MERTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Chat Show
3 Memories of Morden Between the Wars: a ‘Chat Show’ held in September 2012
In September 2012 the Society organised a ‘Chat Show’ hosted by Peter Hopkins with guests who grew up in Morden in the 1930s and whose families lived in Morden before suburban development in the area. Audio clips and photographs can be accessed from the links on this page. The audio clips have been rearranged by topic, and include some of the questions and comments from the audience at the end of the meeting.
An Experimental House
Click on the Audio clip to discover more about the mystery building that occupied the site where the Assembly Rooms and Morden Park Baptist Church now stand, after The Kennels pig farm burnt down in 1937.
Ann Recalls Mr Hatfeild
Click on the Audio clip for Ann’s recollections of Mr Hatfeild’s children’s parties at Morden Hall.
Churchyards and church activities
Garth Cottages, Garth Road
Click on the Audio clip to hear Madeline and Gladys talking about the cottages.
Garth Villa, Garth Road
Click on the Audio clip to hear Betty discussing Garth Villa and the piggeries.
Meet Betty
Meet Gladys
Click on the Audio Clip to hear Gladys’s story.
Meet Madeline
Morden Park Golf Course
Click on the Audio clip to discover more about the origins of the golf course.
Muriel Remembers
Click on the Audio clip to hear Muriel’s memories of growing up in Arundel Avenue.
New Cottages, Lower Morden Lane
Click on the Audio clip to hear Madeline describing the cottages.
Peacock Farm
Click on the Audio clip for discussions on the origin of the name Peacock Farm, now part of Wyevale Garden Centre in Lower Morden Lane.
Pets and other animals
Click on the Audio Clip to learn about pets and other animals.
Play Environment
Click on the Audio clip to hear Madeline discussing the play environment in Garth Road, and discover what toys Gladys played with and how she spent her time.
Ponds
Click on the Audio clip to hear about Ann’s close encounters with a pond in Lower Morden Lane.
Roads and Transport
Click on the Audio clip for discussions on roads and transport.
Schooldays
Click on the Audio clip to hear Betty and Madeline discussing their schooldays. Gladys was given this report when she left school at 14. Morden Farm school in Aragon Road was not built when she finished primary school, so at first she had to walk to Sparrow Farm school in Ewell.
Shopping
Click on the Audio clip for discussions on shopping and home deliveries..
Special Events
Click on the Audio clips to hear about holidays and Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus.