925,continuingtherethroughthechangetotheBoroughofMitchamin1935andthentotheLondonBoroughofMertonin1965.However,in1974MitchamFaironThreeKingsPiececeased.
UntilthattimetheFaircouldbedescribedasacollectionofindependentrides,sideshowsandattractions,eachpayingarenttothefranchisee.Thepublicpaidseparatelyforeachride,sideshoworotheractivity.
Afteranabsenceofnineyears,in1983acommercialorganisationstarteduptheFairagain,withtheessentialdifferencethatalloftheattractionsbelongedtothatorganisation.TheFairwasfencedoffandanadmissionchargelevied,allowingunlimitedridesandotheractivities.Aspartofthisreorganisation,thedurationoftheFairwasextendedbyMertonCounciltoatleastaweekandrecentlyevenmore.
Leftandabove:MitchamFairgroundlateintheday-
fromtheBillRuddCollectiononourownwebsite-lookunder’Photos’Leftandbelow:MitchamFair1930s-fromtheRogerArmstrongCollectiononourownwebsite-lookunder’Photos’DOYOUWANTAWW2ANDERSONSHELTER?
AretiredoneisavailableinSW20,nowinuseasagardenshed.Ithaslostitsoriginalfronttoamodernreplacement,withdoorandwindows,butisnotsunkintothegroundorcoveredinapileofearth.Ifyouareinterested,contacteditor@mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk.