Rhubarb and rosehips
by Robin Gill
In 1947 Malden was recovering from the effects and after effects of the War. Rationing was still being enforced, and the Borough was actively engaged on a long-term rebuilding programme. It was hard to prioritise where much needed funds should go. Additional, short term measures adopted by the council to relieve the housing crisis was the erection of 197 prefabs. Small estates had sprung up in Kingston Road, Malden Way, Voewood Close, and Burlington Road, and the council agreed to provide each property with a lawn and a privet hedge to provide some sort of privacy. All these buildings were charged @ 19/3 a week (96 pence).
Building for the future
The council committed themselves to build 1000 permanent houses within the next 10 years (1947/57). They already had 10 almost completed, and six more were being built, with tenders for another six. Local builders were building 193 houses with another 162 in the pipeline. A further two properties were being built privately with 42 to be built, again by private means. 11 of the war damaged buildings had been rebuilt, with a further 97 to be re-erected later. There were 1500 residents on the waiting list, and the council were actively considering the construction of temporary aluminium houses.
The council had also requisitioned 605 properties for domestic and other uses since 1940, and of these 240 were still under requisition housing 364 local families. These included Telegraph Cottage, Corner Croft, and Ravenswood in Coombe temporary homes of high ranking officers during the war.
Some of the older inhabitants were living under appalling conditions. The Malden and Coombe Old Peoples Welfare Association which had been formed in November 1946, spent much of the year trying to acquire and fit out a building in the Avenue (Worcester Park). Number 31 , it was named Mitchell House (now Berwick Court) after the hard-working secretary of the association, John William Mitchell. The property was a Victorian three storey house originally called Whitcombe which was converted into accommodation for 14 elderly residents (4M 10F), at 2 guineas a week (£2 10pence). Each room was equipped with a wash basin and a gas fire. Additionally, an old people’s club was formed based at the Congregational (URC) church which in a short period attracted over 250 members paying 6d (2.5 pence a month) calling itself The Malden Good Fellowship Club.
6Another casualty of the war was St James’ Church (Bodley Road) which was extensively damaged by a flying bomb on 20th June 1944. It was repaired and reopened in October 1947.
The show won’t go on
In 1947, the council decided not to run the open-air theatre which had provided so much entertainment for residents who could not go away for holidays due to the war. The “Holidays At Home” scheme had started in 1941, when open stages were erected in three or four of the local parks. The following year it was decided to limit the theatres to just one in Beverley Park with over 1000 seats. This theatre transferred to Manor Park for a couple of years, before returning to Beverley in 1946. Productions included “Merrie England” by the Co-operative Musical Society. But it was felt that the park was “too far” from the centre of town, and was losing money.
Another war-time staple that the council closed, were the Civic Cafes which shut their doors at the end of March. Out of the three operated by the council, only one (in Alric Avenue) had ever made a profit, and was the pride and joy of the local area. Not surprisingly it was this outlet that reopened as a public restaurant in the October. These “community feeding centres” had been christened “British Restaurants” by the Minister for Food (Lord Woolton) and operated by the council and organisations such as the WVS. Meals were sold for a set maximum price of 9d (4 pence), and were served off the ration book. The WVS (Womens Voluntary Service) also commenced their “Meals On Wheels” scheme with meals prepared at the British Restaurant in Kingston.
Youth Groups were actively encouraged by the council to the extent that when the cleansing station was decommissioned it was handed to the Youth Committee to convert into a community centre. The building which stood at the rear of the council buildings (now Waitrose) had been ready for action should Malden had fallen victim to a gas attack. Fortunately, this never happened, and the Clarion Youth Club with the help of others, soon changed it into a functioning club room together with an office, canteen, and cloakrooms. The nine local youth clubs had shown co-operation the previous Christmas coming together to put on a performance of “Aladdin” at Burlington School.
