Digital Classics

C & J Greenwood Surrey Described (1823)

To accompany their map of Surrey, the Greenwoods published this Topographical Dictionary of the County. However, they arranged the entries alphabetically by the name of each property, rather than grouping them together by parish.

Many classic County histories are now accessible in digital format from Google Books or Internet Archive. Although research has moved on over the centuries since they were published, they are still valuable resources. But do remember that not everything in them is accurate. For example, some statements about Morden in fact refer to Steeple Morden in Cambridgeshire, not Morden, Surrey.

James Edwards’s Companion from London to Brighthelmston (1789-1801)

James Edwards, a surveyor, set out to measure the distances from London to various destinations along the roads leading to the new seaside resort of Brighton. After publishing a table of distances between two out of a list of 100 villages in East Surrey in 1797, he went on to produce in 1801 a series of maps together with descriptions of the properties to be found along each route.

Merton digital classics

In the opening decades of the 20th century a number of publications appeared dealing with the history of Merton. These are now out of copyright so, as none of them seem to be currently available online, we have scanned our own copies.

Mitcham digital classics

In the 1920s two collections of Mitcham reminiscences were published under the title Old Mitcham I (1923) and II (1926). One of the articles included in these collections had been published separately in 1909 and another reprinted separately in 1932. They are all now out of copyright so, as none of them seem to be currently available online, we are very grateful to Merton Heritage Service for permission to scan photocopies of their copies found among the late Eric Montague’s papers.

Morden digital classics

A volume on The Registers of Morden, Surrey, 1634-1812 by F Clayton , published in 1901, is available from Internet Archive. It includes transcripts of inscriptions inside the church and in the churchyard, together with a brief historical introduction (though his attribution of the gift of the manor of Morden to Westminster Abbey by Prince Ethelstan is mistaken – the gift was to St Peter’s Winchester and the estate was Steeple Morden in Cambridgeshire).