Ladies first
The important part played by women in the armed forces was recognised when the British Legion formed a women’s section. There were 45 applications to join, and Lady Marie Tedder was invited to be President. Her husband was Chief Of The Air Staff, and the family had had local connections during the war with a residence In Coombe. The Mayor (Coun Sharpe) stated that there were not enough women on the council, asked for more to come forward, and suggested that maybe the Malden Branch of The British Housewives League should adopt a candidate. Also, the Graham Spicer became a mixed club, although some of the male members thought that the women would spend valuable time “nattering”. The ladies were only accepted for certain activities!
People flocked to Bentalls in Kingston when they advertised parachutes for sale, not because there was an outbreak of enthusiasm for sky diving. These chutes on sale at £6 19/6 (£6 97.5 pence) for 48 square yards (40 sq. metres), with skilful hands could be turned into clothes for children and underwear. One woman even made a wedding dress out of parachute silk! But, it had to be British or American, never German!
Possible plans
As was mentioned in a previous article, there were plans to turn Manor Park into a football stadium becoming the home of Corinthian Casuals FC, one of the major amateur cubs in the country opening up the possibility of amateur internationals being played on the ground. There was a chance of part of the park being used for housing for refugees left homeless as a result of the war, and to lose another part to a new stadium would be a loss of facilities for the residents. The stadium would have held around 7000 supporters (5000 standing 2000 seating), plus four other football pitches, two cricket pitches, ten tennis courts, bowling green, playground and pavilion. A car park and café would also be built.
Ornamental beds, trees, walks, and shrubs would also be planted, and the council hoped it would become an area that Malden could be proud of.
Needless to say, the idea never materialised, money was tight after the war, it would have cost around £120,000, the locals were against it, and in those days their views mattered.
There was hope that the New Malden Plaza would be rebuilt, as the council felt a cinema was of vital importance to the village. The Plaza which stood where McDonalds is today, was opened in 1921 but burnt down in December 1936. By 1947 the space it occupied had become a car park serving the main Malden shopping area. The council couldn’t build a replacement, but invited the main cinema chains to investigate the possibility of construction. Unfortunately, the police wouldn’t agree to a new building unless there was a car park included, and the area was too small for a cinema and car park.
In November 1947 after the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip the platforms of New Malden Railway Station were crowded with people hoping to catch sight of the royal couple as they journeyed down to Winchester. Although dusk was falling the Pullman Cars (Rosemary and Rosamunde) were lit up, and some of the 700 spectators who had bought platform tickets were sure they had spotted Philip in his naval uniform.
Malden had a Prisoner of War Camp on land that use to belong to Newhouse Farm adjoining South Lane in Old Malden. It consisted of five huts but other details are sketchy. The prisoners were repatriated in 1947, and some of the huts were immediately demolished because of the risk of squatters. According to reports, there were at least 25 POWs who were entertained to tea at the Congregational Church (URC) earlier in the year. Do any readers remember this camp?
Living off nature
Malden residents were encouraged to pick rosehips by the WVS who would pay 3d (around a penny) for each pound in weight collected. They were also warned not to put rhubarb leaves in pig bins as these were poisonous to pigs at the municipal piggery. There were 240 pigs who were fed on 12 tons of swill a week which had to be steamed for five hours. The warning about leaves, came from John Dell who had been herdsman at the site at California Road for 22 years. He had two assistants, and a pony called Kit, whose job was to pull the swill containers to each sty (45). Mr Dell lived in a cottage adjoining the piggery and worked a 12-hour day. The pigs were sold for bacon, and over £300 had been raised since 1940 with each porker weighing 180 lbs. These were not the only animals owned by the Corporation, as there were two municipal ferrets used in the 1920s.
Bringing us up to date, the council were exploring the possibility of building a roundabout at the “Fountain Crossroads” which was regarded as a danger spot. Traffic lights were suggested as a temporary measure, but for safety reasons, a roundabout was the preferred answer (built in 1955).
So, life in Malden seventy years ago was very different, but some problems remain the same.
by Robin Gill
In 1947 Malden was recovering from the effects and after effects of the War. Rationing was still being enforced, and the Borough was actively engaged on a long-term rebuilding programme. It was hard to prioritise where much needed funds should go. Additional, short term measures adopted by the council to relieve the housing crisis was the erection of 197 prefabs. Small estates had sprung up in Kingston Road, Malden Way, Voewood Close, and Burlington Road, and the council agreed to provide each property with a lawn and a privet hedge to provide some sort of privacy. All these buildings were charged @ 19/3 a week (96 pence).
Building for the future
The council committed themselves to build 1000 permanent houses within the next 10 years (1947/57). They already had 10 almost completed, and six more were being built, with tenders for another six. Local builders were building 193 houses with another 162 in the pipeline. A further two properties were being built privately with 42 to be built, again by private means. 11 of the war damaged buildings had been rebuilt, with a further 97 to be re-erected later. There were 1500 residents on the waiting list, and the council were actively considering the construction of temporary aluminium houses.
The council had also requisitioned 605 properties for domestic and other uses since 1940, and of these 240 were still under requisition housing 364 local families. These included Telegraph Cottage, Corner Croft, and Ravenswood in Coombe temporary homes of high ranking officers during the war.
Some of the older inhabitants were living under appalling conditions. The Malden and Coombe Old Peoples Welfare Association which had been formed in November 1946, spent much of the year trying to acquire and fit out a building in the Avenue (Worcester Park). Number 31 , it was named Mitchell House (now Berwick Court) after the hard-working secretary of the association, John William Mitchell. The property was a Victorian three storey house originally called Whitcombe which was converted into accommodation for 14 elderly residents (4M 10F), at 2 guineas a week (£2 10pence). Each room was equipped with a wash basin and a gas fire. Additionally, an old people’s club was formed based at the Congregational (URC) church which in a short period attracted over 250 members paying 6d (2.5 pence a month) calling itself The Malden Good Fellowship Club.
6Another casualty of the war was St James’ Church (Bodley Road) which was extensively damaged by a flying bomb on 20th June 1944. It was repaired and reopened in October 1947.
The show won’t go on
In 1947, the council decided not to run the open-air theatre which had provided so much entertainment for residents who could not go away for holidays due to the war. The “Holidays At Home” scheme had started in 1941, when open stages were erected in three or four of the local parks. The following year it was decided to limit the theatres to just one in Beverley Park with over 1000 seats. This theatre transferred to Manor Park for a couple of years, before returning to Beverley in 1946. Productions included “Merrie England” by the Co-operative Musical Society. But it was felt that the park was “too far” from the centre of town, and was losing money.
Another war-time staple that the council closed, were the Civic Cafes which shut their doors at the end of March. Out of the three operated by the council, only one (in Alric Avenue) had ever made a profit, and was the pride and joy of the local area. Not surprisingly it was this outlet that reopened as a public restaurant in the October. These “community feeding centres” had been christened “British Restaurants” by the Minister for Food (Lord Woolton) and operated by the council and organisations such as the WVS. Meals were sold for a set maximum price of 9d (4 pence), and were served off the ration book. The WVS (Womens Voluntary Service) also commenced their “Meals On Wheels” scheme with meals prepared at the British Restaurant in Kingston.
Youth Groups were actively encouraged by the council to the extent that when the cleansing station was decommissioned it was handed to the Youth Committee to convert into a community centre. The building which stood at the rear of the council buildings (now Waitrose) had been ready for action should Malden had fallen victim to a gas attack. Fortunately, this never happened, and the Clarion Youth Club with the help of others, soon changed it into a functioning club room together with an office, canteen, and cloakrooms. The nine local youth clubs had shown co-operation the previous Christmas coming together to put on a performance of “Aladdin” at Burlington School.
Ladies first
The important part played by women in the armed forces was recognised when the British Legion formed a women’s section. There were 45 applications to join, and Lady Marie Tedder was invited to be President. Her husband was Chief Of The Air Staff, and the family had had local connections during the war with a residence In Coombe. The Mayor (Coun Sharpe) stated that there were not enough women on the council, asked for more to come forward, and suggested that maybe the Malden Branch of The British Housewives League should adopt a candidate. Also, the Graham Spicer became a mixed club, although some of the male members thought that the women would spend valuable time “nattering”. The ladies were only accepted for certain activities!
People flocked to Bentalls in Kingston when they advertised parachutes for sale, not because there was an outbreak of enthusiasm for sky diving. These chutes on sale at £6 19/6 (£6 97.5 pence) for 48 square yards (40 sq. metres), with skilful hands could be turned into clothes for children and underwear. One woman even made a wedding dress out of parachute silk! But, it had to be British or American, never German!
Possible plans
As was mentioned in a previous article, there were plans to turn Manor Park into a football stadium becoming the home of Corinthian Casuals FC, one of the major amateur cubs in the country opening up the possibility of amateur internationals being played on the ground. There was a chance of part of the park being used for housing for refugees left homeless as a result of the war, and to lose another part to a new stadium would be a loss of facilities for the residents. The stadium would have held around 7000 supporters (5000 standing 2000 seating), plus four other football pitches, two cricket pitches, ten tennis courts, bowling green, playground and pavilion. A car park and café would also be built.
Ornamental beds, trees, walks, and shrubs would also be planted, and the council hoped it would become an area that Malden could be proud of.
Needless to say, the idea never materialised, money was tight after the war, it would have cost around £120,000, the locals were against it, and in those days their views mattered.
There was hope that the New Malden Plaza would be rebuilt, as the council felt a cinema was of vital importance to the village. The Plaza which stood where McDonalds is today, was opened in 1921 but burnt down in December 1936. By 1947 the space it occupied had become a car park serving the main Malden shopping area. The council couldn’t build a replacement, but invited the main cinema chains to investigate the possibility of construction. Unfortunately, the police wouldn’t agree to a new building unless there was a car park included, and the area was too small for a cinema and car park.
In November 1947 after the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip the platforms of New Malden Railway Station were crowded with people hoping to catch sight of the royal couple as they journeyed down to Winchester. Although dusk was falling the Pullman Cars (Rosemary and Rosamunde) were lit up, and some of the 700 spectators who had bought platform tickets were sure they had spotted Philip in his naval uniform.
Malden had a Prisoner of War Camp on land that use to belong to Newhouse Farm adjoining South Lane in Old Malden. It consisted of five huts but other details are sketchy. The prisoners were repatriated in 1947, and some of the huts were immediately demolished because of the risk of squatters. According to reports, there were at least 25 POWs who were entertained to tea at the Congregational Church (URC) earlier in the year. Do any readers remember this camp?
Living off nature
Malden residents were encouraged to pick rosehips by the WVS who would pay 3d (around a penny) for each pound in weight collected. They were also warned not to put rhubarb leaves in pig bins as these were poisonous to pigs at the municipal piggery. There were 240 pigs who were fed on 12 tons of swill a week which had to be steamed for five hours. The warning about leaves, came from John Dell who had been herdsman at the site at California Road for 22 years. He had two assistants, and a pony called Kit, whose job was to pull the swill containers to each sty (45). Mr Dell lived in a cottage adjoining the piggery and worked a 12-hour day. The pigs were sold for bacon, and over £300 had been raised since 1940 with each porker weighing 180 lbs. These were not the only animals owned by the Corporation, as there were two municipal ferrets used in the 1920s.
Bringing us up to date, the council were exploring the possibility of building a roundabout at the “Fountain Crossroads” which was regarded as a danger spot. Traffic lights were suggested as a temporary measure, but for safety reasons, a roundabout was the preferred answer (built in 1955).
So, life in Malden seventy years ago was very different, but some problems remain the same.
